Control And Function Processors Overview; Upgrading Processor Cards - Nortel Passport 15000 Hardware Description

Control and function processors overview

Upgrading processor cards

Chapter 1 Introducing Passport 15000 or 20000 hardware 47
See "Shelf assembly" (page 87) for a detailed description of the parts in a
Passport 15000 or 20000 shelf.
Control processors (CP) and function processors (FP) are the processing
elements for performing and managing Passport 15000 or 20000 functions. In
most cases, the software providing a service is split into control and function
parts. In general, the control part runs on the CP; the function part runs on the
FP. This results in
• more efficient data flow since the FP does not do resource-consuming
non-data-path processing
• more efficient memory resources for data transmission
See "Control and function processors" (page 141) for detailed information
about each processor card available with Passport 15000 or 20000. For
information about the various services supported by specific Passport FPs see
241-5701-615 Passport 7400, 15000, 20000 FP Configuration Reference.
You can upgrade or downgrade a processor card (CP or FP) from one version
to another. Upgrading means to replace an existing processor card with
another card of the same type but offering more services. Downgrading
means to replace an existing processor card with another card from a previous
release with less services. The following list briefly describes the various
types of upgrades:
• hot-swapping means to replace a card while it is still active
• line timing
• spared means upgrading a card when it is locked and its spared card has
taken over service
• unspared means upgrading a card when it not spared
For more information on upgrading and downgrading, see 241-1501-240
Passport 15000, 20000 Hardware Installation, Maintenance and Upgrade.
Passport 15000, 20000 Hardware Description 5.2S2