Patent Publication Number: US-2023132869-A1

Title: Pivotable removable fan module for a rackmount network device chassis

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     A chassis is a structure (e.g., a rack) that is configurable with various types of network devices and/or network device components to provide a type and a quantity of required network ports. A chassis may include a quantity of fixed slots into which various types of network devices and/or network device components may be inserted. 
     SUMMARY 
     Some implementations described herein relate to a fan tray for a fan module of a network device chassis. The fan tray may include an inner assembly that includes an inner cassette, one or more fans connected to the inner cassette, a first latch connected to the inner cassette and configured to removably connect to an outer assembly of the fan tray, and a fan controller connected to the inner cassette and configured to control operation of the one or more fans. The outer assembly may be configured to receive and retain the inner assembly, and may include an outer cassette with one or more openings configured to communicate with the one or more fans, a second latch connected to the outer cassette and configured to removably connect to a rear portion of the network device chassis, and an adaptor connected to the outer cassette and configured to connect and provide power to the fan controller. 
     Some implementations described herein relate to a chassis. The chassis may include one or more components of a network device, and a fan module that includes a plurality of fan trays. Each of the fan trays may include an inner assembly that includes an inner cassette, one or more fans connected to the inner cassette, a first latch connected to the inner cassette and configured to removably connect to an outer assembly of the fan tray, and a fan controller connected to the inner cassette and configured to control operation of the one or more fans. The outer assembly may be configured to receive and retain the inner assembly, and may include an outer cassette with one or more openings configured to communicate with the one or more fans, a second latch connected to the outer cassette and configured to removably connect to a rear portion of the chassis, and an adaptor connected to the outer cassette and configured to connect and provide power to the fan controller. 
     Some implementations described herein relate to a fan module of a network device chassis. The fan module may include a plurality of fan trays. Each of the fan trays may include an inner assembly that includes an inner cassette, one or more fans connected to the inner cassette, a first latch connected to the inner cassette and configured to removably connect to an outer assembly of the fan tray, and a fan controller connected to the inner cassette and configured to control operation of the one or more fans. The outer assembly may be configured to receive and retain the inner assembly, and may include an outer cassette with one or more openings configured to communicate with the one or more fans, a second latch connected to the outer cassette and configured to removably connect to a rear portion of the network device chassis, and an adaptor connected to the outer cassette and configured to connect and provide power to the fan controller. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS.  1 A- 1 F  are diagrams of an example associated with a pivotable removable fan module for a rackmount network device chassis. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram of an example environment in which systems and/or methods described herein may be implemented. 
         FIGS.  3  and  4    are diagrams of example components of one or more devices of  FIG.  2   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description of example implementations refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. 
     A chassis may be mounted inside a closed cabinet using telescopic rails and without rear access to components (e.g., network devices and/or network device components) supported by the chassis or may be mounted in a closed cabinet with rear access (e.g., a rear door) to the components supported by the chassis. A fan module with multiple replaceable fan trays may be connected to a rear portion of the components supported by the chassis. The multiple fan trays for the fan module may cool the components supported by the chassis. However, the fan module is not accessible from the rear of the closed cabinet without rear access and is not accessible from the front or the top of the closed cabinet with rear access (e.g., since telescopic rails are not provided). Thus, current fan module designs are unable to support both a closed cabinet with telescopic rails and without rear access to the fan module and a closed cabinet with rear access to the fan module. This may cause a delay in replacing and/or servicing the fan module and may consume computing resources (e.g., processing resources, memory resources, communication resources, and/or the like), networking resources, and/or the like associated with delaying traffic transmission through a network while the fan module is being replaced and/or serviced, losing traffic due to the delay in replacing and/or servicing the fan module, handling lost traffic due to the delay in replacing and/or servicing the fan module, increasing costs of parts, inventory, and labor associated with supporting two different cabinet configurations, and/or the like. 
