Multi-Chassis Cluster Router Optical-Electrical Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing core router's switching capacity, number of slots, and interface capacity often fail to meet the requirements, necessitating a flexible expansion solution, particularly after initial deployment, which is challenging with traditional line card chassis designs.
Innovation Solution
A multi-chassis cluster router architecture is introduced, comprising a central switch fabric chassis and line card chassis connected via optical fibers, utilizing an orthogonal-without-back-board electrical connection and optical-electrical conversion units to enhance switching capacity and interface density without increasing housing height, allowing for flexible expansion by concatenating multiple router chassis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional line card chassis design is used, then the router can be deployed initially, but the switching capacity, number of slots, and interface capacity cannot meet growing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The router system is segmented into independent line card units that can be separately installed and removed in standardized slots within the chassis, allowing the switching capacity and interface capacity to be flexibly adjusted by adding or removing line cards without replacing the entire chassis
Solution Approach 2:
The chassis structure utilizes three-dimensional space optimization by arranging line card slots and backplane connections in a compact vertical configuration, increasing the number of available slots and interface capacity without proportionally increasing the horizontal footprint
2Quantity of substance
If more line cards are added to increase interface capacity, then the router can handle more connections, but the housing height would need to increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple line card units are nested within the standardized chassis housing, with each line card containing integrated optical-electrical conversion units and circuit boards that are compactly arranged, allowing high interface capacity within a constrained vertical space
Solution Approach 2:
The chassis employs a standardized modular housing design with optimized internal spacing and compact connector arrangements, effectively utilizing the available vertical dimension while maintaining access and cooling requirements
3Productivity
If optical-electrical conversion units are used to connect line cards, then switching capacity increases, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical-electrical conversion units are integrated directly onto the line card assemblies, merging the optical interface functionality with the line card circuitry, which simplifies the overall system architecture by eliminating separate conversion devices and reducing the number of connection points
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively increases switching capacity, slot density, and interface capacity, enabling flexible expansion of the router infrastructure while maintaining high performance and reducing engineering complexity, ensuring non-blocking wire-speed forwarding even with optical-electrical conversion unit failures.
Implementation Method 1
an optical-electrical conversion unit of the destination line card chassis converts the optical signal into an electrical signal
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a line card chassis which includes line card units, optical-electrical conversion units and optical fiber interface units. The optical-electrical conversion unit has an onboard optical assembly module used for mutual conversion between an optical signal and an electrical signal; an electrical signal interface of the onboard optical assembly module is connected to the line card unit through an electrical connector, and an optical signal interface of the onboard optical assembly module is connected to the optical fiber interface unit through an optical connector; and the optical fiber interface unit couples the optical signal to a cluster interface of a panel on a router through an optical fiber, and the cluster interface is to concatenate different chassis in the router. Also disclosed is a multi-chassis cluster router and a packet processing method.