Physical layer devices for network switches

摘要

A switch includes a first IC and a second IC. The first IC includes a first set of (N+1) serializer/deserializer (SERDES) modules communicating with a first set of (N+1) SERDES modules of a switch IC; a first set of N SERDES modules communicating with a first set of N ports; and a first set of N multiplexer modules communicating with (i) the first set of N SERDES modules and (ii) the first set of (N+1) SERDES modules of the first IC. The second IC includes a second set of (N+1) SERDES modules communicating with a second set of (N+1) SERDES modules of the switch IC; a second set of N SERDES modules communicating with a second set of N ports; and a second set of N multiplexer modules communicating with (i) the second set of N SERDES modules and (ii) the second set of (N+1) SERDES modules of the second IC.