     Some implementations described herein relate to a pivotable removable fan module for a rackmount network device chassis. For example, the fan module may include a plurality of fan trays. Each of the fan trays may include an inner assembly that includes an inner cassette, one or more fans connected to the inner cassette, a first latch connected to the inner cassette and configured to removably connect to an outer assembly of the fan tray, and a fan controller connected to the inner cassette and configured to control operation of the one or more fans. The outer assembly may be configured to receive and retain the inner assembly, and may include an outer cassette with one or more openings configured to communicate with the one or more fans, a second latch connected to the outer cassette and configured to removably connect to a rear portion of the network device chassis, and an adaptor connected to the outer cassette and configured to connect and provide power to the fan controller. 
     In this way, a pivotable removable fan module may be provided for a rackmount network device chassis. For example, the pivotable removable fan module may support both a closed cabinet with telescopic rails and without rear access to the fan module and a closed cabinet with rear access to the fan module. For the closed cabinet with the telescopic rails and without rear access to the fan module, a network device chassis may be moved forward, via the telescopic rails, from a rack until a top of the fan module is accessible. A fan tray of the fan module may be vertically removed and replaced via the top of the fan module. For a closed cabinet with rear access to the fan module, a fan tray of the fan module may be pivoted away from a rear portion of a network device chassis and may be removed and replaced via the rear of the fan module. Thus, the pivotable removable fan module prevents a delay in replacing and/or servicing the fan module and conserves computing resources, networking resources, and/or the like that would otherwise have been consumed by delaying traffic transmission through a network while the fan module is being replaced and/or serviced, losing traffic due to the delay in replacing and/or servicing the fan module, handling lost traffic due to the delay in replacing and/or servicing the fan module, increasing costs of parts, inventory, and labor associated with supporting two different cabinet configurations, and/or the like. 
       FIGS.  1 A- 1 F  are diagrams of an example 100 associated with pivotable removable fan module for a rackmount network device chassis. As shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 F , example 100 includes network device chassis  105  for supporting one or more network devices and a fan module  110 . Further details of the network device chassis  105 , the network devices, and the fan module  110  are provided elsewhere herein. 
       FIG.  1 A  depicts network device chassis  105  mounted inside a closed cabinet using telescopic rails and without rear access to components (e.g., network devices and/or network device components) supported by the network device chassis  105 . As shown in  FIG.  1 A , the closed cabinet may include a front rack post, a rear rack post, and outer rails connected to the front rack post and the rear rack post (e.g., on opposing sides of the front rack post and the rear rack post). Inner rails may be connected to an upper network device chassis  105  and a lower network device chassis  105  (e.g., on opposing sides of the network device chassis  105 ) and may be telescopically provided within corresponding outer rails. 
     As further shown in  FIG.  1 A , a fan module  110  may be connected to rear portions of the components supported by the upper network device chassis  105  and the lower network device chassis  105 . The fan module  110  may include multiple replaceable fan trays that cool the components supported by the upper network device chassis  105  and the lower network device chassis  105 . In order to service or replace a fan tray of the fan module  110  of the lower network device chassis  105 , the lower network device chassis  105  may be pulled forward away from the front rack post, via the telescopic inner rails, until the fan module  110  clears the upper network device chassis  105 , as shown in  FIG.  1 A . In order to service or replace a fan tray of the fan module  110  of the upper network device chassis  105 , the upper network device chassis  105  may be pulled forward, away from the front rack post, via the telescopic inner rails, until the fan module  110  clears the front rack post. 
       FIG.  1 B  depicts network device chassis  105  mounted inside a closed cabinet using telescopic rails and with rear access to components (e.g., network devices and/or network device components) supported by the network device chassis  105 . As shown in  FIG.  1 B , the closed cabinet may include the front rack post, the rear rack post, the outer rails connected to the front rack post and the rear rack post (e.g., on opposing sides of the front rack post and the rear rack post), and a rear access door provided near the rear rack post. The inner rails may be connected to the upper network device chassis  105  and the lower network device chassis  105  (e.g., on opposing sides of the network device chassis  105 ) and may be telescopically provided within corresponding outer rails. 
     As further shown in  FIG.  1 B , the fan module  110  may be connected to the rear portions of the components supported by the upper network device chassis  105  and the lower network device chassis  105 . The fan module  110  may include multiple replaceable fan trays that cool the components supported by the upper network device chassis  105  and the lower network device chassis  105 . In order to service or replace a fan tray of the fan module  110  of the upper network device chassis  105  or the lower network device chassis  105 , the rear access door may be opened to expose the fan module  110  of the upper network device chassis  105  or the lower network device chassis  105 . 
