Huawei Quidway NE40E - User Manual

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Quidway® NetEngine 40E Core Router System Architecture

http://www.huawei.com/products/datacomm/

Quidway® NetEngine 40E Core Router

System Architecture

Overview

The Quidway

NetEngine 40E-8 Core Router (“NE40E” hereinafter) is an enhanced high-end

network product of the NE series launched by Huawei. It is mainly applied in IP backbone networks,

IP MANs and the edge of other large IP networks. It can provide wire-speed 10G interfaces and can

be networked with core routers of the NE5000E and NE80E series to form an IP network solution of

integral architecture and clear hierarchy.

In addition to the powerful IP service processing capabilities of core routers, the NE40E integrates

Layer 3 (L3) Ethernet switching capabilities and provides abundant IP edge service features,

including Ethernet switching, PE, tunneling and stream queuing. It can serve as a service router of

the MAN to fully satisfy the development requirements of MAN IP and Ethernet services.

The NE40E provides a switching capacity of 640 Gbps, an interface capacity of 160Gbps and a

packet forwarding rate of 200Mpps. It may provide higher capacity in subsequent versions. It has

altogether 12 slots. Among these slots, two are for the SRU (1:1 backup), two are for the SFU

(working with two SRU boards to provide 1+3 backup for the switching network) and eight are

service slots.

System Architecture

Based on the distributed hardware forwarding and non-blocking switching technology, the NE40E

employs the industry-leading high-performance Network Processors (NPs). It provides carrier-class

reliability, wire-speed forwarding performance, complete QoS mechanism, powerful service

processing capabilities and high scalability. It pushes the IP network towards broadband, security,

service and intelligence.

Hardware architecture of the NE40E

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Summary

Quidway NetEngine 40 E Core Router System Architecture

Overview of the NE40 E Core Router

Introduces the Quidway NetEngine 40E-8 Core Router, its applications, capabilities, and slot configuration.

NE40 E System Architecture Overview

Details the NE40E's distributed hardware forwarding, non-blocking switching, and use of Network Processors.

Logical Architecture of the NE40 E

Presents the logical architecture of the NE40E, detailing three planes: data, control/management, and monitoring.

The Huawei Quidway® NetEngine 40E Core Router (NE40E) is an advanced, high-end network product designed for IP backbone networks, IP Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs), and the edge of other large IP networks. It offers a comprehensive solution for building IP networks with integral architecture and clear hierarchy, capable of networking with core routers from the NE5000E and NE80E series.

Function Description:

The NE40E serves as a versatile service router, integrating powerful IP service processing capabilities typical of core routers with Layer 3 (L3) Ethernet switching functionalities. It provides a rich set of IP edge service features, including Ethernet switching, Provider Edge (PE) capabilities, tunneling, and stream queuing. This makes it particularly well-suited to meet the evolving demands of MAN IP and Ethernet services, pushing IP networks towards broadband, security, service-oriented, and intelligent operations.

Its system architecture is built upon distributed hardware forwarding and non-blocking switching technology, leveraging industry-leading high-performance Network Processors (NPs). This design ensures carrier-class reliability, wire-speed forwarding performance, and a complete Quality of Service (QoS) mechanism. The router also boasts powerful service processing capabilities and high scalability, allowing it to adapt to future network growth and service requirements.

The NE40E's logical architecture is divided into three distinct planes: the data plane, the control and management plane, and the monitoring plane, each with specific responsibilities to ensure efficient and reliable operation.

Data Plane: This plane is responsible for high-speed data packet processing and internal non-blocking switching. Its functions include packet encapsulation/decapsulation, IPv4/MPLS forwarding processing, QoS implementation, packet scheduling, internal high-speed switching, and various statistics collection. This ensures that data traffic is handled with maximum efficiency and minimal latency.
Control and Management Plane: Acting as the "nerve center" of the entire system, this plane handles all system control and management functions. It encompasses protocol and signaling processing, system status configuration, maintenance management, and system status reporting and control. This centralized control allows for comprehensive oversight and configuration of the router's operations.
Monitoring Plane: This plane operates independently to ensure the safe and stable operation of the system by continuously monitoring the system environment. Its functions include voltage detection, system power on/off control, temperature detection, and fan control. A key feature of the monitoring plane is its ability to isolate faults in a timely manner when a unit malfunctions, thereby guaranteeing the normal operation of other system components and enhancing overall system reliability.

