Users Guide

Port Extenders (PEs)
The C9010 switch supports the IEEE 802.1BR fabric protocol to expand the port density of the chassis, using C1048P, N20xx and N30xx
port extenders. In this deployment, the C9010 operates as a controlling bridge for the port extenders. The C1048P, N20xx or N30xx
function as a remote line card that is physically connected to, and provisioned by, a C9010 over 10GbE links according to the IEEE 802.1BR
standard.
IEEE 802.1BR
The IEEE 802.1BR protocol allows a controlling bridge to use IEEE LAN technologies to discover and manage port extenders.
The following illustration shows how a controlling bridge connects through an automatically established port channel (auto-LAG) to an
uplink port on one or more port extenders.
Figure 106. Controlling Bridge with Port Extenders
1
Controlling Bridge (C9010) 2 Cascade ports on controlling bridge
3 10GbE uplink ports on PEs 4 Standalone PE
5 PE stack 6 Cable connections in a ring topology
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746 Port Extenders (PEs)