U.S. patent application number 14/189036 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-04 for fabric card and communications device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Guoqiang Ma.
Application Number | 20140247826 14/189036 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51420929 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140247826 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ma; Guoqiang |
September 4, 2014 |
FABRIC CARD AND COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE
Abstract
A fabric card and a communications device. The fabric card
includes at least one fabric card chip and at least two fabric card
connector groups, where each fabric card connector group of the at
least two fabric card connector groups includes at least two fabric
card connectors, the number of fabric card chips is less than the
number of at least two fabric card connector groups, each fabric
card chip of the at least one fabric card chip connects to all
fabric card connectors in at least one fabric card connector group,
all fabric card connectors in the fabric card connector group that
connect to the fabric card chip exchange data using the fabric card
chip. This fully utilizes an exchange capability of the fabric card
chip and saves system resources.
Inventors: |
Ma; Guoqiang; (Beijing,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. |
Shenzhen |
|
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
Huawei Technologies Co.,
Ltd.
Shenzhen
CN
|
Family ID: |
51420929 |
Appl. No.: |
14/189036 |
Filed: |
February 25, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
370/359 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 49/15 20130101;
H04L 49/40 20130101; H04L 12/50 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/359 |
International
Class: |
H04L 12/50 20060101
H04L012/50 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 1, 2013 |
CN |
PCT/CN2013/072073 |
Claims
1. A fabric card, comprising: at least one fabric card chip; and at
least two fabric card connector groups, wherein each fabric card
connector group comprises at least two fabric card connectors,
wherein the number of the fabric card chip(s) is less than the
number of the at least two fabric card connector groups, wherein
each fabric card chip connects to all fabric card connectors,
wherein all fabric card connectors that connect to the fabric card
chip exchange data using the fabric card chip, and wherein one of
the fabric card connectors is configured to exchange data only with
other fabric card connectors in the same fabric card connector
group to which the fabric card connector belongs.
2. The fabric card according to claim 1, wherein the fabric card
comprises one main card and at least one connection card, wherein
the number of the at least two fabric card connector groups minus
the number of the at least one connection card equals one, wherein
the at least one fabric card chip resides on the main card, wherein
one fabric card connector group of the at least two fabric card
connector groups is arranged on the main card, and wherein one
fabric card connector group of the at least two fabric card
connector groups is arranged on each connection card of the at
least one connection card.
3. The fabric card according to claim 2, wherein all fabric card
connectors in each fabric card connector group on the at least one
connection card connect to at least one fabric card chip on the
main card using a connection wire.
4. The fabric card according to claim 3, wherein the one main card
and the at least one connection card are fixed together using a
rigid connection.
5. A communications device, comprising: at least one fabric card;
and at least two line cards, wherein each fabric card comprises at
least one fabric card chip and at least two fabric card connector
groups, wherein each fabric card connector group comprises at least
two fabric card connectors, wherein the number of the fabric card
chip(s) is less than the number of the at least two fabric card
connector groups, wherein each fabric card chip connects to all
fabric card connectors, wherein all fabric card connectors that
connect to the fabric card chip exchange data using the fabric card
chip, wherein one of the fabric card connectors in one fabric card
connector group exchanges data only with other fabric card
connector in the same fabric card connector group to which the
fabric card connector belongs; wherein each line card of the at
least two line cards comprises at least two line card connectors;
and wherein the number of fabric card connectors in each fabric
card connector group on the at least one fabric card is the same,
wherein the number of fabric card connectors in each fabric card
connector group is not less than the number of the at least two
line cards, wherein the number of the at least two line card
connectors in each line card is the same as the number of fabric
card connector groups on the at least one fabric card, and wherein
each fabric card connector group connects to each line card only
using one fabric card connector and one line card connector.
6. The communications device according to claim 5, further
comprising a backplane, wherein at least two fabric card slots and
at least two line card slots are arranged on the backplane, wherein
each fabric card socket in each fabric card slot separately
connects to one line card socket in different line card slots,
wherein each line card socket in each line card slot connects to
one fabric card socket in different fabric card slots, wherein each
fabric card connector group on each fabric card separately
corresponds to one fabric card slot on the backplane, wherein at
least two fabric card connectors in each fabric card connector
group connect to at least two fabric card sockets in a fabric card
slot, which corresponds to the fabric card connector group to which
the at least two fabric card connectors belongs in one-to-one
correspondence, wherein each line card separately corresponds to
one line card slot on the backplane, and wherein at least two line
card connectors in each line card connect to at least two line card
sockets in a line card slot, which corresponds to the line card to
which the at least two line card connectors belongs in one-to-one
correspondence.