Important Technical Specifications:

The NE40E-8 model, as described, offers significant performance metrics:

Switching Capacity: The router provides a substantial switching capacity of 640 Gbps. This high capacity ensures that the router can handle large volumes of network traffic without becoming a bottleneck.
Interface Capacity: It supports an interface capacity of 160 Gbps, allowing for high-bandwidth connections across various network segments.
Packet Forwarding Rate: The NE40E achieves a packet forwarding rate of 200 Mpps (million packets per second), indicating its capability to process a vast number of packets rapidly. Huawei notes that higher capacities may be available in subsequent versions, indicating a commitment to continuous improvement.
Slot Configuration: The router features a total of 12 slots, designed for specific functional units:
- SRU (Switch and Route Processing Unit) Slots: Two slots are dedicated to SRUs, operating in a 1:1 backup configuration to ensure high availability and redundancy for routing and switching processes.
- SFU (Switch Fabric Unit) Slots: Two slots are for SFUs, which work in conjunction with the SRU boards to provide a 1+3 backup mechanism for the switching network, further enhancing fault tolerance.
- Service Slots: Eight slots are available for various service boards, offering flexibility for different interface types and service requirements.
Supported Interface Types: The Line Processing Units (LPUs) within the NE40E support a wide array of interface types, including:
- FE (Fast Ethernet)
- GE (Gigabit Ethernet)
- 10GE (10 Gigabit Ethernet)
- POS (Packet Over SONET/SDH)
- CPOS (Channelized Packet Over SONET/SDH)
- ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode)
- RPR (Resilient Packet Ring) This broad support allows the NE40E to integrate seamlessly into diverse network environments and support various legacy and modern communication protocols.

Usage Features:

The NE40E is designed for high-performance and flexible deployment in critical network infrastructures:

High-Speed Connectivity: With support for wire-speed 10G interfaces, the router can handle demanding bandwidth requirements, making it suitable for high-traffic core and edge networks.
Integrated Services: Its ability to integrate Layer 3 Ethernet switching with core router IP service processing means it can serve multiple roles within a network, simplifying architecture and reducing the need for separate devices.
Scalability: The modular design with dedicated service slots and the potential for higher capacities in future versions ensure that the NE40E can scale to meet growing network demands and evolving service needs.
Flexible Networking: The router can be networked with other Huawei core routers (NE5000E, NE80E series) to create a unified and hierarchical IP network solution, offering flexibility in network design and expansion.
Abundant IP Edge Service Features: Features like Ethernet switching, PE capabilities, tunneling, and stream queuing make it a robust platform for delivering a wide range of IP services at the network edge, catering to diverse customer requirements.

Maintenance Features:

Reliability and ease of maintenance are key considerations in the NE40E's design:

Redundancy Design: Critical components such as SRUs, SFUs, fans, and power supplies incorporate redundancy designs. This ensures that if one component fails, a backup can take over, minimizing downtime and maintaining continuous operation. The 1:1 backup for SRUs and 1+3 backup for the switching network (via SFUs) are prime examples of this robust redundancy.
Carrier-Class Reliability: The overall system is engineered for carrier-class reliability, a standard typically required for telecommunications networks where continuous service availability is paramount.
Independent Monitoring Plane: The dedicated monitoring plane plays a crucial role in proactive maintenance. By continuously monitoring environmental parameters like voltage, temperature, and fan status, it can detect potential issues early. Its ability to isolate faults ensures that a problem in one unit does not cascade to affect the entire system, simplifying troubleshooting and repair.
System Status Reporting and Control: The control and management plane provides comprehensive system status reporting and control capabilities, allowing network administrators to monitor the router's health, configure settings, and perform maintenance tasks efficiently. This centralized management simplifies operational overhead.
Modular Architecture: The modular nature of the NE40E, with easily replaceable boards (SRUs, SFUs, LPUs), facilitates quick maintenance and upgrades. This design reduces the Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) and enhances overall system availability.