Network processor interface for building scalable switching systems
First Claim
1. A network apparatus comprising:
- storage units, mounted on the board, storing configuration information about the network apparatus;
an input network interfaces mounted on the board, to couple to at least one network physical line;
at least one processor, mounted on the board, receiving network data from said input network interface, processing said data, storing information about said network data in said storage units, storing said data as formatted data units in said storage units;
a first bus interfaces to two bus connections;
a first hardware component reading said configuration information and said information about data stored in said storing units and steering said formatted data units stored in said storage units to at least one of the two bus connections of said first bus interface;
a second bus interface to two bus connections;
an output network interface to at least one network physical line; and
a second hardware component reading formatted data units arriving on at least one of the two bus connections of said second bus interface and storing said formatted date units in said storage units, said at least one processor reading said formatted data units from said storage units, processing them and sending them as network data to at least one network physical line through said output network interface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network apparatus comprising storage units storing configuration information about the network apparatus, an input network interface to at least one network physical line, at least one processor receiving network data from said network interface, processing said data, storing information about said network data in said storage units, storing said data as formatted data units in said storage units, a first bus interface to two bus connections, a first hardware component reading said configuration information and said information about data stored in said storing units and steering said formatted data units stored in said storage units to at least one of the two bus connections of said first bus interface, a second bus interface to two bus connections, an output network interface to at least one network physical line, a second hardware component reading formatted data units arriving on at least one of the two bus connections of said second bus interface and storing said formatted data units in said storage units, said at least one processor reading said formatted data units from said storage units, processing them and sending them as network data to at least one network physical line through said output network interface. On the basis of this network processor, it is possible to build switching systems by adding one network processor and at least one switch; it is also possible to build double density blades attached to two redundant switch fabrics which can also be accessed concurrently.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A network apparatus comprising:
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storage units, mounted on the board, storing configuration information about the network apparatus;
an input network interfaces mounted on the board, to couple to at least one network physical line;
at least one processor, mounted on the board, receiving network data from said input network interface, processing said data, storing information about said network data in said storage units, storing said data as formatted data units in said storage units;
a first bus interfaces to two bus connections;
a first hardware component reading said configuration information and said information about data stored in said storing units and steering said formatted data units stored in said storage units to at least one of the two bus connections of said first bus interface;
a second bus interface to two bus connections;
an output network interface to at least one network physical line; and
a second hardware component reading formatted data units arriving on at least one of the two bus connections of said second bus interface and storing said formatted date units in said storage units, said at least one processor reading said formatted data units from said storage units, processing them and sending them as network data to at least one network physical line through said output network interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A blade comprising:
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a circuit board;
storage units mounted on the board, storing configuration information about the network apparatus;
an input network interface mounted on the board, to connect to at least one network physical line;
at least one processor mounted on the board, receiving network data from said input network interface, processing said data, storing information about said network data in said storage units, storing said data as formatted data units in said storage units;
a first bus interface mounted on the board, to connect to two bus connections;
a first hardware component mounted on the board, to read said configuration information and said information about data stored in said storing units and steering said formatted data units stored in said storage units to at least one of the two bus connections of said first bus interface;
a second bus interface mounted on the board, to connect to two bus connections;
an output network interface mounted on the board, to connect to at least one network physical line;
a second hardware component mounted on the board, reading formatted data units arriving on at least one of the two bus connections of said second bus interface and storing said formatted data units in said storage units, said at least one processor reading said formatted data units from said storage units, processing them and sending them as network data to at least one network physical line through said output network interface.
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16. A blade comprising:
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a circuit board;
storage units mounted on the board, storing configuration information about a network apparatus;
an input network interface mounted on the board, to connect to at least one network physical line;
at least one processor mounted on the board, receiving network data from said input network interface, processing said data, storing information about said network data in said storage units, storing said data as formatted data units in said storage units;
a first bus interface mounted on the board, to connect to two bus connections;
a first hardware component mounted on the board, said first hardware component reading said configuration information and said information about data stored in said storing units and steering said formatted data units stored in said storage units to at least one of the two bus connections of said first bus interface;
a second bus interface mounted on the board, to connect to two bus connections, wherein the second hardware component further comprises an additional storage unit, mounted on the board, and an additional logic, mounted on the board, for reading said configuration information and said information about data stored in said storing units and steering said read formatted data units either to said storage units or to said additional storage unit, wherein, the first hardware component further comprises a bus, mounted on the board, accessing said additional storage unit, said first hardware component steering said formatted data units stored in said additional storage unit to at least one of the two bus connections of said first bus interface.
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17. A blade comprising:
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a circuit board;
storage units, mounted on the board, storing configuration about the network apparatus;
an input network interface, mounted on the board, to couple to at least one network physical line;
at least one processor, mounted on the board, receiving network data from said input network interface, processing said data units in said storage units;
storage units, storing said data as formatted data units in said storage units;
a first bus interface, mounted on the board, to couple to two bus connections, a first hardware component, mounted on the board reading said configuration information and said information about data stored in said storing units and steering said formatted data units stored in said storage units to at least one of the two bus connections of said first bus interface;
a second bus interface, mounted on the board, to couple to two bus connections;
a bus, mounted on the board, connecting one of the two bus connections of said first bus interface to one of the two bus connections of said second bus interface, the first hardware component of said network apparatus sending formatted data units to said bus and the second hardware component receiving from said bus said formatted data units.
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18. A blade comprising:
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a circuit board;
storage units, mounted on the board, storing configuration about a network apparatus;
an input network interface, mounted on the board, to couple to at least one network physical line;
at least one processor, mounted on the board, receiving network date from said input network interface, processing said data, storing information about said network data in said storage units, storing said data as formatted data units in said storage units;
a first bus interface, mounted on the board, to couple to two bus connections;
a first hardware component, mounted on the board;
reading said configuration information and said information about data stored in said storing units and steering said formatted data units stored in said storage units to at least one of the two bus connections of said first bus interface;
a second bus interface mounted on the board, to connect to two bus connections;
a bus, mounted on the board, connecting one of the two bus connections of said first bus interface to one of the two bus connections of said second bus interface, the first hardware component of said network apparatus sending formatted data units to said bus and the second hardware component receiving from said bus said formatted date units, wherein the second hardware component further comprises an additional storage unit, mounted on the board, and an additional logic, mounted on the board, for reading said configuration information and said information about data stored in said storing units and steering said read formatted data units either to said storage units or to said additional storage unit, wherein, the first hardware component further comprises a bus, mounted on the board, accessing said additional storage unit, said first hardware component steering said formatted data units stored in said additional storage unit to at least one of the two bus connections of said first bus interface.
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Specification