Abstract: A modular hardware platform utilizes a combination of different types of units that are pluggable into cassette endpoints. The present disclosure enables the construction of an extremely large system, e.g., 500 Tb/s+, as well as small, standalone systems using the same hardware units. This provides flexibility to build different systems with different slot pitches. The hardware platform includes various numbers of stackable units that mate with a cost-effective, hybrid Printed Circuit Board (PCB)/Twinax backplane, that is orthogonally oriented relative to the stackable units. In an embodiment, the hardware platform supports a range of 14.4 Tb/s-800 Tb/s+ in one or more 19? racks, providing full features Layer 3 to Layer 0 support, i.e., protocol support for both a transit core router and full feature edge router including Layer 2/Layer 3 Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), Dense Wave Division Multiplexed (DWDM) optics, and the like.

Abstract: A modular networking hardware platform utilizes a combination of different types of units that are pluggable into cassette endpoints. The present disclosure enables the construction of an extremely large system, e.g., 500 Tb/s+, as well as small, standalone systems using the same hardware units. This provides flexibility to build different systems with different slot pitches. The hardware platform includes various numbers of stackable units that mate with a cost-effective, hybrid Printed Circuit Board (PCB)/Twinax backplane, that is orthogonally oriented relative to the stackable units. In an embodiment, the hardware platform supports a range of 14.4 Tb/s-800 Tb/s+ in one or more 19? racks, providing full features Layer 3 to Layer 0 support, i.e., protocol support for both a transit core router and full feature edge router including Layer 2/Layer 3 Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), Dense Wave Division Multiplexed (DWDM) optics, and the like.

Abstract: A network element (16) includes ingress optics (22) configured to receive a client signal; egress optics (30) configured to transmit packets over one or more Ethernet links (20) in a network (12); circuitry (26, 28) interconnecting the ingress optics (22) and the egress optics (30), wherein the circuitry is configured to segment an Optical Transport Network (OTN) signal from the client signal into one or more flows; and provide the one or more flows to the egress optics for transmission over the one or more of Ethernet links (20) to a second network element (18) that is configured to provide the one or more flows into the OTN signal.

Abstract: Protection elements are provided for protecting optical networking systems during shipment. In one implementation, a system includes a card having one or more sockets, each socket having a connector device. The system also includes a pluggable module having an interface configured to connect with the connector device of a respective socket when the pluggable module is fully seated in the socket. A first protection element is configured to be held in place near a front edge of the socket. The first protection element is configured to allow the pluggable module to be arranged in a partially inserted position within the socket. Also, the first protection element is further configured to block the pluggable module from being fully seated in the socket to thereby prevent the interface of the pluggable module from contacting the connector device of the socket.

Abstract: A network element incudes a shelf including a main backplane having a busbar system thereon, wherein the shelf supports any of port modules and switch modules, wherein the modules interconnect to one another via cables; extension brackets configured to connect to one of a top and a bottom of the shelf; and a power shelf configured to connect to the extension brackets, wherein the power shelf supports one or more power modules; wherein the power shelf is configured at a top of the shelf when the shelf is located, in any of a rack, frame, and cabinet, above another shelf, and wherein the power shelf is configured at a bottom of the shelf when the shelf is located below the another shelf.

Abstract: A pluggable-modules holder for a plurality of pluggable-modules of a rack-mounted unit is disclosed. The pluggable-modules holder includes a holder body and a plurality of holder ports. Each of the holder ports extends through the holder body and is sized to hold a portion of a respective pluggable-module. The holder body can be configured to connect to a rack-mounted unit before and/or after the plurality of pluggable-modules can be inserted into the plurality of holder ports.

Abstract: A module for a networking node is disclosed. The module includes a Printed Circuit Board (“PCB”), one or more circuits mounted to the PCB and a faceplate. The faceplate includes a middle plate, a first side plate, and a second side plate. The first side plate extends from the middle plate at an obtuse angle relative to the middle plate towards a first side and back of the module. The second side plate extends from the middle plate, opposite to the first side plate, at an obtuse angle relative to the middle plate towards a second side and the back of the module.

Abstract: Programmable switches and routers are described herein for enabling their internal network fabric to be configured with a topology. In one implementation, a programmable switch is arranged in a network having a plurality of switches and an internal fabric. The programmable switch includes a plurality of programmable interfaces and a buffer memory component. Also, the programmable switch includes a processing component configured to establish each of the plurality of programmable interfaces to operate as one of a user-facing interface and a fabric-facing interface. Based on one or more programmable interfaces being established as one or more fabric-facing interfaces, the buffer memory component is configured to store packets received from a user-facing interface of an interconnected switch of the plurality of switches via one or more hops into the internal fabric.

Abstract: Programmable switches and routers are described herein for enabling their internal network fabric to be configured with a topology. In one implementation, a programmable switch is arranged in a network having a plurality of switches and an internal fabric. The programmable switch includes a plurality of programmable interfaces and a buffer memory component. Also, the programmable switch includes a processing component configured to establish each of the plurality of programmable interfaces to operate as one of a user-facing interface and a fabric-facing interface. Based on one or more programmable interfaces being established as one or more fabric-facing interfaces, the buffer memory component is configured to store packets received from a user-facing interface of an interconnected switch of the plurality of switches via one or more hops into the internal fabric.