       FIG.  1 C  depicts a rear portion of the network device chassis  105  and the fan module  110  of  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B . As shown, the fan module  110  may include multiple fan trays  115 , such as four fan trays  115 . In some implementations, the fan module  110  may include more than four fan trays  115 , less than four fan trays  115 , and/or the like. The quantity of the fan trays  115  provided in the fan module  110  may depend on sizes and shapes of the network device chassis  105 , the fan module  110 , and/or the fan trays  115 . Further details of the fan module  110  and the fan trays  115  are provided elsewhere herein. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1 D , the fan tray  115  may include an inner assembly  120  and an outer assembly  125  sized and shaped to receive and retain the inner assembly  120 . As further shown in  FIG.  1 D , the inner assembly  120  may be provided in a top portion of the outer assembly  125  to form the fan tray  115 . The inner assembly  120  may include an inner cassette  130 , a first latch  135 , fans  140 , and a fan controller  145 . The outer assembly  125  may include an outer cassette  150 , openings  155  in the outer cassette  150 , and an adaptor  160 . 
     The inner cassette  130  may support the first latch  135 , the fans  140 , and the fan controller  145  and may be made from a variety of materials, such as a metal, a plastic, and/or the like. The inner cassette  130  may be sized and shaped based on sizes and shapes of the network device chassis  105  and/or the fan module  110 . In some implementations, two sides of the inner cassette  130  may include perforations so that air flow may be generated by the fans  140  and provided to cool the components supported by the network device chassis  105 . 
     The first latch  135  may include a slide latch that engages a portion of the outer assembly  125 , in a closed position (e.g., slid toward the outer assembly  125 ), to retain the inner assembly  120  within the outer assembly  125 . When the first latch  135  is provided in an open position (e.g., slid away from the outer assembly  125 ), the inner assembly  120  may be vertically removable from the top portion of the outer assembly  125 . 
     The fan  140  may include a device that draws cooler air from the outside toward the components supported by the network device chassis  105  to cool the components, a device that expels warm air from the components supported by the network device chassis  105 , toward the outside, to cool the components, and/or the like. In some implementations, one of the fans  140  may draw the cooler air from the outside toward the components supported by the network device chassis  105  and another one of the fans  140  may expel the warm air from the components supported by the network device chassis  105 . The fans  140  may be sized and shaped based on sizes and shapes of the network device chassis  105  and/or the fan module  110 . Although two fans  140  are shown in  FIG.  1 D , more than two fans  140  or less than two fans  140  may be provided in the inner assembly  120  in some implementations. 
     The fan controller  145  may include a computing device (e.g., a printed circuit board) that controls operation of the fans  140 . For example, the fan controller  145  may control the speeds of the fans  140 , the rotational directions of the fans  140 , and/or the like. 
     The outer cassette  150  may support the inner assembly  120  (e.g., when provided within the outer assembly  125 ) and the adaptor  160 , and may be made from a variety of materials, such as a metal, a plastic, and/or the like. The outer cassette  150  may be sized and shaped based on sizes and shapes of the network device chassis  105  and/or the fan module  110 . In some implementations, two sides of the outer cassette  150  may include the openings  155  so that air flow may be generated by the fans  140  and provided to cool the components supported by the network device chassis  105 . The openings  155  may be sized and shaped to match or substantially match the sizes and shapes of the fans  140 . 
     The adaptor  160  may include a computing device (e.g., a printed circuit board) that is configured to provide power to the fan controller  145  of the inner assembly  120  and to connect and communicate with the fan controller  145 . The adaptor  160  may include a cable assembly that communicates with the components supported by the network device chassis  105  to control operation of the fans  140 . For example, the components (e.g., via the fan controller  145 , the adaptor, and the cable assembly) may control the speeds of the fans  140 , the rotational directions of the fans  140 , and/or the like. 
