Patent ID: 8107466
Filing Date: 2012-01-31
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A network switch fabric for a clustering system with a plurality of nodes, each node having a first system input/output bus and a second system input/output bus, comprising: a base board; at least a first network switch and a second network switch being configured on the base board; a plurality of network slots, divided into a first group and a second group, each having a sum number of differential pairs and being configured on the base board, each of said plurality of network slots of the first group being in circuit connection with the first network switch and being connected with a respective one of the nodes through the first system input/output bus thereof, and each of said plurality of network slots of the second group being in circuit connection with the second network switch and being connected with a respective one of the nodes through the second system input/output bus thereof; and a first network interface card inserted in a first network slot of said first group and a second network interface card inserted in said second network slot of said second group, the first network interface card having a first number of differential pairs and the second network interface card having a second number of differential pairs, the sum number being a superset of either the first number or the second number; wherein the first network interface card and the second network interface card are configured with different network interconnection protocols; wherein each node is connected via its first system input/output bus to a network slot in the first group and via its second system input/output bus to a network slot in the second group.