PCIe Expansion Chassis Redundant Link Switching for Error Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing PCIe links face stability and reliability issues due to uncorrectable errors, leading to service interruptions and prolonged troubleshooting times, as conventional methods like device replacement or system restart fail to address faulty physical links effectively.
Innovation Solution
A multi-channel PCIe redundant link design with a switching unit that automatically switches channels upon error detection, ensuring stable service operation without shutdown by integrating a downstream interface with multiple upstream interfaces and enabling automatic channel redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single PCIe link is used for data transmission, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability deteriorates due to uncorrectable errors causing service interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The PCIe link is segmented into multiple independent channels (first channel and second channel), each capable of separate data transmission. The switching unit divides the data stream and routes it through different channels, so that a failure in one channel does not affect the other, thereby improving reliability while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements prior cushioning by establishing redundant PCIe channels and a switching unit before any failure occurs. When an uncorrectable error is detected in the active channel, the system can immediately switch to the standby channel without service interruption, effectively cushioning against the impact of link failures
2Reliability
If device replacement or system restart is performed to solve PCIe link failures, then the reliability might be temporarily restored, but the loss of time increases due to service interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The switching unit is pre-configured with multiple PCIe channels and readiness to switch. When a channel failure is detected, the system has already prepared the alternative channel, allowing immediate switching without requiring device replacement or system restart, thus eliminating service interruption time
Solution Approach 2:
The switching unit acts as an intermediary between the PCIe device and the host system. It provides a buffer layer that can redirect data flow around faulty channels, enabling continuous operation without requiring the host system to be restarted or devices to be physically replaced
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to the technical field of PCIe, and discloses a PCIe expansion chassis, a server, a method and apparatus for controlling data transmission, and a product. The PCIe expansion chassis includes a switching unit and at least one PCIe slot; the switching unit includes one downstream interface and at least two upstream interfaces; the PCIe slot is used for installing a PCIe device; the downstream interface is used for being connected to the PCIe slot; the at least two upstream interfaces are used for being connected to a CPU on a motherboard side, to form a multi-channel data link; and during data transmission, the switching unit selects any channel in the multi-channel data link for data transmission.