Vertical Network Switch

Abstract

A network switch is provided whereby the vertical dimension of the network switch is larger than the horizontal dimension of the network switch. The network switch is further capable of being mounted vertically on a server rack. Further, the network switch comprises a controller module and a power supply module allowing the network switch to route incoming data to a receiving location. Using the vertical network switch reduces cable length, simplifies layout, increases port density, improves the appearance of the server rack and reduces the overall cost of operating the vertical network switch and network.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Each of the figures diagrammatically illustrates aspects of the invention. The illustrations provide examples of the invention as described herein. Combinations of the aspects of specific variations or combinations of the specific variations themselves are within the disclosure of this document.

FIG. 1 is a conventional horizontal network switch mounted on a server rack.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a vertical network switch according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of a vertical network switch including network ports according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a vertical network switch mounted to a server rack and connected to a plurality of servers according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A network switch comprising: a modular box having a plurality of network ports for ingoing and outgoing lines of a communications system, the modular box having a vertical dimension that is greater than a horizontal dimension and including a plurality of mounting holes for rack units oriented along the vertical length;wherein the modular box is capable of being vertically mounted on a rack and is capable of servicing a plurality of rack units;the modular box including a command module adapted to communicate with the ingoing and outgoing lines and a power module for providing power.

2. The network switch of claim 1, wherein the network switch comprises at least 96 network ports.

3. The network switch of claim 2, wherein the modular box comprises at least 4 separate sections, each section including at least 16 network ports.

4. The network switch of claim 1, wherein the plurality of network ports are RJ-45 jacks.

5. The network switch of claim 1, wherein the power module comprises at least one power supply unit.

6. The network switch of claim 5, wherein the power supply unit comprises a hot-swappable power supply.

7. The network switch of claim 1, wherein the command module determines an outgoing line for an incoming line.

8. The network switch of claim 7, wherein the command module comprises at least two network ports.

9. The network switch of claim 7, wherein the command module implements functions included in layers 2-7.

10. The network switch of claim 8, wherein the unit network ports comprise GBIC modules capable of connecting with a networked device.

11. The network switch of claim 1, wherein the modular box is mounted on an external vertical post of the rack.

12. The network switch of claim 1, wherein the panel is capable of being mounted to a single vertical post of a server rack.

13. The network switch of claim 1, wherein the plurality of network ports are in a vertical orientation.

14. The network switch of claim 1, wherein the plurality of network ports are in a slanted orientation.

15. The network switch of claim 1, wherein the modular box is capable of connecting two or more devices mounted in the rack through the plurality of network ports using cables having substantially similar lengths.

16. The network switch of claim 15, wherein the devices comprise servers having at least one network interface port.

17. The network switch of claim 1, further comprising one or more cable guides that are capable of redirecting one or more cables.

18. The network switch of claim 1, wherein the vertical dimension of the modular box is 72 inches and the horizontal dimension of the modular box is 5 inches.

19. A method for connecting two or more devices mounted on a server rack, the method comprising: connecting one or more cables to a network switch having a plurality of network ports, wherein the network switch has a vertical dimension greater than a horizontal dimension, a plurality of mounting holes oriented along the vertical dimension, a command module and a power module; andvertically mounting the network switch to the server rack for servicing a plurality of devices in the server rack.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the network switch comprises at least 96 network ports.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the network comprises at least 6 regions, each region including at least 16 network ports.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of network ports comprise RJ-45 jacks.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the network switch is mounted on an external portion of the server rack.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the network switch is mounted to a single post of the server rack.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of network ports are in a vertical orientation.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of network ports are in a slanted orientation.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the network switch is capable of connecting two or more devices mounted in the server rack through the plurality of network ports using cables having similar lengths.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the devices comprise servers having at least one network interface port.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein the vertical dimension is 72 inches and the horizontal dimension is 5 inches.