Re-configurable PCI-Express switching device
View Patent ↗A configurable switching device includes a switch card coupled to interface with a backplane of a computer chassis, a plurality of PCI-Express switching elements coupled to the switch card, and a configuration means coupled to the switch card, where the configuration means is operable to configure and reconfigure the plurality of PCI-Express switching elements to operate in a plurality of directional fabric domains, and where each of the plurality of PCI-Express switching elements can operate in only one of the plurality of directional fabric domains at a time.
1. A configurable switching device, comprising:
a switch card coupled to interface with a backplane of a computer chassis;
a plurality of PCI-Express switching elements coupled to the switch card; and
a configuration means coupled to the switch card, wherein the configuration means is operable to configure and reconfigure the plurality of PCI-Express switching elements to operate in a plurality of directional fabric domains, and wherein each of the plurality of PCI-Express switching elements operate in only one of the plurality of directional fabric domains at a time.
2. The configurable switching device of claim 1 , wherein the configuration means is operable in a post-manufactured state to reconfigure the plurality of PCI-Express switching elements from a first configuration to a second configuration.
3. The configurable switching device of claim 1 , wherein the configuration means is user-reconfigurable.
4. The configurable switching device of claim 1 , wherein the configuration means is manually reconfigurable.
5. The configurable switching device of claim 1 , wherein the configuration means is software reconfigurable.
6. The configurable switching device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of directional fabric domains is coupled to a unique root complex.
7. The configurable switching device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of directional fabric domains comprises at least one PCI-Express link.
8. A configurable switching device, comprising:
a switch card coupled to interface with a backplane of a computer chassis;
a plurality of PCI-Express switching elements coupled to the switch card, wherein the plurality of PCI-Express switching elements are in a first configuration to operate in a plurality of directional fabric domains; and
a configuration means coupled to the switch card, wherein the configuration means is operable to reconfigure the plurality of PCI-Express switching elements to a second configuration to operate in the plurality of directional fabric domains, wherein the first configuration is different from the second configuration, and wherein each of the plurality of PCI-Express switching elements operate in only one of the plurality of directional fabric domains at a time.
9. The configurable switching device of claim 8 , wherein the configuration means is operable in a post-manufactured state to reconfigure the plurality of PCI-Express switching elements from the first configuration to the second configuration.
10. The configurable switching device of claim 8 , wherein the configuration means is user-reconfigurable.
11. The configurable switching device of claim 8 , wherein the configuration means is manually reconfigurable.
12. The configurable switching device of claim 8 , wherein the configuration means is software reconfigurable.
13. The configurable switching device of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of directional fabric domains is coupled to a unique root complex.
14. The configurable switching device of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of directional fabric domains comprises at least one PCI-Express link.
15. A method of reconfiguring a configurable switching device, comprising:
providing a switch card coupled to interface with a backplane of a computer chassis;
providing a plurality of PCI-Express switching elements coupled to the switch card, wherein the plurality of PCI-Express switching elements are in a first configuration to operate in a plurality of directional fabric domains; and
operating a configuration means coupled to the switch card to reconfigure the plurality of PCI-Express switching elements to a second configuration to operate in the plurality of directional fabric domains, wherein the first configuration is different from the second configuration, and wherein each of the plurality of PCI-Express switching elements operate in only one of the plurality of directional fabric domains at a time.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the configuration means is operable in a post-manufactured state to reconfigure the plurality of PCI-Express switching elements from the first configuration to the second configuration.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the configuration means is user-reconfigurable.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the configuration means is manually reconfigurable.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the configuration means is software reconfigurable.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of directional fabric domains is coupled to a unique root complex.
21. The method of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of directional fabric domains comprises at least one PCI-Express link.
22. A configurable switching device, comprising:
a switching platform on one of a backplane and a motherboard;
a plurality of PCI-Express switching elements coupled to the switch platform; and
a configuration means coupled to the switch platform, wherein the configuration means is operable to configure and reconfigure the plurality of PCI-Express switching elements to operate in a plurality of directional fabric domains, and wherein each of the plurality of PCI-Express switching elements operate in only one of the plurality of directional fabric domains at a time.
23. The configurable switching device of claim 22 , wherein the configuration means is operable in a post-manufactured state to reconfigure the plurality of PCI-Express switching elements from a first configuration to a second configuration.
24. The configurable switching device of claim 22 , wherein the configuration means is user-reconfigurable.
25. The configurable switching device of claim 22 , wherein the configuration means is manually reconfigurable.
26. The configurable switching device of claim 22 , wherein the configuration means is software reconfigurable.
27. The configurable switching device of claim 22 , wherein each of the plurality of directional fabric domains is coupled to a unique root complex.
28. The configurable switching device of claim 22 , wherein each of the plurality of directional fabric domains comprises at least one PCI-Express link.