7. The communications device according to claim 5, wherein the
fabric card comprises one main card and at least one connection
card, wherein the number of the at least two fabric card connector
groups minus the number of the at least one connection card equals
one, wherein the at least one fabric card chip resides on the main
card, wherein one fabric card connector group of the at least two
fabric card connector groups is arranged on the main card, and
wherein one fabric card connector group of the at least two fabric
card connector groups is arranged on each connection card of the at
least one connection card.
8. The communications device according to claim 7, wherein all
fabric card connectors in each fabric card connector group on the
at least one connection card connect to at least one fabric card
chip on the main card using a connection wire.
9. The communications device according to claim 8, wherein the one
main card and the at least one connection card are fixed together
using a rigid connection.
10. The communications device according to claim 6, wherein the
fabric card comprises one main card and at least one connection
card, wherein the number of the at least two fabric card connector
groups minus the number of the at least one connection card equals
one, wherein the at least one fabric card chip resides on the main
card, wherein one fabric card connector group of the at least two
fabric card connector groups is arranged on the main card, and
wherein one fabric card connector group of the at least two fabric
card connector groups is arranged on each connection card of the at
least one connection card.
11. The communications device according to claim 10, wherein all
fabric card connectors in each fabric card connector group on the
at least one connection card connect to at least one fabric card
chip on the main card using a connection wire.
12. The communications device according to claim 11, wherein the
one main card and the at least one connection card are fixed
together using a rigid connection.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to International Patent
Application No. PCT/CN2013/072073, filed on Mar. 1, 2013, which is
hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This application relates to communications technologies, and
in particular, to a fabric card and a communications device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A line card and a fabric card are arranged inside a
communications device. The line card in the communications device
provides an interface for a user equipment and is a board used by
the user equipment. The fabric card is a data exchange unit in the
communications device. Different line cards exchange data using the
fabric card. The fabric card is installed in a fabric card socket
on a backplane using a fabric card connector, the line card is
installed in a line card socket on the backplane using a line card
connector, and the fabric card socket connects to the line card
socket by means of wiring on the backplane, so that each fabric
card connects to each line card and each line card connects to each
fabric card.
[0004] Generally, the fabric card and the line card in the
communications device mainly use an orthogonal connection
architecture shown in FIG. 1 for connection. As shown in FIG. 1,
multiple line cards 11 and multiple fabric cards 12 are separately
installed in the communications device. Each line card 11 is
installed in line card sockets (not shown in FIG. 1) on a backplane
(not shown in FIG. 1) using line card connectors 15, and each
fabric card 12 is installed in fabric card sockets (not shown in
FIG. 1) on the backplane using fabric card connectors 16. The line
card socket connected to each line card connector 15 and the fabric
card socket connected to each fabric card connector 16 orthogonally
connect to each other on the backplane, so that each line card 11
connects to every fabric card 12, and each fabric card 12 connects
to every line card 11. A line card chip 13 is arranged on the line
card 11. The line card chip 13 connects to all line card connectors
15 in the line card 11 and is used to exchange data between user
equipments connected to the line card 11. A fabric card chip 14 is
arranged on the fabric card 12. The fabric card chip 14 connects to
all fabric card connectors 16 in the fabric card 12 and is used to
exchange data between different line cards 11. Multiple fabric card
sockets on the backplane that are used to install one fabric card
are collectively referred to as one fabric card slot. Multiple line
card sockets that are used to install one line card are
collectively referred to as one line card slot. Multiple fabric
card connectors 16 in one fabric card slot separately connect to
different line cards 11 and are collectively referred to as one
fabric card connector group; a fabric card 12 exchanges data
between different line cards 11 using the multiple fabric card
connectors 16 in a same fabric card slot. Multiple line card
connectors 15 in one line card slot separately connect to different
fabric cards 12, and one line card 11 and different fabric cards 12
are connected using the multiple line card connectors 15 in a same
line card slot.
