Connection apparatus and connection apparatus management method

A method for managing a connection apparatus and a connection apparatus are disclosed. In an embodiment the connection apparatus includes a first connector configured to be connected to a service processing unit, a second connector configured to be connected to a first switching unit, a third connector configured to be connected to a second switching unit, wherein the third connector is further configured to be disconnected from the second switching unit and connected to the first switching unit. The apparatus further comprises a first transmission medium, a second transmission medium, one end of the first transmission medium being directly connected to the first connector, one end of the second transmission medium being directly connected to the first connector, another end of the first transmission medium being directly connected to the second connector, and another end of the second transmission medium being directly connected to the third connector.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a connection apparatus and a connection apparatus management method.

BACKGROUND

Network devices include routers and switches. For example, a router may include a backplane, a service processing unit, and a switching unit. The backplane is configured to connect the service processing unit and the switching unit. The service processing unit sends data to the switching unit through the backplane, and the switching unit processes the data.

In the prior art, a connection relationship between the service processing unit and the switching unit is fixed. A flexible configuration of the connection relationship between the service processing unit and the switching unit cannot be implemented.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide a connection apparatus and a connection apparatus management method, which can implement a flexible configuration of a connection relationship between a service processing unit and a switching unit.

Embodiments of the present invention may use the following technical solutions:

According to a first aspect, a connection apparatus management method is provided and includes disconnecting a third connector from a second switching unit, where the third connector is a connector in a connection apparatus, the connection apparatus includes a first connector, a second connector, the third connector, a first transmission medium, and a second transmission medium, one end of the first transmission medium is directly connected to the first connector, one end of the second transmission medium is directly connected to the first connector, another end of the first transmission medium is directly connected to the second connector, another end of the second transmission medium is directly connected to the third connector, the first connector is connected to a service processing unit, and the second connector is connected to a first switching unit; and connecting the third connector to the first switching unit.

In a first possible implementation manner of the connection apparatus management method provided in the first aspect, after the disconnecting the third connector from the second switching unit, the method further includes stopping supplying power to the second switching unit.

According to the connection apparatus management method provided in the first aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the connection apparatus management method provided in the first aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the connection apparatus management method provided in the first aspect, before the disconnecting the third connector from the second switching unit, the method further includes connecting a fourth connector to the first switching unit, where the fourth connector is a connector in the connection apparatus, the connection apparatus includes the fourth connector and a third transmission medium, one end of the third transmission medium is directly connected to the first connector, and another end of the third transmission medium is directly connected to the fourth connector.

According to the connection apparatus management method provided in the first aspect, the first possible implementation manner of the connection apparatus management method provided in the first aspect, or the second possible implementation manner of the connection apparatus management method provided in the first aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the connection apparatus management method provided in the first aspect, the first transmission medium or the second transmission medium is a cable, an optical fiber, or a flexible circuit board.

According to the connection apparatus management method provided in the first aspect, the first possible implementation manner of the connection apparatus management method provided in the first aspect, the second possible implementation manner of the connection apparatus management method provided in the first aspect, or the third possible implementation manner of the connection apparatus management method provided in the first aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the connection apparatus management method provided in the first aspect, the service processing unit is an interface board or a subcard of an interface board.

According to a second aspect, a connection apparatus is provided and includes a first connector, a second connector, a third connector, a first transmission medium, and a second transmission medium, where one end of the first transmission medium is directly connected to the first connector, one end of the second transmission medium is directly connected to the first connector, another end of the first transmission medium is directly connected to the second connector, another end of the second transmission medium is directly connected to the third connector, the first connector is configured to connect a service processing unit, the second connector is configured to connect a first switching unit, and the third connector is configured to connect a second switching unit, where the third connector is further configured to disconnect the third connector from the second switching unit, and connect the third connector to the first switching unit.

In a first possible implementation manner of the connection apparatus provided in the second aspect, the connection apparatus further includes a fourth connector and a third transmission medium, where one end of the third transmission medium is directly connected to the first connector, and another end of the third transmission medium is directly connected to the fourth connector, where the fourth connector is configured to: before the third connector disconnects the third connector from the second switching unit, connect the fourth connector to the first switching unit.

According to the connection apparatus provided in the second aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the connection apparatus provided in the second aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the connection apparatus provided in the second aspect, the first transmission medium or the second transmission medium is a cable, an optical fiber, or a flexible circuit board.

According to the connection apparatus provided in the second aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the connection apparatus provided in the second aspect, or the second possible implementation manner of the connection apparatus provided in the second aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the connection apparatus provided in the second aspect, the service processing unit is an interface board or a subcard of an interface board.