       FIG.  1 E  depicts a process of removing the inner assembly  120  of the fan tray  115  from the fan module  110  when the network device chassis  105  is mounted inside the closed cabinet using telescopic rails and without rear access to the components supported by the network device chassis  105 . With reference to  FIGS.  1 A and  1 E , the network device chassis  105  may be a bottom network device chassis  105  and may be pulled forward away from a top network device chassis  105  (not shown in  FIG.  1 E ), via the telescopic inner rails, until the fan module  110  clears the top network device chassis  105 . The first latch  135  of the inner assembly  120  may be slid to an open position (e.g., slid away from the outer assembly  125 ), and the inner assembly  120  may be vertically removed from the outer assembly  125  of the fan tray  115 . 
     In some implementations, the removed inner assembly  120  may be serviced and returned to the outer assembly  125 . The first latch  135  may be slid to a closed position (e.g., slid toward the outer assembly  125 ) to retain the serviced inner assembly  120  within the outer assembly  125 . Alternatively, a replacement inner assembly  120  may be provided in the outer assembly  125 , and the first latch  135  may be slid to the closed position to retain the replacement inner assembly  120  within the outer assembly  125 . In this way, the fan module  110  may be serviced without disabling the components supported by the network device chassis  105 . 
       FIG.  1 F  depicts a process of removing the inner assembly  120  of the fan tray  115  from the fan module  110  when the network device chassis  105  is mounted inside the closed cabinet with rear access (e.g., via the rear access door) to the components supported by the network device chassis  105 . With reference to  FIGS.  1 B and  1 F , the rear access door may be opened to provide access to the network device chassis  105 . The first latch  135  of the inner assembly  120  may be slid to an open position (e.g., slid away from the outer assembly  125 ). As further shown in  FIG.  1 F , a second latch  165  may be provided and may include a first component  170  connected to a rear portion of the network device chassis  105  and a second component  175  connected to the outer assembly  125 . In some implementations, the second latch  165  may include a touch latch that is provided in an open position when the second component  175  is forced toward and released from the first component  170 . When the second latch  165  is provided in the open position, a top portion of the outer assembly  125  is pivotable away from the rear portion of the network device chassis  105 . The second latch  165  may be provided in a closed position when second component  175  is retained by the first component  170 . When the second latch  165  is provided in the closed position, the top portion of the outer assembly  125  is retained by the rear portion of the network device chassis  105 . 
     As further shown in  FIG.  1 F , the outer assembly  125  of the fan tray  115  may be pushed to place the second latch  165  in the open position (e.g., to unlock the second latch  165 ). The top portion of the outer assembly  125  may be pivoted away from the rear portion of the network device chassis  105 . While in the pivoted position, the inner assembly  120  may be removed from the outer assembly  125  of the fan tray  115 . In some implementations, the removed inner assembly  120  may be serviced and returned to the outer assembly  125 . The outer assembly  125  may be pivoted toward the rear portion of the network device chassis  105  until the second latch  165  is in the closed position. The first latch  135  may be slid to the closed position (e.g., slid toward the outer assembly  125 ) to retain the serviced inner assembly  120  within the outer assembly  125 . Alternatively, a replacement inner assembly  120  may be provided in the outer assembly  125 , and the outer assembly  125  may be pivoted toward the rear portion of the network device chassis  105  until the second latch  165  is in the closed position. The first latch  135  may be slid to the closed position to retain the replacement inner assembly  120  within the outer assembly  125 . In this way, the fan module  110  may be serviced without disabling the components supported by the network device chassis  105 . 
     In this way, a pivotable removable fan module  110  may be provided for a rackmount network device chassis  105 . For example, the pivotable removable fan module  110  may support both a closed cabinet with telescopic rails and without rear access to the fan module  110  and a closed cabinet with rear access to the fan module  110 . For the closed cabinet with the telescopic rails and without rear access to the fan module  110 , the network device chassis  105  may be moved forward, via the telescopic rails, from a rack until a top of the fan module  110  is accessible. The fan tray  115  of the fan module  110  may be vertically removed and replaced via the top of the fan module  110 . For a closed cabinet with rear access to the fan module  110 , the fan tray  115  of the fan module  110  may be pivoted away from a rear portion of the network device chassis  105  and may be removed and replaced via the rear of the fan module  110 . Thus, the pivotable removable fan module  110  prevents a delay in replacing and/or servicing the fan module  110  and conserves computing resources, networking resources, and/or the like that would otherwise have been consumed by delaying traffic transmission through a network while the fan module  110  is being replaced and/or serviced, losing traffic due to the delay in replacing and/or servicing the fan module  110 , handling lost traffic due to the delay in replacing and/or servicing the fan module  110 , increasing costs of parts, inventory, and labor associated with supporting two different cabinet configurations, and/or the like. 