[0005] In a conventional communications device, at least one fabric
card chip is arranged on a fabric card, and each fabric card chip
on one fabric card provides data exchange only for one fabric card
connector group. However, because the fabric card chip is a
high-performance chip, there is redundancy in a data exchange
capability of the fabric card chip and this causes a waste of
system resources.
SUMMARY
[0006] This application provides a fabric card and a communications
device, so as to fully utilize a data exchange capability of a
fabric card chip and improve utilization of system resources.
[0007] A first aspect provides a fabric card, including: at least
one fabric card chip and at least two fabric card connector groups,
where each fabric card connector group of the at least two fabric
card connector groups includes at least two fabric card connectors,
and the number of the fabric card chips is less than the number of
the at least two fabric card connector groups; each fabric card
chip of the at least one fabric card chip connects to all fabric
card connectors in at least one fabric card connector group, and
all fabric card connectors in the fabric card connector group that
connect to the fabric card chip exchange data using the fabric card
chip; and a fabric card connector in one fabric card connector
group can exchange data only with other fabric card connectors in a
same fabric card connector group to which the fabric card connector
belongs.
[0008] A second aspect provides a communications device, including:
at least one fabric card mentioned above and at least two line
cards, where each line card of the at least two line cards includes
at least two line card connectors; and the number of fabric card
connectors in each fabric card connector group on the at least one
fabric card is the same, the number of fabric card connectors in
each fabric card connector group is not less than the number of the
at least two line cards, the number of the at least two line card
connectors in each line card is the same as the total number of
fabric card connector groups on the at least one fabric card, and
each fabric card connector group connects to each line card using
only one fabric card connector and one line card connector.
[0009] According to the fabric card and the communications device
that are provided in this application, at least one fabric card
chip and at least two fabric card connector connection groups are
arranged on a fabric card, and the number of fabric card chips is
less than the number of fabric card connector groups. Therefore, at
least one fabric card chip provides data exchange for the at least
two fabric card connector groups. This fully utilizes a data
exchange capability of the fabric card chip and improves
utilization of system resources.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of
this application or in the prior art more clearly, the following
briefly introduces the accompanying drawings required for
describing the embodiments or the prior art. The accompanying
drawings in the following description show merely some embodiments
of this application, and a person of ordinary skill in the art may
still derive other drawings from these accompanying drawings
without creative efforts.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an orthogonal
connection architecture of fabric cards and line cards in a
conventional device;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a first
embodiment of a fabric card according to an embodiment of this
application;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of another
implementation manner of a first embodiment of a fabric card
according to an embodiment of this application;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a second
embodiment of a fabric card according to an embodiment of this
application; and
[0015] FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a first
embodiment of a communications device according to an embodiment of
this application.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0016] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages
of the embodiments of this application more clear, the following
clearly describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of
this application with reference to the accompanying drawings in the
embodiments of this application. The described embodiments are
merely a part rather than all of the embodiments of this
application. All other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary
skill in the art based on the embodiments of this application
without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of
this application.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a first
embodiment of a fabric card according to an embodiment of this
application. As shown in FIG. 2, a fabric card 31 provided in this
embodiment includes at least one fabric card chip 311 and at least
two fabric card connector groups 312. Each fabric card connector
group 312 includes at least two fabric card connectors 313, where
the number of fabric card chips 311 is less than the number of
fabric card connector groups 312. Each fabric card chip 311
connects to all fabric card connectors 313 in at least one fabric
card connector group 312, and all fabric card connectors 313 in
each fabric card connector group 312 exchange data using the fabric
card chip 311. One fabric card connector group 312 indicates a
combination of multiple fabric card connectors 313. A fabric card
connector 313 in one fabric card connector group 312 can exchange
data only with other fabric card connectors 313 in a same fabric
card connector group 312 to which the fabric card connector 313
belongs. That is, a fabric card connector in one fabric card
connector group cannot exchange data with other fabric card
connectors in another fabric card connector group. Generally, the
number of fabric card connectors in each fabric card connector
group is the same; however, the number of fabric card connectors in
each fabric card connector group may also be different.
[0018] In FIG. 2, an example in which a fabric card 31 includes one
fabric card chip 311 and two fabric card connector groups 312, and
each fabric card connector group 312 includes two fabric card
connectors 313 is used for description. In another example, a
fabric card may include two fabric card chips and three fabric card
connector groups, and each fabric card connector group includes
multiple fabric card connectors, where one fabric card chip
connects to all fabric card connectors in one fabric card connector
group, and the other fabric card chip connects to all fabric card
connectors in the other two fabric card connector groups.
