Ethernet network equipment with replaceable system-on-module core

1 . An apparatus comprising:

a baseboard including:

a baseboard management controller;

an Ethernet bus;

a first edge connector for at least one network interface module; and

a second edge connector for a system-on-module;

the at least one network interface module coupled to the Ethernet bus via the first edge connector; and

the system-on-module coupled to the Ethernet bus via the second edge connector, the system-on-module including:

a system-on-chip; and

an Ethernet edge connection module coupled to the Ethernet bus via the second edge connector of the baseboard.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the Ethernet edge connection module is enabled to engage in Ethernet-based communication with at least one computing device external to the apparatus via the Ethernet bus and the at least one network interface module.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first edge connector comprises a plurality of slots, wherein the at least one network interface module occupies at least one of the plurality of slots.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein at least a second one of the plurality of slots is unoccupied and is available for installation of at least a second network interface module.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one network interface module comprises at least one of:

a network adapter module;

a port interface module; or

a line card.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one network interface module comprises at least one of:

a small form-factor pluggable module;

an enhanced small form-factor pluggable module;

a gigabit Ethernet small form-factor pluggable module; or

a power-over-Ethernet small form-factor pluggable module.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one network interface module comprises an Ethernet physical layer module.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the Ethernet edge connection module is a component of the system-on-chip or is a component of the system-on-module that is distinct from the system-on-chip.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the Ethernet edge connection module comprises a media access controller.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the system-on-module further includes at least one of:

at least one memory module; or

a module power supply circuit.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the baseboard further includes at least one of:

a baseboard power supply circuit; or

at least one storage module.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the Ethernet bus comprises a media independent interface for the Ethernet edge connection module to communicate with the at least one network interface module.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the media independent interface comprises:

a gigabit media independent interface;

a serial gigabit media independent interface; or

a universal serial gigabit media independent interface.

14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first edge connector comprises a pluggable interface to receive the at least one network interface module, and wherein the second edge connector comprises a pluggable interface to receive the system-on-module.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the system-on-module is removable from the second edge connector for installation of at least a second system-on-module.

16 . A method comprising:

demounting a first system-on-module from a first edge connector of a baseboard of a networking device, the baseboard including:

a baseboard management controller;

an Ethernet bus;

the first edge connector, wherein the first edge connector is configured to receive the first system-on-module from among a plurality of available system-on-modules; and

a second edge connector for at least one network interface module, wherein the at least one network interface module is coupled to the Ethernet bus via the second edge connector; and

mounting a second system-on-module on the first edge connector of the baseboard, wherein the second system-on-module comprises:

a system-on-chip; and

an Ethernet edge connection module, wherein the Ethernet edge connection module is coupled to the Ethernet bus via the first edge connector of the baseboard as a result of the mounting.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the Ethernet edge connection module is enabled to engage in Ethernet-based communication with at least one computing device external to the networking device via the Ethernet bus and the at least one network interface module.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

mounting the at least one network interface module on the second edge connector.

19 . A method comprising:

demounting a first network interface module from first a first slot of a first edge connector of a baseboard of a networking device, the baseboard including:

a baseboard management controller;

an Ethernet bus;

the first edge connector, wherein the first edge connector comprises a plurality of slots configured to receive a plurality of network interface modules; and

a second edge connector for a system-on-module, wherein the system-on-module includes:

a system-on-chip; and

an Ethernet edge connection module, wherein the Ethernet edge connection module is coupled to the Ethernet bus via the second edge connector; and

mounting a second network interface module on the first slot of the first edge connector of the baseboard, wherein the second network interface module is coupled to the Ethernet bus via the first edge connector of the baseboard as a result of the mounting.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the Ethernet edge connector module is enabled to engage in Ethernet-based communication with at least one computing device external to the networking device via the Ethernet bus and the second network interface module.