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50 Installing RPMs, Line Cards, and SFMs
Installing Line Cards and RPMs
At a minimum, the E1200i requires one RPM and one line card to operate.
RPMs
The E1200i system requires the installation of at least one RPM, although two are recommended for
redundancy. RPMs are designed to be installed in either the center R0 or R1 slots. Since FTOS searches for
an RPM in slot 0 first, Force 10 recommends you install your RPM in slot 0 when only running with one
RPM. Do not force RPMs into line card slots. RPMs are keyed differently than line cards to prevent
improper installation.
You can hot-insert a second RPM into a running system without performance interruption or software
intervention. A second RPM for redundant functionality provides uninterrupted operability if the system
transitions from the active RPM to the standby RPM. The standby RPM constantly performs updates and
receives the same configuration information received by the active RPM. The standby RPM also performs
diagnostics on its subsystems. In the event of a failover, the standby RPM immediately takes over and
resumes the control activities that the active RPM was performing. Installing a Second RPM on page 53
provides more information on the second RPM.
The RPM Major and Minor alarm LEDs are controlled by software which sets the threshold levels for
triggering the different stages of alarms.
Line Cards
Your E1200i configuration requires a minimum of one line card. Line cards are hot-swappable. The line
card ports provide external interface functions for connections to other systems (for example, a router or
switch). Each line card has an onboard CPU for line card management which updates packet forwarding
information, obtains statistical information, and performs synchronization tasks with the RPM, as well as
Force10 Networks custom-built ASICs, which enable line-rate forwarding.
Line Card Port Numbering
There are 14 line card slots available in the E1200i chassis. A minimum of one line card is required for
operation. Line cards are installed in slots 0 through 13. Ports on line cards are numbered from the top,
starting from 0 (see Figure 21).
Caution: Any slot not filled with a line card or RPM must be filled with a blank to ensure adequate cooling and
EMI containment.