Datasheet

ZNYX ZX6000


24-port PICMG 3.0 Gigabit Ethernet Base Fabric Switch for ATCA with OpenArchitect Switch Management

Main Features:

Product Overview:

The ZX6000 is a 24-port AdvancedTCA™ Hub board / PTMC Carrier, providing switched Gigabit Ethernet service for up to 14 node boards via the PICMG 3.0 Base Interface. The ZX6000 provides a tightly integrated modular switching platform that enables high-density solutions with the addition of onboard PMC/PTMC sites.
Linux-based OpenArchitect® 3 runs on the embedded Freescale MPC8270VR, providing a comprehensive package for the management of Layer 2 and Layer 3 packet switching. VLAN management and Layer 2-7 packet classification are also included with a user-friendly interface. OpenArchitect may be used with a variety of IP routing protocols.
Up to 8 switch egress ports are provided, depending on chassis/switch configuration, and one port is dedicated to the switch-to-switch connection in redundant configurations. For additional management connections, a USB, RS-232 serial, and three out-of-band 10/100 Ethernet ports are available for local configuration.
Four standards-based PMC/PTMC slots allow for significant expansion of possible applications. Each slot may host additional memory, I/O, processing or packet-processing capability. Accessories for the ZX6000 include two and four-port breakout cards for Gigabit Ethernet, out-of-band Ethernet, and RS-232 connections.

OpenArchitect Switch Management

The OpenArchitect software component – open source Linux, IP protocol stack, control applications and the OA Engine – runs on an embedded Motorola MPC8255 PowerPC microprocessor. OpenArchitect provides extensive managed IP routing protocols and other open standards for switch management. Examples include network services; Virtual Redundant Router Protocol; Routing Information Protocol; Open Shortest Path First; Border Gateway Protocol; IP Multicast, Quality of Service and Class of Service; access control lists; and management via Simple Network Management Protocol MIBs , Common Open Policy Services and web.

Softswitch Flexibility with Silicon Speeds

The OA Engine is the bridge between the software environment and high performance switch fabric. The engine transparently moves routing policies established by software to the switch fabric's forwarding table. This bridge enables line rate packet switching, executed on a silicon switch fabric chip, that is managed by open source routing protocols -- a quick time-to-market, feature-rich protocol set.

Fault Tolerant Backplanes:

Two ZX6000 AdvancedTCA™ switches can be used in a standard ATCA chassis to implement a fully redundant dual star network architecture over the base and fabric interface. Each payload slot has two Base Interface connections, one to each switch. With the OpenArchitect High Availability (HA) software suite, the chassis can respond and automatically correct any single point of failure.

Ordering Information:

BACKPLANE

The ZX6000 supports all the features required of an ATCA hub subsystem with a total of 24 Gigabit Ethernet ports in both non-redundant and dual-star architectures. Re-configuration options allow both 14 and 16 slot ATCA chassis to be supported. In a 14-slot chassis, the surplus ports may be used for alternate purposes such as chassis egress.
Payload boards requiring PICMG 3.0 Base Interface may be used. With a fully non-blocking fabric and the VLAN control of OpenArchitect, the system designer can guarantee available bandwidth and separation between control and data planes.

PICMG 3.0 BASE INTERFACE

The base interface supports IEEE 802.3-compliant auto-negotiated 10/100/1000BaseT Ethernet. The ZX6000 supports 12 or 14 payload slots via the base interface. ATCA applications may dedicate this interface for control-plane or data-plane traffic. Switch ports are also allocated for egress to the chassis, the Shelf-Manager (ShMC), and an inter-switch link for dual-switch installations.

UNIQUE MODULAR PLATFORM

The ZX6000 may be upgraded to PICMG 3.1 or other ATCA data-plane standards such as PICMG 3.2 (Infiniband) or PICMG 3.4 (ASI Switching). The ZNYX roadmap includes several options, protecting the investment of the customer-base by accommodating new payload boards as they are introduced into the market.

UNIQUE MODULAR PLATFORM

The ZX6000 can be configured to a variety of port/egress configurations. See the Configuration Guide for details.

PMC/PTMC

A key feature that enables the true application flexibility of the ZX6000 are the four PMC/PTMC sites. These allow industry-standard third-party function boards to be hosted on the ZX6000. In some cases this eliminates the need to use an ATCA payload slot for the same purpose, improving the density of the system chassis while gaining a cost advantage. Functions can include a variety of I/O boards, supplemental processors, memory devices, and packet processors. The flexibility and power of the Linux-based OpenArchitect software allows fast implementation of features such as:

ATCA 3.0 IPMI MANAGEMENT

The ZX6000 includes an IPMI management controller, compliant with the PICMG 3.0 version 1.5 protocol, which interfaces the shelf management system via I2C for remote management of the shelf. All required functions are supported, including the electronic keying feature of ATCA that prevents the accidental mis-match of boards inserted into the system. In addition, the switch fabric provides a link to the Shelf Management controller to allow it full access to the network.