According to a third aspect, a network apparatus is provided and includes the connection apparatus provided in the second aspect, or the connection apparatus provided in the first possible implementation manner of the connection apparatus provided in the second aspect or the third possible implementation manner of the connection apparatus provided in the second aspect.

In the foregoing technical solutions, by disconnecting the third connector from the second switching unit and connecting the third connector to the first switching unit, a flexible configuration of the connection relationship between the service processing unit and the switching unit is implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention provides a connection apparatus management method. As shown inFIG. 1, the method includes the following:

S101: Disconnect a third connector from a second switching unit.

The third connector is a connector in a connection apparatus. The connection apparatus includes a first connector, a second connector, the third connector, a first transmission medium, and a second transmission medium. One end of the first transmission medium is directly connected to the first connector. One end of the second transmission medium is directly connected to the first connector. Another end of the first transmission medium is directly connected to the second connector. Another end of the second transmission medium is directly connected to the third connector. The first connector is connected to a service processing unit. The second connector is connected to a first switching unit.

The service processing unit can execute a service. For example, the service may be processing a received packet according to a field in the received packet. The field may be information of the second layer to the seventh layer defined by an open systems interconnection model (Open Systems Interconnection model, OSI model).

For example, the service may be a network address translation (Network Address Translation, NAT) service, a carrier grade network address translation (Carrier Grade NAT, CGN) service, an Internet Protocol security (Internet Protocol Security, IPSEC) service, a video service, a firewall service, a uniform resource locator (Uniform/Universal Resource Locator, URL) filtering service, or a peer-to-peer (Peer-to-Peer, P2P) traffic visibility service. The video service may be a frame relay (Frame Relay, FR), a resolution enhancement technology (Resolution Enhancement Technology, RET), a multiple document interface (Multiple Document Interface, MDI), or a content delivery network (Content Delivery Network, CDN).

For example, the service may be a forwarding service or a committed access rate (committed access rate, CAR) service. If the service is a forwarding service, the forwarding service may be a layer-2 forwarding service, a layer-3 forwarding service, a multiprotocol label switching (multiprotocol label switching, MPLS) forwarding service, or a virtual private network (virtual private network, VPN) forwarding service.

For example, the service processing unit may be a line processing unit (line processing unit, LPU). The LPU may be an interface board in a router. The service processing unit may also be a subcard of the interface board.

The first switching unit can switch received data. The second switching unit can switch received data.

For example, the first switching unit may be a switch processing unit (switch processing unit, SPU). The SPU may be a switching board in a router. The first switching unit may also be a switch chip in the switching board.

For example, the second switching unit may be an SPU. The SPU may be a switching board in a router. The second switching unit may also be a switch chip in the switching board.

FIG. 2is a schematic structural diagram of a connection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 2, the connection apparatus10includes a first connector100, a second connector101, a third connector102, a first transmission medium103, and a second transmission medium104. One end of the first transmission medium103is directly connected to the first connector100. Another end of the first transmission medium103is directly connected to the second connector101. One end of the second transmission medium104is directly connected to the first connector100. Another end of the second transmission medium104is directly connected to the third connector102. The first connector100is connected to a service processing unit11. The second connector101is connected to a first switching unit12. The third connector102is connected to the second switching unit13.

S102: Connect the third connector to the first switching unit.

A connection apparatus shown inFIG. 3is obtained after the connection apparatus shown inFIG. 2is processed in S101and S102. Referring toFIG. 3, the third connector102is connected to the first switching unit12.

In the foregoing technical solution, by disconnecting the third connector from the second switching unit and connecting the third connector to the first switching unit, a technical effect that both the second connector and the third connector are connected to the first switching unit is achieved. A flexible configuration of a connection relationship between the service processing unit and the switching unit is implemented. In addition, a person skilled in the art may understand that the foregoing technical solution may also be implemented without stopping supplying power to the service processing unit, the first switching unit, or the second switching unit.

Optionally, in the method shown inFIG. 1, after S101, the method may further include the following:

S103: Stop supplying power to the second switching unit.

It may be understood that, after the third connector is disconnected from the second switching unit, power consumption may be reduced by stopping supplying power to the second switching unit.

It should be noted that the sequence of S102and S103is not limited in the present invention. That is, it may be that S102is executed first and then S103is executed; or it may also be that S103is executed first and then S102is executed; and it may further be that S102and S103are executed simultaneously.

Optionally, in the method shown inFIG. 1, before S101, the method may further include the following:

S104: Connect a fourth connector to the first switching unit.

The fourth connector is a connector in the connection apparatus. The connection apparatus includes the fourth connector and a third transmission medium. One end of the third transmission medium is directly connected to the first connector, and another end of the third transmission medium is directly connected to the fourth connector.

