Fiber channel architecture
First Claim
1. A fibre channel switch comprising:
- a first set of input/output modules, each input/output module having a plurality of fibre channel ports;
a first set of fabric switch modules to provide connections between the fibre channel ports;
a first backplane receiving the first set of input/output modules and the first set of fabric switch modules, the backplane having connectors to provide connectivity between the first set of input/output modules and the first set of fabric switch modules;
a second backplane receiving a second set of input/output modules and a second set of fabric switch modules and connectors providing connectivity between the second set of input/output modules and the second set of fabric switch modules, each input/output module of the second set having a plurality of fibre channel ports; and
a first connection between the second set of input/output modules and one of the first set of fabric switch modules bypassing the second set of fabric switch modules, thereby allowing the one of the first set of fabric switch modules to provide direct connections to the fibre channel ports on the second set of input/output modules without the direct connections passing through any of the second set of fabric switch modules.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fiber channel backplane configuration is capable of modular expansion, e.g., from 64 ports to 128 ports or 256 ports by a simple operation. The backplane includes connectors that provide permanent and jumper/vertical connections to support 64 user port switch in a single chassis. For a 128 port switch, two 64 port chassis are used. In the 128 port configuration, the connectors are configured to provide permanent and jumper/vertical connections to make intra-chassis and inter-chassis connections between the fabric switch and fabric input/output boards. Using jumper plugs, the jumper connectors provide vertical connections between the fiber input/output boards and fiber switch boards of two chassis. For a 256 port switch configuration, four 64 port chassis assemblies are used. The connectors are configured to provide each switch with permanent, vertical, horizontal, and diagonal connections to the fiber input/output boards of each of the four chassis.
43 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A fibre channel switch comprising:
-
a first set of input/output modules, each input/output module having a plurality of fibre channel ports; a first set of fabric switch modules to provide connections between the fibre channel ports; a first backplane receiving the first set of input/output modules and the first set of fabric switch modules, the backplane having connectors to provide connectivity between the first set of input/output modules and the first set of fabric switch modules; a second backplane receiving a second set of input/output modules and a second set of fabric switch modules and connectors providing connectivity between the second set of input/output modules and the second set of fabric switch modules, each input/output module of the second set having a plurality of fibre channel ports; and a first connection between the second set of input/output modules and one of the first set of fabric switch modules bypassing the second set of fabric switch modules, thereby allowing the one of the first set of fabric switch modules to provide direct connections to the fibre channel ports on the second set of input/output modules without the direct connections passing through any of the second set of fabric switch modules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A fibre channel switch comprising:
-
a first chassis including; a plurality of input/output modules, each input/output module having a plurality of fibre channel ports; a plurality of fabric switch modules forming at least one switch to provide connections between the fibre channel ports; a backplane receiving the plurality of input/output modules and the fabric switch modules, the backplane having connectors to provide connectivity between the input/output modules and the fabric switch modules of the first chassis; a second chassis also having a plurality of input/output modules and a plurality of fabric switch modules, the input/output modules of the second chassis having a plurality of fibre channel ports; and a connection bypassing the fabric switch modules of the second chassis by providing direct communication between the input/output modules of the second chassis and the fabric switch modules of the first chassis, thereby allowing the fabric switch modules of the first chassis to provide direct connections to the fibre channel ports on the input/output modules of the second chassis without the direct connections passing through any of the fabric switch modules of the second chassis. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A fibre channel switch comprising:
-
a) at least one chassis having; 1) at least one input/output module having a plurality of ports for receiving communications from outside the switch; 2) at least one switching module not having any ports for receiving communication from outside the switch, the switching module receiving communication only from the at least one input/output module, the switching module providing a plurality of communication paths between ports; 3) a hardwired connection directly between each input/output module and each switching module within a single chassis without the hardwired connection passing through any switching module or input/output module; and 4) a jumper connection leading from each input/output module and from each switching module directly to at least one jumper connection site without the jumper connection passing through any switching module or input/output module; wherein the at least one jumper connection site can be configured to connect input/output modules to switching modules within the same chassis. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
Specification