Distributed Backplane Chassis Switch with Line Card Interconnect
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional chassis switches with centralized backplanes face inefficiencies and resource waste when not all line cards are fully plugged, leading to suboptimal network performance and increased costs due to unnecessary interconnection switch chips and wasted resources.
Innovation Solution
A distributed backplane chassis switch design that uses a circuit loop mechanism to interconnect line cards based on actual demand, with interconnection switch chips only on the line cards, allowing for local network switching and between-line card switching at full-speed and non-blocking conditions while minimizing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If interconnection switch chips are installed on switch cards in traditional centralized backplane designs, then full-speed non-blocking network traffic can be achieved when all line cards are fully plugged, but unnecessary hardware costs and resource waste occur when not all line cards are utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the interconnection switch chips from the centralized switch card and distributes them directly to individual line cards. Each line card becomes an independent switching unit with its own interconnection switch chip, eliminating the need for a centralized switch card and its associated interconnection chips when full line card utilization is not required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic configuration where line cards can be independently connected to the backplane through circuit loop mechanisms. The system adapts to the actual number of installed line cards, enabling full-speed operation with only the necessary interconnection resources activated, rather than requiring fixed full-capacity interconnection hardware.
2Reliability
If a centralized backplane with sufficient bandwidth is used to support all line cards, then non-blocking full-speed operation is achieved, but resource waste and increased costs occur when fewer line cards are actually used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the interconnection switching function from the centralized backplane and embeds it directly into each line card. This eliminates the need for unused interconnection resources in the centralized backplane when not all line cards are populated, reducing resource waste while maintaining non-blocking operation for the actually installed cards.
Solution Approach 2:
Each line card becomes self-sufficient with its own interconnection switch chip, enabling it to perform switching operations independently without relying on centralized switching resources. This self-service capability ensures non-blocking operation for each installed line card while eliminating dependence on unused centralized resources.
3Ease of operation
If interconnection switch chips are placed on switch cards, then switching function between line cards is achieved, but the system requires more hardware components and higher construction costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the interconnection switch chip with each line card into a single integrated unit. This combination eliminates the need for separate switch cards and reduces the total number of hardware components required, while maintaining the full switching function between line cards through direct backplane interconnection.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is to provide a chassis switch, which comprises a chassis for accommodating a designated number of line cards therein; a backplane installed on the back side of the chassis and having a plurality of connectors disposed thereon; at least one line card plugged into one of the connectors corresponding thereto via a front side of the chassis and each having an access switch chip adapted to switch local network signals and an interconnect switch chip adapted to switch the signals between ports of the at least one line card; and a loop adapted to connect the corresponding ports of the access switch chip and the interconnect switch chip respectively through the connectors, so as to enable each line card plugged into the chassis switch to perform a local network switching function and a switching function between the at least one line card.