FIG. 6is a schematic structural diagram of a connection apparatus. Referring toFIG. 6andFIG. 2, the connection apparatus shown inFIG. 6may be obtained by adding a fourth connector105and a third transmission medium106to the connection apparatus shown inFIG. 2. Referring toFIG. 6, one end of the third transmission medium106is directly connected to the first connector100, and another end of the third transmission medium106is directly connected to the fourth connector105.

A person skilled in the art may understand that the following technical effect may be achieved if the fourth connector is connected to, before the third connector is disconnected from the second switching unit, the first switching unit: The fourth connector is connected to the first switching unit within a period of time between S101and S102. Decrease of a switching capability caused by execution of S101may be reduced. Surely, after S102, the fourth connector may also be disconnected from the first switching unit.

Optionally, in the method shown inFIG. 1, the first transmission medium or the second transmission medium may be a cable, an optical fiber, or a flexible circuit board.

Optionally, in the method shown inFIG. 5, the third transmission medium may also be a cable, an optical fiber, or a flexible circuit board.

It should be noted that the first transmission medium, the second transmission medium, and the third transmission medium may all be a cable, or may all be an optical fiber, or may all be a flexible circuit board, or may also be a combination of any two or three of a cable, an optical fiber, and a flexible circuit board. This is not limited by the present invention.

Optionally, the first transmission medium, the second transmission medium, or the third transmission medium may use different manufacturing materials and processes to improve a data transmission rate of the transmission medium. Further, in a case in which the number of service processing units, the number of switching units, and the number of connection apparatus do not change, the data transmission rate and a bandwidth of the connection apparatus may be improved by replacing the first transmission medium, the second transmission medium, or the third transmission medium so that the data transmission rate and the bandwidth are upgraded.

FIG. 2is a schematic structural diagram of a connection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The connection apparatus may be configured to execute the method shown inFIG. 1. Referring toFIG. 2, the connection apparatus10includes a first connector100, a second connector101, a third connector102, a first transmission medium103, and a second transmission medium104. One end of the first transmission medium103is directly connected to the first connector100. One end of the second transmission medium104is directly connected to the first connector100. Another end of the first transmission medium103is directly connected to the second connector101. Another end of the second transmission medium104is directly connected to the third connector102. The first connector100is configured to connect a service processing unit11. The second connector101is configured to connect a first switching unit12. The third connector102is configured to connect a second switching unit13.

The third connector102is further configured to disconnect the third connector102from the second switching unit13, and connect the third connector102to the first switching unit12.

The service processing unit can execute a service. For example, the service may be processing a received packet according to a field in the received packet. The field may be information of the second layer to the seventh layer defined by an OSI model.

For example, the service may be a NAT service, a CGN service, an IPSEC service, a video service, a firewall service, a URL filtering service, or a P2P traffic visibility service. The video service may be an FR, a RET, an MDI, or a CDN.

For example, the service may be a forwarding service or a CAR service. If the service is a forwarding service, the forwarding service may be a layer-2 forwarding service, a layer-3 forwarding service, an MPLS forwarding service, or a VPN forwarding service.

For example, the service processing unit may be an LPU. The LPU may be an interface board in a router. The service processing unit may also be a subcard of the interface board.

The first switching unit can switch received data. The second switching unit can switch received data.

For example, the first switching unit may be an SPU. The SPU may be a switching board in a router. The first switching unit may also be a switch chip in the switching board.

For example, the second switching unit may be an SPU. The SPU may be a switching board in a router. The second switching unit may also be a switch chip in the switching board.

Optionally, as shown inFIG. 6, the connection apparatus10shown inFIG. 2further includes a fourth connector105and a third transmission medium106. One end of the third transmission medium106is directly connected to the first connector100, and another end of the third transmission medium106is directly connected to the fourth connector105.

The fourth connector105is configured to: before the third connector102disconnects the third connector102from the second switching unit13, connect the fourth connector105to the first switching unit12.

A person skilled in the art may understand that the following technical effect may be achieved if the fourth connector105is connected to, before the third connector102is disconnected from the second switching unit13, the first switching unit12: The fourth connector105is connected to the first switching unit12within a period of time after the third connector102is disconnected from the second switching unit13and before the third connector102is connected to the first switching unit12. Decrease of a switching capability caused by disconnecting the third connector102from the second switching unit13may be reduced. Surely, after the third connector102is connected to the first switching unit12, the fourth connector105may also be disconnected from the first switching unit12.

Optionally, in the connection apparatus shown inFIG. 2, the first transmission medium103or the second transmission medium104may be a cable, an optical fiber, or a flexible circuit board.