Abstract: A universal sub slot module includes a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) including circuitry for power, a data plane, and a control plane; a faceplate connected to one end of the PCB and connectors connected to another end of the PCB, wherein the connectors are configured to connect to corresponding connectors in a host module; and a form factor containing the PCB and configured to interface a sub slot in the host module configured to operate in a chassis-based or rack mounted unit network element. The host module can include a plurality of sub slots, each being a port having one of the universal sub slot module and a filler module. The data plane can be configured to implement one of Optical Transport Network (OTN), Beyond 100G, Flexible Optical (FlexO), Ethernet, and Flexible Ethernet (FlexE).

Abstract: A hardened optical platform includes a hardened enclosure including a door that when closed environmentally seals the hardened enclosure; a first set including one of more modules; a second set including one or more modules arranged substantially perpendicular to the first set; and high-speed cabling interconnecting the first set to the second set, wherein the hardened optical platform is passively cooled with the hardened enclosure and the door being weatherproof thereby having no airflow internally from a surrounding environment.

Abstract: A modular networking hardware platform utilizes a combination of different types of units that are pluggable into cassette endpoints. The present disclosure enables the construction of an extremely large system, e.g., 500 Tb/s+, as well as small, standalone systems using the same hardware units. This provides flexibility to build different systems with different slot pitches. The hardware platform includes various numbers of stackable units that mate with a cost-effective, hybrid Printed Circuit Board (PCB)/Twinax backplane, that is orthogonally oriented relative to the stackable units. In an embodiment, the hardware platform supports a range of 14.4 Tb/s-800 Tb/s+ in one or more 19? racks, providing full features Layer 3 to Layer 0 support, i.e., protocol support for both a transit core router and full feature edge router including Layer 2/Layer 3 Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), Dense Wave Division Multiplexed (DWDM) optics, and the like.

Abstract: A universal sub slot module is configured to be inserted in a slot in a hardware module that is configured to be inserted in one of a chassis and rack mounted unit. The universal sub slot module includes a printed circuit board; an optics component on the printed circuit board; a data plane and a control plane on the printed circuit board and communicatively coupled to the optics components; and connectors on the printed circuit board and communicatively coupled to the data plane and the control plane, wherein the connectors are configured to connect to corresponding connectors in the one or more hardware modules.

Abstract: A pluggable-modules holder for a plurality of pluggable-modules of a rack-mounted unit is disclosed. The pluggable-modules holder includes a holder body and a plurality of holder ports. Each of the holder ports extends through the holder body and is sized to hold a portion of a respective pluggable-module.

Abstract: Systems and methods of managing a modular network element as a single entity and the modular network element includes a plurality of line modules and zero or more switch modules in a chassis. The plurality of line modules are located separate from the chassis and connected to the chassis and/or to one another via cabling. The method includes operating a management plane between the plurality of line modules and the zero or more switch modules via one or more dedicated links in the cabling; managing the plurality of line modules and the zero or more switch modules as a single network element utilizing a chassis management protocol over the management plane; and designating one of a controller in the chassis and a processor in one of the plurality of line modules operating as a virtual controller as primary for the chassis management protocol.

Abstract: A pluggable module includes an interface configured to connect to a connector associated with a device having internal circuits; an optical interface configured to connect to a network path, to enable communication between the internal circuits and the network path; and a signal interface configured to connect to a second pluggable module in the device, wherein the signal interface connects to the second pluggable module as an out-of-band channel that operates independently from a backplane of the device and the internal circuits.

Abstract: A universal sub slot module is configured to be inserted in a slot in a hardware module that is configured to be inserted in one of a chassis and rack mounted unit. The universal sub slot module includes a printed circuit board; an optics component on the printed circuit board; a data plane and a control plane on the printed circuit board and communicatively coupled to the optics components; and connectors on the printed circuit board and communicatively coupled to the data plane and the control plane, wherein the connectors are configured to connect to corresponding connectors in the one or more hardware modules.

Abstract: A network element includes ingress optics configured to receive a client signal; egress optics configured to transmit packets over one or more Ethernet links in a network; circuitry interconnecting the ingress optics and the egress optics, wherein the circuitry is configured to segment an Optical Transport Network (OTN) signal from the client signal into one or more flows; and provide the one or more flows to the egress optics for transmission over the one or more of Ethernet links to a second network element that is configured to provide the one or more flows into the OTN signal.

Abstract: The solution of the present disclosure connects the power in parallel distribution chains. A horizontal pizza box in the middle of the equipment stack represents the power box (PB), which houses the power modules (PMs), such as the power input modules (PIMs) or the power supply units (PSUs). The PMs in the PB are connected to the office power source(s), and the PB supplies power to the parallel distribution chains (A? and B?). The parallel distribution chains are composed of jumper segments that are based on busbar-like technology, with each jumper segment being the length of the distance between coupled boxes. Any box can be removed without disrupting either distribution chain. Advantageously, the jumper segments are touch-proof, from a safety perspective. Thus, instead of a jumper created using a cable, PCB, etc., or a jumper composed of a custom molded back-to-back connector, the jumpers are based on busbar-like technology.

Abstract: Systems and methods of Ethernet path selection in a modular network element including one or more ingress line modules, a plurality of switch modules in a chassis, and one or more egress line modules, wherein the one or more ingress line modules and the one or more egress line modules are located separate from one another and connected to the chassis via cabling. The method includes distributing one or more Ethernet flows from the one or more ingress line modules to the one or more egress line modules via the plurality of switch modules; receiving fabric state information at the one or more ingress line modules from the core chassis out-of-band via the cabling; and, responsive to congestion on a path through the plurality of switch modules, selecting a new path by an ingress line module for an Ethernet flow.