Network Device System Bus Interface Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chassis-shaped switches face high costs and complexity due to the need for independent control buses and additional switching chips to configure Gigabit Ethernet interfaces as multiple 100M Ethernet interfaces, limiting flexibility and increasing hardware and software complexity.
Innovation Solution
A network device with a main control board and service board connected via a system bus, where the switching chip is connected to the physical layer component using a SerDes link, allowing service data and control information to be transmitted, eliminating the need for an independent control bus and enabling flexible configuration of interface types and quantities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an independent control bus is used to connect the main control board and service board, then control information exchange is achieved, but hardware costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control bus and data bus into a single unified bus system. The service board shares the data bus with the main control board for both data transmission and control information exchange, eliminating the need for a separate control bus. This reduces the number of physical connections and simplifies the overall hardware architecture while maintaining reliable control communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The data bus is designed to serve multiple functions: it transmits both service data and control information between the main control board and service board. By making the data bus universal, the patent eliminates the dedicated control bus, reducing hardware complexity and costs while maintaining full control functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a switching chip is added inside the main control board to achieve flexible configuration, then interface flexibility is improved, but hardware costs and software complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic interface configuration through software on the service board rather than fixed hardware switching. The service board can dynamically adjust interface types and quantities based on actual needs, achieving flexibility without adding physical switching chips to the main control board. This software-based approach reduces hardware complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding a switching chip that would duplicate functionality already present in the system, the patent uses the existing data bus and processor capabilities to achieve interface flexibility. The service board's processor handles configuration tasks that would otherwise require dedicated switching hardware, avoiding unnecessary hardware duplication and complexity.
3Ease of operation
If an independent CPU and management software are configured for the service board, then control functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The service board's processor is designed to perform multiple functions: it processes service data, manages interface configuration, and handles control information exchange. By making the service board's processor universal, the patent eliminates the need for a separate independent CPU dedicated solely to control functions, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining full control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges control processing functions with the service board's existing processor rather than adding a separate control CPU. The service board's processor handles both service-specific tasks and general control functions, consolidating the system architecture and reducing the number of independent components needed.
Data Source
AI summary
The application provides a network device, which includes: a main control board and a service board, where the main control board includes a processor and a switching chip, and the service board includes a physical layer component. The switching chip is connected to the physical layer component by using a system bus. The system bus consists of a SerDes link, and is configured to transmit service data and control information of a port of the physical layer component. The processor controls the port of the physical layer component by using the control information of the port of the physical layer component. The network device transmits the service data and the control information by using the system bus, so that the service board does not need to set a CPU processing the control information, thereby expanding an interface flexibly, and reducing device complexity and hardware costs.