[0019] One fabric card connector group 312 may further connect to
multiple fabric card chips 311 and concurrently exchange data using
the multiple fabric card chips 311, so as to increase a data
exchange capability. This is not limited in this application. In
this application, multiple fabric card connector groups 312 connect
to a same fabric card chip 311, so that a fabric card chip 311 may
separately provide data exchange services for fabric card
connectors 313 in the multiple fabric card connector groups 312.
For example, a fabric card includes two fabric card chips and three
fabric card connector groups, and each fabric card connector group
includes multiple fabric card connectors. The two fabric card chips
separately connect to all fabric card connectors in the three
fabric card connector groups. Both the two fabric card chips ensure
that a fabric card connector in one fabric card connector group can
exchange data only with other fabric card connectors in a same
fabric card connector group to which the fabric card connector
belongs.
[0020] Specifically, in a conventional communications device, one
fabric card has only one fabric card connector group. Therefore, a
fabric card chip can exchange data only between at least two fabric
card connectors in the one fabric card connector group. In this
embodiment, one fabric card 31 has at least two fabric card
connector groups 312, and the number of fabric card chips 311 is
less than the number of fabric card connector groups 312.
Therefore, at least one fabric card chip 311 on the fabric card 31
separately connects to each fabric card connector 313 in the at
least two fabric card connector groups 312, so that the fabric card
chip 311 may exchange data between fabric card connectors 313 in
the two fabric card connector groups 312, thereby fully increasing
a data exchange capability of the fabric card chip 311. Fabric card
connectors 313 that belong to one fabric card connector group 312
need to connect to a same fabric card chip 311 and exchange data
using the fabric card chip 311. If more than one fabric card
connector group 312 connects to a same fabric card chip 311, each
fabric card connector 313 in each fabric card connector group 312
can exchange, using the fabric card chip 311, data only with other
fabric card connectors 313 in a same fabric card connector group
312 to which the fabric card connector 313 belongs, but cannot
exchange, using the fabric card chip 311, data with other fabric
card connectors 313 in a different fabric card connector group 312
to which the fabric card connector 313 does not belong.
[0021] Specifically, each fabric card chip 311 connects to a fabric
card connector 313 using chip pins of the fabric card chip 311. The
number of fabric card connectors 313 to which one fabric card chip
311 is capable of connecting is determined according to the number
of chip pins on the fabric card chip 311 and a data exchange
capability that can be provided by the fabric card chip 311.
Generally, each fabric card chip 311 connects to a maximum of two
fabric card connector groups 312.
[0022] In this embodiment, at least one fabric card chip, which
connects to at least two fabric card connector groups, is arranged
on a fabric card, and the number of fabric card chips is less than
the number of fabric card connector groups. Therefore, the at least
one fabric card chip provides data exchange for the at least two
fabric card connector groups. This fully utilizes a data exchange
capability of the fabric card chip and improves utilization of
system resources.
[0023] In a conventional communications device, a fabric card is
generally a planar board. For a purpose for implementing functions
of the fabric card in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the
fabric card may also be designed in various shapes, such as a "T"
shape, an "L" shape, or an "H" shape. For example, the fabric card
chip is arranged on a board, a fabric card connector group is
arranged on the board on which the fabric card chip is arranged,
and other fabric card connector groups are arranged on other boards
that are perpendicular to the board, so as to implement the
functions of the fabric card in the embodiment illustrated in FIG.
2. However, the fabric card provided in this application is not
limited to the foregoing shapes, so long as the fabric card chip on
the fabric card is capable of connecting to at least two fabric
card connector groups. FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of
another implementation manner of a first embodiment of a fabric
card according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in
FIG. 3, the fabric card 31 is a T shape fabric card, a fabric card
connector group 312 is arranged on each plane of the T shape fabric
card, a fabric card chip 311 is arranged on one of the planes, and
all fabric card connectors 313 in two fabric card connector groups
312 connect to the fabric card chip 311.
