Network device including multiple mid-planes
First Claim
1. A network device, comprising:
- a plurality of ports for data ingress and egress;
a plurality of mid-planes;
a cross-connection subsystem connected to said ports and to at least one of said mid-planes; and
a switch fabric subsystem coupled to each of the plurality of mid-planes,wherein said cross-connection subsystem is directly and physically connected to at least one of said mid-planes and functions as a physical layer switch which connects on a packet-by-packet basis, andwherein said switch fabric subsystem functions as an upper layer switch.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a network device that fully utilizes the available space in a standard telco rack through the use of multiple mid-planes. Full utilization of available space allows a high switching capacity network device including both physical layer switch/router subsystems and upper layer switch/router subsystems to be fit in one telco rack. Inter-mid-plane connections may be provided by connecting switch fabric cards and/or control processor cards to each of the mid-planes. Providing a multi-layer network device in one telco rack allows for intelligent layer 1 switching (for example, dynamic network connection set up), allows for one network management system to control both layer 1 and upper layer networks and eliminates grooming fees. Compared with separate layer 1 and upper layer network devices or a multi-layer network device occupying multiple telco racks, a single network device saves valuable telco site space and reduces expenses by sharing overhead such as the chassis, power and cooling.
60 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A network device, comprising:
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a plurality of ports for data ingress and egress; a plurality of mid-planes; a cross-connection subsystem connected to said ports and to at least one of said mid-planes; and a switch fabric subsystem coupled to each of the plurality of mid-planes, wherein said cross-connection subsystem is directly and physically connected to at least one of said mid-planes and functions as a physical layer switch which connects on a packet-by-packet basis, and wherein said switch fabric subsystem functions as an upper layer switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A network device, comprising:
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a first mid-plane; a second mid-plane; a switch fabric card coupled to the first mid-plane and the second mid-plane; a first cross-connection card directly and physically connected to the first mid-plane; a first port card connected to the first mid-plane and coupled to the first cross-connection card through the first mid-plane, said first port card functioning as a physical layer switch which connects on a packet-by-packet basis; and a first forwarding card connected to the first mid-plane and coupled to the first cross-connection card and the switch fabric card through the first mid-plane, wherein said switch fabric card and said first forwarding card function as an upper layer switch. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A network device, comprising:
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a plurality of ports for data ingress and egress; a plurality of mid-planes; a cross-connection subsystem connected to said ports and to at least one of said mid-planes; a plurality of forwarding cards; and a switch fabric subsystem coupled to each of the plurality of mid-planes, wherein said cross-connection subsystem is directly and physically connected to at least one of said mid-planes and functions as a physical layer switch which connects on a packet-by-packet basis, and wherein said switch fabric subsystem functions as an upper layer switch.
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Specification