Operation

System Management Buses

There are two management channels within the SmartSwitch 9000 system: the SMB-1 and the SMB-10. These buses provide side-band management and inter- module management communication.

SMB-1 Bus

The SMB-1 is a 1Mbs management bus located within the SmartSwitch 9000. This bus is utilized by all diagnostic controllers in the system including connectivity modules, power supply modules and the environmental module. The SMB-1 transports inter-chassis information between system components, such as power and environmental information, as well as diagnostic messages. Periodic loop- back test are performed by all modules that share this bus to ensure the validity of SMB-1. In the event a failure is detected on SMB-1, the SMB-10 may be used as an alternate communication channel.

SMB-10 Bus

The SMB-10 is a 10Mbs management bus located within the SmartSwitch 9000. This bus is used for inter-chassis communication of modules as well as serving as an side-band management channel into the SmartSwitch 9000.

The SMB-10 is externalized from the chassis via an optional Ethernet Port Interface Module (EPIM) located on the front of the Environmental Module. Through an EPIM connection, full SNMP management of the SmartSwitch 9000 is available side-band from user data. Modules that share the SMB-10 bus periodically send out loop-back packets to ensure the validity of SMB-10. If a fault is detected on the SMB-10, the SMB-1 can be used as an alternate communication channel by the modules.

System Diagnostic Controller

This diagnostic controller is composed of a Z-80 microprocessor and its supporting logic. The diagnostic controller is designed to control the power-up sequencing of modules, monitor the module input and output power parameters, keep watch over the main host processor, monitor the temperature, and control the SMB LANVIEW diagnostic LEDs. Although the system diagnostic controller and the main host processor can operate independently of each other if needed, they exchange information about each others status and overall module condition. The information gathered by the diagnostic controller is available to the network manager via local/remote management and the LCD located on the environment module. The module is designed to continue functioning in the event of a diagnostic controller fault.

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Cabletron Systems 12 manual System Management Buses, System Diagnostic Controller, SMB-1 Bus, SMB-10 Bus
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12 specifications

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