     As indicated above,  FIGS.  1 A- 1 F  are provided as an example. Other examples may differ from what is described with regard to  FIGS.  1 A- 1 F . The number and arrangement of devices shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 F  are provided as an example. In practice, there may be additional devices, fewer devices, different devices, or differently arranged devices than those shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 F . Furthermore, two or more devices shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 F  may be implemented within a single device, or a single device shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 F  may be implemented as multiple, distributed devices. Additionally, or alternatively, a set of devices (e.g., one or more devices) shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 F  may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of devices shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 F . 
       FIG.  2    is a diagram of an example environment  200  in which systems and/or methods described herein may be implemented. As shown in  FIG.  2   , the environment  200  may include an endpoint device  210 , a group of network devices  220  (shown as network device  220 - 1  through network device  220 -N), a server device  230 , and a network  240 . Devices of the environment  200  may interconnect via wired connections, wireless connections, or a combination of wired and wireless connections. In some implementations, the network devices  220  may be provided in the network device chassis  105  described above in connection with  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B . 
     The endpoint device  210  includes one or more devices capable of receiving, generating, storing, processing, and/or providing information, such as information described herein. For example, the endpoint device  210  may include a mobile phone (e.g., a smart phone or a radiotelephone), a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, a handheld computer, a gaming device, a wearable communication device (e.g., a smart watch, a pair of smart glasses, a heart rate monitor, a fitness tracker, smart clothing, smart jewelry, or a head mounted display), a network device, or a similar type of device. In some implementations, the endpoint device  210  may receive network traffic from and/or may provide network traffic to other endpoint devices  210  and/or the server device  230 , via the network  240  (e.g., by routing packets using the network devices  220  as intermediaries). 
     The network device  220  includes one or more devices capable of receiving, processing, storing, routing, and/or providing traffic (e.g., a packet or other information or metadata) in a manner described herein. For example, the network device  220  may include a router, such as a label switching router (LSR), a label edge router (LER), an ingress router, an egress router, a provider router (e.g., a provider edge router or a provider core router), a virtual router, or another type of router. Additionally, or alternatively, the network device  220  may include a gateway, a switch, a firewall, a hub, a bridge, a reverse proxy, a server (e.g., a proxy server, a cloud server, or a data center server), a load balancer, and/or a similar device. In some implementations, the network device  220  may be a physical device implemented within a housing, such as a chassis. In some implementations, the network device  220  may be a virtual device implemented by one or more computer devices of a cloud computing environment or a data center. In some implementations, a group of network devices  220  may be a group of data center nodes that are used to route traffic flow through the network  240 . 
     The server device  230  includes one or more devices capable of receiving, generating, storing, processing, and/or providing information, such as information described herein. For example, the server device  230  may include a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, a group of server devices, or a similar type of device, associated with multicast traffic. In some implementations, the server device  230  may receive information from and/or transmit information (e.g., multicast traffic) to the endpoint device  210 , via the network  240  (e.g., by routing packets using the network devices  220  as intermediaries). 
     The network  240  includes one or more wired and/or wireless networks. For example, the network  240  may include a packet switched network, a cellular network (e.g., a fifth generation (5G) network, a fourth generation (4G) network, such as a long-term evolution (LTE) network, a third generation (3G) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, a public land mobile network (PLMN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a telephone network (e.g., the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)), a private network, an ad hoc network, an intranet, the Internet, a fiber optic-based network, a cloud computing network, or the like, and/or a combination of these or other types of networks. 
     The number and arrangement of devices and networks shown in  FIG.  2    are provided as an example. In practice, there may be additional devices and/or networks, fewer devices and/or networks, different devices and/or networks, or differently arranged devices and/or networks than those shown in  FIG.  2   . Furthermore, two or more devices shown in  FIG.  2    may be implemented within a single device, or a single device shown in  FIG.  2    may be implemented as multiple, distributed devices. Additionally, or alternatively, a set of devices (e.g., one or more devices) of the environment  200  may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of devices of the environment  200 . 