[0024] Besides the fabric card of the non-planar board form, based
on the foregoing embodiment, the fabric card may further include
one main card and at least one connection card. The number of the
at least two fabric card connector groups 312 minus the number of
the at least one connection card equals one. At least one fabric
card chip 311 resides on the main card. One fabric card connector
group 312 of the at least two fabric card connector groups 312 is
arranged on the main card, and one fabric card connector group 312
of the at least two fabric card connector groups 312 is arranged on
each connection card of the at least one connection card.
[0025] FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a second
embodiment of a fabric card according to an embodiment of this
application. As shown in FIG. 4, a fabric card 41 in this
embodiment includes a main card 301 and at least one connection
card 302. At least one fabric card chip 311 and one fabric card
connector group 312 are arranged on the main card 301. One fabric
card connector group 312 is arranged on each connection card 302.
The total number of fabric card connector groups 312 on the fabric
card 41 minus the number of connector cards 302 equals one. Each
fabric card connector group 312 includes at least two fabric card
connectors 313. At least one fabric card chip 311 connects to all
fabric card connectors 313 in one fabric card connector group 312
on the main card 301 and connects to all fabric card connectors 313
in the at least one fabric card connector group 312 on the at least
one connection card 302, which indicates that one fabric card chip
311 that connects to all fabric card connectors 313 in one fabric
card connector group 312 on the main card 301 and in the at least
one fabric card connector group 312 on the at least one connection
card 302 exists; or one fabric card chip 311 connects to all fabric
card connectors 313 in the at least two fabric card connector
groups 312 on the at least one connection card 302. All fabric card
connectors 313 in each fabric card connector group 312 that are
arranged on the main board 301 or arranged on the connection card
302 exchange data using the same fabric card chip 311. In FIG. 4,
an example in which the fabric card 41 includes one connection card
302, the main card 301 includes one fabric card chip 311, and each
fabric card connector group 312 on the main card 301 and the
connection card 302 separately includes two fabric card connectors
313 is used for description.
[0026] Specifically, all fabric card connectors in one fabric card
connector group 312 on the main card 301 connect to the one fabric
card chip 311 on the main card 301 by means of cabling on the main
card 301, and all fabric card connectors in each fabric card
connector group 312 that is arranged on the connection card 302
connect to the one fabric card chip 311 on the main card 301 using
a connection wire.
[0027] Further, the fabric card 41 may further include, for
example, two connection cards 302, the main card 301 includes two
fabric card chips 311, each fabric card connector group 312 on the
main card 301 and the connection card 302 separately includes two
fabric card connectors 313. One fabric card chip 311 connects to
one fabric card connector group 312 on the main card 301 and one
fabric card connector group 312 on one connection card 302.
Specifically, the fabric card chip 311 separately connects to all
fabric card connectors 313 in one fabric card connector group 312
on the main card 301 by means of circuit board wiring on the main
card 301; because the main card 301 and the connection card 302 are
two independent cards, the fabric card chip 311 separately connects
to all fabric card connectors 313 in one fabric card connector
group 312 on one connection card 302 using a connection wire. The
connection wire only needs to ensure that the fabric card chip 311
connects to all fabric card connectors 313 on the connection card
302, and a specific form of the connection wire is not limited. In
addition, the other fabric card chip 311 on the main card 301
connects to one fabric card connector group 312 on the other
connection card 302. Specifically, the other fabric card chip 311
also connects to all fabric card connectors 313 in one fabric card
connector group 312 on the other connection card 302 using a
connection wire.
[0028] Specifically, a fabric card in a conventional communications
device includes one fabric card chip and one fabric card connector
group. In this embodiment, at least one connection card on which at
least one fabric card connector group is arranged connects to a
fabric card with an existing structure without changing the
existing structure of the fabric card in a communications device,
so as to form the fabric card in this embodiment.
[0029] In this embodiment, a spatial structure of the fabric card
31 is further limited based on the embodiment illustrated in FIG.
1, and the fabric card 31 is divided into one main card 301 and at
least one connection card 302. However, the fabric card 41 provided
in this embodiment also has beneficial effects of the fabric card
31 in the embodiment of the fabric card illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0030] In this embodiment, one fabric card is extended to one main
card and at least one connection card. At least one fabric card
chip on the main card separately connects to at least two fabric
card connector groups on the main card and the at least one
connection card, so that the at least two fabric card connector
groups exchange data using the same fabric card chip. This fully
utilizes a data exchange capability of the fabric card chip and
improves utilization of system resources. In addition, the fabric
card in this embodiment may be obtained by simply reconstructing
the existing fabric card, thereby reducing costs.
