Reconfigurable interconnect/switch for selectably coupling network devices, media, and switch fabric

摘要

A reconfigurable interconnect/switch for selectably coupling network devices, media, and switch fabric. The reconfigurable interconnect/switch enables network devices, such as network processor units (NPUs) to selectively communicate with other NPUs, media (via a media interface), and switch fabric (via a switch fabric interface), thus providing flexibility in the use of network line cards and the like. Embodiments of the switching/routing scheme may be employed to support network devices having separate media and/or switch fabric interfaces, as well as network devices having selectable media switch fabric (MSF) interfaces that share signal lines.