Backplane device for non-blocking stackable switches
A backplane device to connect to a plurality of stackable network switch devices. According to one aspect of the intention, each of the plurality of stackable network switch devices can implement its own internal non-blocking switching. According to another aspect of the intention, the relative configuration of connectors and signal lines of the backplane device provide for a switch device to be readily connected into (or disconnected from) a switch stack implementing combined non-blocking switching.
1. A backplane device comprising:
a main body to physically span in a first direction a plurality of stackable switch devices and one or more crossbar switch devices, wherein all of the plurality of stackable switch devices and the one or more crossbar switch devices are stacked with each other in the first direction;
a plurality of stackable switch connectors coupled to the main body, each stackable switch connector to couple to a respective one of the plurality of stackable switch devices;
one or more crossbar switch connectors coupled to the main body, each crossbar switch connector to couple to a respective one of the one or more crossbar switch devices; and
a plurality of signal lines including a different respective set of signal lines for each of the stackable switch connectors, the plurality of signal lines having a configuration wherein
for each of the stackable switch connectors, the respective set of signal lines for the stackable switch connector includes a different respective subset of one or more signal lines for each of the one or more crossbar switch connectors, and
wherein for each of the subsets of one or more signal lines in the respective set of signal lines, each signal line of the subset of one or more signal lines is to couple the respective stackable switch connector for the set of signal lines with the respective crossbar switch connector for the subset of one or more signal lines.
2. The backplane device of claim 1 , wherein each signal line of each subset of one or more signal lines is to couple only one stackable switch connector with one crossbar switch connector.
3. The backplane device of claim 1 , further comprising connecting means to secure the backplane device to a chassis.
4. The backplane device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more crossbar switch connectors comprise N crossbar switch connectors, and wherein the plurality of stackable switch connectors comprises 2N stackable switch connectors.
5. The backplane device of claim 4 , wherein each stackable switch connector is connected to kN of the plurality of signal lines, where k is an integer, and wherein for each of the plurality of stackable switch connectors, the stackable switch connector is connected to each of the one or more crossbar switch connectors by a different respective k signal lines of the plurality of signal lines.
6. The backplane device of claim 1 , further comprising a power line to deliver power to one or more switch devices.
7. A system comprising:
a plurality of stackable switch devices;
one or more crossbar switch devices to exchange data packets with the plurality of stackable switch devices, wherein all of the plurality of stackable switch devices and the one or more crossbar switch devices are stacked with each other in a first direction; and
a backplane device coupled to the plurality of stackable switch devices and to the one or more crossbar switch devices, the backplane device including:
a main body to physically span in the first direction the plurality of stackable switch devices and the one or more crossbar switch devices;
a plurality of stackable switch connectors coupled to the main body, each stackable switch connector coupled to a respective one of the plurality of stackable switch devices;
one or more crossbar switch connectors coupled to the main body, each crossbar switch connector coupled to a respective one of the one or more crossbar switch devices; and
a plurality of signal lines including a different respective set of signal lines for each of the stackable switch connectors, the plurality of signal lines having a configuration wherein
for each of the stackable switch connectors, the respective set of signal lines for the stackable switch connector includes a different respective subset of one or more signal lines for each of the one or more crossbar switch connectors, and
wherein for each of the subsets of one or more signal lines in the respective set of signal lines, each signal line of the subset of one or more signal lines is to couple the respective stackable switch connector for the set of signal lines with the respective crossbar switch connector for the subset of one or more signal lines.
8. The system of claim 7 ,
wherein for each of the plurality of stackable switch devices, a total data packet output capacity of the stackable switch is equal to or greater than a total data packet input capacity of the stackable switch; and
wherein coupling the backplane device to the plurality of stackable switch devices and to the one or more crossbar switch devices further provides for a total data packet output capacity of the plurality of stackable switch devices being equal to or greater than a total data packet input capacity of the plurality of stackable switch devices.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein each signal line of each subset of one or more signal lines is to couple only one stackable switch connector with one crossbar switch connector.
10. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a chassis to store one or more switch devices, the backplane device further including connecting means to secure the backplane device to a chassis.
11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more crossbar switch connectors comprise N crossbar switch connectors, and wherein the plurality of stackable switch connectors comprises 2N stackable switch connectors.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein each stackable switch connector is connected to kN of the plurality of signal lines, where k is an integer, and wherein for each of the plurality of stackable switch connectors, the stackable switch connector is connected to each of the one or more crossbar switch connectors by a different respective k signal lines of the plurality of signal lines.
13. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a power line to deliver power to one or more switch devices.
14. A backplane device comprising:
a main body to physically span in a first direction a plurality of stackable switch devices and one or more crossbar switch devices, wherein all of the plurality of stackable switch devices and the one or more crossbar switch devices are stacked with each other in the first direction;
a plurality of stackable switch connecting means coupled to the main body, each stackable switch connecting means for coupling to a respective one of the plurality of stackable switch devices;
one or more crossbar switch connecting means coupled to the main body, each crossbar switch connecting means for coupling to a respective one of the one or more crossbar switch devices; and
a plurality of signal lines including a different respective set of signal lines for each of the stackable switch connecting means, the plurality of signal lines having a configuration wherein
for each of the stackable switch connecting means, the respective set of signal lines for the stackable switch connecting means includes a different respective subset of one or more signal lines for each of the one or more crossbar switch connecting means, and
wherein for each of the subsets of one or more signal lines in the respective set of signal lines, each signal line of the subset of one or more signal lines is to couple the respective stackable switch connecting means for the set of signal lines with the respective crossbar switch connecting means for the subset of one or more signal lines.
15. The backplane device of claim 14 , further comprising connecting means to secure the backplane device to a chassis.
16. The backplane device of claim 14 , further comprising a flexion means to couple the main body to one of the plurality of stackable switch connecting means and the one or more crossbar switch connecting means, the flexion means to flexibly accommodate connection of a switch device to the backplane device.