Optionally, in the connection apparatus shown inFIG. 6, the third transmission medium106may also be a cable, an optical fiber, or a flexible circuit board.

It should be noted that, the first transmission medium103, the second transmission medium104, and the third transmission medium106may all be a cable, or may all be an optical fiber, or may all be a flexible circuit board, or may also be a combination of any two or three of a cable, an optical fiber, and a flexible circuit board. This is not limited by the present invention.

Optionally, the first transmission medium103, the second transmission medium104, or the third transmission medium106may use different manufacturing materials and processes to improve a data transmission rate of the transmission medium. Further, in a case in which the number of service processing units11, the number of first switching units12, the number of second switching units13, and the number of connection apparatus10do not change, the data transmission rate and a bandwidth of the connection apparatus10may be improved by replacing the first transmission medium103, the second transmission medium104, or the third transmission medium106, so that the data transmission rate and the bandwidth of a whole network device are upgraded.

In the foregoing technical solution, by disconnecting the third connector from the second switching unit and connecting the third connector to the first switching unit, a technical effect that both the second connector and the third connector are connected to the first switching unit is achieved. A flexible configuration of a connection relationship between the service processing unit and the switching unit is implemented. In addition, a person skilled in the art may understand that the foregoing technical solution may also be implemented without stopping supplying power to the service processing unit, the first switching unit, or the second switching unit.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a network device, including a connection apparatus10, a service processing unit11, a first switching unit12, and a second switching unit13shown inFIG. 2.

As shown inFIG. 2, the connection apparatus10includes a first connector100, a second connector101, a third connector102, a first transmission medium103, and a second transmission medium104. One end of the first transmission medium103is directly connected to the first connector100. One end of the second transmission medium104is directly connected to the first connector100. Another end of the first transmission medium103is directly connected to the second connector101. Another end of the second transmission medium104is directly connected to the third connector102. The first connector100is configured to connect the service processing unit11. The second connector101is configured to connect the first switching unit12. The third connector102is configured to connect the second switching unit13. The third connector102is further configured to disconnect the third connector102from the second switching unit13, and connect the third connector102to the first switching unit12.

The network device may be a router, a switch, a firewall, or a load balancer.

FIG. 8is a schematic structural diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 8, the network device includes eight service processing units and eight switching units. The eight service processing units are connected to the eight switching units in a full mesh (full mesh) manner. Eight connection apparatuses10shown inFIG. 7may be used to connect the eight service processing units to the eight switching units. The eight connection apparatuses10have a one-to-one correspondence with the eight service processing units.

As shown inFIG. 8, the eight switching units are respectively a first switching unit12, a second switching unit13, a third switching unit14, a fourth switching unit15, a fifth switching unit16, a sixth switching unit17, a seventh switching unit18, and an eighth switching unit19.

A shown inFIG. 7, each connection apparatus10among the eight connection apparatuses includes a first connector100, a second connector101, a third connector102, a fourth connector107, a fifth connector108, a sixth connector109, a seventh connector110, an eighth connector111, a ninth connector112, a first transmission medium103, a second transmission medium104, a third transmission medium113, a fourth transmission medium114, a fifth transmission medium115, a sixth transmission medium116, a seventh transmission medium117, and an eighth transmission medium118. One end of the first transmission medium103is directly connected to the first connector100. One end of the second transmission medium104is directly connected to the first connector100. One end of the third transmission medium113is directly connected to the first connector100. One end of the fourth transmission medium114is directly connected to the first connector100. One end of the fifth transmission medium115is directly connected to the first connector100. One end of the sixth transmission medium116is directly connected to the first connector100. One end of the seventh transmission medium117is directly connected to the first connector100. One end of the eighth transmission medium118is directly connected to the first connector100. Another end of the first transmission medium103is directly connected to the second connector101. Another end of the second transmission medium104is directly connected to the third connector102. Another end of the third transmission medium113is directly connected to the fourth connector107. Another end of the fourth transmission medium114is directly connected to the fifth connector108. Another end of the fifth transmission medium115is directly connected to the sixth connector109. Another end of the sixth transmission medium116is directly connected to the seventh connector110. Another end of the seventh transmission medium117is directly connected to the eighth connector111. Another end of the eighth transmission medium118is directly connected to the ninth connector112.

A person skilled in the art may clearly understand that, for convenience and brevity of description, only division of the foregoing functional modules is used as an example for description. In an actual application, the foregoing functions may be allocated to different functional modules for completion according to a requirement, that is, an internal structure of the device is divided into different functional modules for completing all or a part of the functions described above. For a detailed working process of the foregoing system, apparatus, and unit, reference may be made to a corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments, and details are not described herein again.