Two-by-Two Cable Assembly for Full Switch Bandwidth Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable assemblies waste switch bandwidth when coupling a network interface card to two redundant switches with the same port speed, as each switch only utilizes half of its available bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
A two-by-two cable assembly is designed with specific breakouts at each end, allowing communication channels to be shared between pairs of breakouts, ensuring that each switch utilizes its full bandwidth by coupling the first breakout to a first communications port, the second breakout to a second communications port, the third breakout to a third communications port, and the fourth breakout to a fourth communications port, thereby optimizing bandwidth utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single cable is coupled to two switches with the same port speed, then the network interface card can communicate with both switches, but each switch only utilizes half of its available bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The cable assembly is segmented into multiple breakouts (first, second, third, and fourth breakouts) that can be independently coupled to different switches. This segmentation allows each switch to receive dedicated communication channels, enabling full bandwidth utilization while maintaining network redundancy through selective coupling.
2Device complexity
If communication channels are shared between breakouts, then device complexity is reduced, but bandwidth utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable assembly provides multi-functionality by offering multiple breakouts that can be configured for different coupling scenarios. The same cable assembly structure can support both shared communication channels (for redundancy) and dedicated communication channels (for full bandwidth utilization), making it adaptable to various network configurations without requiring multiple different cable types.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable assembly may include a first end and a second end. The first end may include a first breakout including a plurality of transmissive conduits implementing a plurality of communications channels and a second breakout including a plurality of conduits implementing a plurality of communications channels. The second end may include a third breakout including a plurality of conduits implementing a plurality of communications channels and a fourth breakout including a plurality of conduits implementing a plurality of communications channels. Communication channels of the first breakout, second breakout, third breakout, and fourth breakout may be arranged such that the first breakout shares a first communications channel with the third breakout, the first breakout shares a second communications channel with the fourth breakout, the second breakout shares a third communications channel with the third breakout, and the second breakout shares a fourth communications channel with the fourth breakout.