       FIG.  3    is a diagram of example components of one or more devices of  FIG.  2   . The example components may be included in a device  300 , which may correspond to the endpoint device  210 , the network device  220 , and/or the server device  230 . In some implementations, the endpoint device  210 , the network device  220 , and/or the server device  230  may include one or more devices  300  and/or one or more components of the device  300 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , the device  300  may include a bus  310 , a processor  320 , a memory  330 , an input component  340 , an output component  350 , and a communication interface  360 . 
     The bus  310  includes one or more components that enable wired and/or wireless communication among the components of the device  300 . The bus  310  may couple together two or more components of  FIG.  3   , such as via operative coupling, communicative coupling, electronic coupling, and/or electric coupling. The processor  320  includes a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit, a microprocessor, a controller, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor, a field-programmable gate array, an application-specific integrated circuit, and/or another type of processing component. The processor  320  is implemented in hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. In some implementations, the processor  320  includes one or more processors capable of being programmed to perform one or more operations or processes described elsewhere herein. 
     The memory  330  includes volatile and/or nonvolatile memory. For example, the memory  330  may include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), a hard disk drive, and/or another type of memory (e.g., a flash memory, a magnetic memory, and/or an optical memory). The memory  330  may include internal memory (e.g., RAM, ROM, or a hard disk drive) and/or removable memory (e.g., removable via a universal serial bus connection). The memory  330  may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The memory  330  stores information, instructions, and/or software (e.g., one or more software applications) related to the operation of the device  300 . In some implementations, the memory  330  includes one or more memories that are coupled to one or more processors (e.g., the processor  320 ), such as via the bus  310 . 
     The input component  340  enables the device  300  to receive input, such as user input and/or sensed input. For example, the input component  340  may include a touch screen, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a button, a microphone, a switch, a sensor, a global positioning system sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and/or an actuator. The output component  350  enables the device  300  to provide output, such as via a display, a speaker, and/or a light-emitting diode. The communication interface  360  enables the device  300  to communicate with other devices via a wired connection and/or a wireless connection. For example, the communication interface  360  may include a receiver, a transmitter, a transceiver, a modem, a network interface card, and/or an antenna. 
     The device  300  may perform one or more operations or processes described herein. For example, a non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., the memory  330 ) may store a set of instructions (e.g., one or more instructions or code) for execution by the processor  320 . The processor  320  may execute the set of instructions to perform one or more operations or processes described herein. In some implementations, execution of the set of instructions, by one or more processors  320 , causes the one or more processors  320  and/or the device  300  to perform one or more operations or processes described herein. In some implementations, hardwired circuitry may be used instead of or in combination with the instructions to perform one or more operations or processes described herein. Additionally, or alternatively, the processor  320  may be configured to perform one or more operations or processes described herein. Thus, implementations described herein are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software. 
     The number and arrangement of components shown in  FIG.  3    are provided as an example. The device  300  may include additional components, fewer components, different components, or differently arranged components than those shown in  FIG.  3   . Additionally, or alternatively, a set of components (e.g., one or more components) of the device  300  may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of components of the device  300 . 
       FIG.  4    is a diagram of example components of one or more devices of  FIG.  2   . The example components may be included in a device  400 . The device  400  may correspond to the network device  220 . In some implementations, the network device  220  may include one or more devices  400  and/or one or more components of the device  400 . As shown in  FIG.  4   , the device  400  may include one or more input components  410 - 1  through  410 -B (B≥1) (hereinafter referred to collectively as input components  410 , and individually as input component  410 ), a switching component  420 , one or more output components  430 - 1  through  430 -C(C≥1) (hereinafter referred to collectively as output components  430 , and individually as output component  430 ), and a controller  440 . 
     The input component  410  may be one or more points of attachment for physical links and may be one or more points of entry for incoming traffic, such as packets. The input component  410  may process incoming traffic, such as by performing data link layer encapsulation or decapsulation. In some implementations, the input component  410  may transmit and/or receive packets. In some implementations, the input component  410  may include an input line card that includes one or more packet processing components (e.g., in the form of integrated circuits), such as one or more interface cards (IFCs), packet forwarding components, line card controller components, input ports, processors, memories, and/or input queues. In some implementations, the device  400  may include one or more input components  410 . 
