Operation
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 9T122-24 input and output power parameters, keep watch over the main host processor, as well as monitor the temperature and control the SMB LANVIEW diagnostic LED. Although the diagnostic controller and the main host processor can operate independent of each other if needed, they exchange information about each other’s 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 9T122-24 has been designed so that in the event of a diagnostic controller fault, the module will continue to function.
DC/DC Converter
The DC/DC converter converts the 48 VDC on the system power bus to the necessary operating voltages for its host network services module. The diagnostic controller controls the operation of the DC/DC converter.
FNB Interface
SmartSwitch 9000 modules are designed with one of two attachment policies. One allows a module to dual attach to either FNB-1 or FNB-2; the second allows dual attachment to both FNB-1 and FNB-2. The 9T122-24 have one dual attachment to the FNB backplane, connecting to either FNB-1 or FNB-2. The module can insert into the FNB or bypass it. These flexible configuration options make the SmartSwitch 9000 ideal for networks designed to Bridge/Route multiple lower speed LANs to FDDI and/or networks designed using an FDDI collapsed backbone.
i960 Core
The i960 core in the FNB module serves two major functions: it provides the packet forwarding logic and performs all network management services. FNB modules can be configured to run as layer 2 bridges, layer 3 routers or as SecureFast Packet Switches. It is possible to run the bridging and routing options concurrently, but the SFPS option cannot run with bridging and routing.
