Multi-configurable switching system using multi-functionality card slots

摘要

An embodiment of the invention comprises a reconfigurable chassis with one or more multi-functionality card slots, where each multi-functionality card slot is capable of being populated with at least one of a plurality of different types of cards, including port cards and switch cards. In a first configuration, the port card slots and the multi-functionality card slots are populated with port cards. In a second configuration, a first set of multi-functionality card slots is populated with switch cards and a second set of multi-functionality card slots is populated with port cards. In a third configuration, the first set of multi-functionality card slots and the second set of multi-functionality card slots are populated with switch cards.

主权项

1. A reconfigurable chassis comprising:
one or more port card slots; and a first set of multi-functionality card slots and a second set of multi-functionality card slots, wherein each multi-functionality card slot in the first set and second set is capable of being populated with at least one of a plurality of different types of cards, including port cards and switch cards, wherein in a first configuration the one or more port card slots and the one or more multi-functionality card slots are populated with port cards, in a second configuration the first set of multi-functionality card slots is populated with switch cards and the second set of multi-functionality card slots is populated with port cards, and in a third configuration the first set of multi-functionality card slots and the second set of multi-functionality card slots are populated with switch cards, and wherein each port card is capable of forwarding a first bandwidth to the switch cards in the second configuration, and each port card is capable of forwarding a second bandwidth greater than the first bandwidth to the switch cards in the third configuration.