     The switching component  420  may interconnect the input components  410  with the output components  430 . In some implementations, the switching component  420  may be implemented via one or more crossbars, via busses, and/or with shared memories. The shared memories may act as temporary buffers to store packets from the input components  410  before the packets are eventually scheduled for delivery to the output components  430 . In some implementations, the switching component  420  may enable the input components  410 , the output components  430 , and/or the controller  440  to communicate with one another. 
     The output component  430  may store packets and may schedule packets for transmission on output physical links. The output component  430  may support data link layer encapsulation or decapsulation, and/or a variety of higher-level protocols. In some implementations, the output component  430  may transmit packets and/or receive packets. In some implementations, the output component  430  may include an output line card that includes one or more packet processing components (e.g., in the form of integrated circuits), such as one or more IFCs, packet forwarding components, line card controller components, output ports, processors, memories, and/or output queues. In some implementations, the device  400  may include one or more output components  430 . In some implementations, the input component  410  and the output component  430  may be implemented by the same set of components (e.g., and input/output component may be a combination of the input component  410  and the output component  430 ). 
     The controller  440  includes a processor in the form of, for example, a CPU, a GPU, an APU, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a DSP, an FPGA, an ASIC, and/or another type of processor. The processor is implemented in hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. In some implementations, the controller  440  may include one or more processors that can be programmed to perform a function. 
     In some implementations, the controller  440  may include a RAM, a ROM, and/or another type of dynamic or static storage device (e.g., a flash memory, a magnetic memory, an optical memory, etc.) that stores information and/or instructions for use by the controller  440 . 
     In some implementations, the controller  440  may communicate with other devices, networks, and/or systems connected to the device  400  to exchange information regarding network topology. The controller  440  may create routing tables based on the network topology information, may create forwarding tables based on the routing tables, and may forward the forwarding tables to the input components  410  and/or output components  430 . The input components  410  and/or the output components  430  may use the forwarding tables to perform route lookups for incoming and/or outgoing packets. 
     The controller  440  may perform one or more processes described herein. The controller  440  may perform these processes in response to executing software instructions stored by a non-transitory computer-readable medium. A computer-readable medium is defined herein as a non-transitory memory device. A memory device includes memory space within a single physical storage device or memory space spread across multiple physical storage devices. 
     Software instructions may be read into a memory and/or storage component associated with the controller  440  from another computer-readable medium or from another device via a communication interface. When executed, software instructions stored in a memory and/or storage component associated with the controller  440  may cause the controller  440  to perform one or more processes described herein. Additionally, or alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to perform one or more processes described herein. Thus, implementations described herein are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software. 
     The number and arrangement of components shown in  FIG.  4    are provided as an example. In practice, the device  400  may include additional components, fewer components, different components, or differently arranged components than those shown in  FIG.  4   . Additionally, or alternatively, a set of components (e.g., one or more components) of the device  400  may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of components of the device  400 . 
     The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to the precise form disclosed. Modifications may be made in light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of the implementations. 
     As used herein, the term “component” is intended to be broadly construed as hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. It will be apparent that systems and/or methods described herein may be implemented in different forms of hardware, firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software. The actual specialized control hardware or software code used to implement these systems and/or methods is not limiting of the implementations. Thus, the operation and behavior of the systems and/or methods are described herein without reference to specific software code—it being understood that software and hardware can be used to implement the systems and/or methods based on the description herein. 
     Although particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of various implementations. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although each dependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, the disclosure of various implementations includes each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set. 
     No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Further, as used herein, the article “the” is intended to include one or more items referenced in connection with the article “the” and may be used interchangeably with “the one or more.” Furthermore, as used herein, the term “set” is intended to include one or more items (e.g., related items, unrelated items, a combination of related and unrelated items, and/or the like), and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Where only one item is intended, the phrase “only one” or similar language is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,” “having,” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise. Also, as used herein, the term “or” is intended to be inclusive when used in a series and may be used interchangeably with “and/or,” unless explicitly stated otherwise (e.g., if used in combination with “either” or “only one of”). 
     In the preceding specification, various example embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the broader scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.