Method and apparatus for redundancy switching in line cards

摘要

A system for redundancy switching of line cards in a communications system. When a line card needs to be replaced or serviced or becomes inoperable, signal traffic is switched to and through a redundant line card. This is achieved by implementing a switching fabric on I/O cards, the I/O cards carrying signal traffic to and from line cards. The switching fabric enables traffic to and from and I/O card servicing the line card to be replaced to instead service the redundant line card.