[0031] Further, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the main
card 301 and the at least one connection card 302 may be fixed
using a rigid connection. This may facilitate installation of a
fabric card 41 and avoids impact on a connection caused by stress
on a connection wire between the fabric card chip 311 and the
connection card 302. The rigid connection may specifically be a
connection manner in which the main card 301 and the at least one
connection card 302 are fixedly connected using a frame or a
connecting piece and a relative position relationship of the main
card 301 and the at least one connection card 302 is not changed
under external force.
[0032] FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a first
embodiment of a communications device according to an embodiment of
this application. As shown in FIG. 5, a communications device 70 in
this embodiment includes at least one fabric card 71 and at least
two line cards 72. Each line card 72 in the at least two line cards
72 includes at least two line card connectors 721. The number of
fabric card connectors 712 in each fabric card connector group on
the at least one fabric card 71 is the same, and the number of
fabric card connectors 712 in each fabric card connector group is
not less than the number of the at least two line cards 72. The
number of the at least two line card connectors 721 in each line
card 72 is the same as the total number of fabric card connector
groups on the at least one fabric card. Each fabric card connector
group connects to each line card 72 using only one fabric card
connector 712 and one line card connector 721.
[0033] In FIG. 5, an example in which three fabric cards 71 and two
line cards 72 exist and each line card 72 includes six line card
connectors 721 is used for description. Further, the fabric card 71
with a structure that is the same as that of the fabric card 41
shown in FIG. 4 is used for description. One fabric card 71 is used
as an example. The fabric card 71 includes a main card 701 and a
connection card 702. The main card 701 includes a fabric card chip
711, and the line card 72 includes a line card chip 722. The main
card 701 includes two fabric card connectors 712 that separately
connect to the two line cards 72, and the connection card 702
includes two fabric card connectors 712 that separately connect to
the two line cards 72. The fabric card chip 711 on the main card
701 connects to all fabric card connectors 712 on the main card 701
and the connection card 702. In addition, the line card chip 722 on
each line card 72 connects to all line card connectors 721 on the
line card 72.
[0034] Besides the fabric card 41 shown in FIG. 4, the fabric card
in the communications system provided in this embodiment of this
application may further use another structure, such as a structure
shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3.
[0035] The communications device shown in FIG. 5 may implement, by
arranging three fabric cards and two line cards, a function that is
generally implemented using six fabric cards and two line cards,
thereby saving system resources.
[0036] In this embodiment, at least one fabric card chip and at
least two fabric card connector groups are arranged on one fabric
card in the communications device; at least one fabric card chip on
the fabric card connects to the at least two fabric card connector
groups, and connects to at least two line card connectors of each
line card using the connected at least two fabric card connector
groups. This fully utilizes a data exchange capability of the
fabric card chip and improves utilization of system resources.
[0037] The communications device 71 shown in FIG. 5 may further
include a backplane.
[0038] At least two fabric card slots and at least two line card
slots are arranged on the backplane. Each fabric card socket in
each fabric card slot separately connects to one line card slot in
different line card slots, and each line card socket in each line
card slot separately connects to one fabric card socket in
different fabric card slots. Each fabric card connector group on
each fabric card separately corresponds to one fabric card slot on
the backplane, and at least two fabric card connectors in each
fabric card connector group connect to at least two fabric card
sockets in the corresponding fabric card slot in one-to-one
correspondence. Each line card separately corresponds to one line
card slot on the backplane, and at least two line card connectors
in each line card connect to at least two line card sockets in the
corresponding line card slot in one-to-one correspondence.
[0039] The fabric card and the line card in the conventional
communications device are connected using the backplane. Therefore,
a backplane is added based on the communications device shown in
FIG. 5, to fully utilize a data exchange capability of the fabric
card chip and save system resources only by changing a structure of
the existing fabric card in the communications device.
[0040] Finally, it should be noted that the foregoing embodiments
are merely intended for describing the technical solutions of this
application rather than limiting this application. Although this
application is described in detail with reference to the foregoing
embodiments, a person of ordinary skill in the art may still make
modifications to the technical solutions described in the foregoing
embodiments or make equivalent replacements to some or all
technical features thereof. Therefore, the protection scope of this
application shall be subject to the protection scope of the
claims.
* * * * *