Patent ID: 8745438

Claim:
A computer-implemented method to reduce impact of switch failure in a switch fabric and via switch cards, the computer-implemented method comprising: in a server system comprising a midplane, one or more server cards coupled with the midplane, and one or more switch cards coupled with the midplane, wherein the one or more server cards are operatively connected to the one or more switch cards, wherein the midplane comprises a fabric interconnect for the switch fabric, wherein each switch card comprises one or more switch modules, wherein each switch module is configured to switch network traffic for at least one of the one or more server cards, wherein each server card is hot-swappable from the midplane, and wherein each switch card is hot-swappable from the midplane, detecting failure of a first switch module of a first switch card; and upon detecting the failure of the first switch module of the first switch card, switching network traffic for the one or more server cards by a second switch module that is included in the first switch card, thereby reducing, via the one or more switch cards, impact of the failure of the first switch module and on the server system.