System Components
1-8 SmartEdge 800 Router Hardware Guide
• Storage for SmartEdge OS files
A controller card has two internal-storage devices (Type I), one of which is used to store SmartEdge OS
images and files. (The other internal-storage device is used to store low-level system software.)
SmartEdge OS storage is organized into three partitions: p0, p1, and /flash. The p0 and p1 partitions
each store a system image and its files; the memory on a controller card can be loaded from either of
these partitions. The third partition, /flash, stores SmartEdge OS configuration files and other system-
and user-created data files.
• Optional external-storage device
A controller card has an external slot on the front panel in which you can install an optional Type I or
Type II external-storage device. When installed (the system is shipped with this front panel slot empty),
this device is used to capture crash dumps and to provide an alternate source for loading SmartEdge OS
software, when it is not possible to download it over the network.
• Support for an external timing connection
A controller card supports a BITS (DS-1) or SSU (E1) interface for external timing inputs. For the
XCRP Controller cards, the type of interface is denoted in the label suffix on the card: “T1 BITS” for
DS-1 and “E1 SSU” for E1; for the XCRP3 Controller cards, the type of interface is software selectable.
• Internal clock
The system clock for a SmartEdge router can provide synchronization using external equipment
(external timing mode), the received clock of an optical traffic card (line timing mode), or by the
internal clock, a Stratum 3 oscillator, on the controller card (internal timing mode). The external timing
interfaces allow the system clock operation to be independent of the type of external equipment and the
framing of the external line.
By default, each port on a traffic card uses the system clock for its transmit clock. However, for some
cards, you can selectively configure their ports or channels to use the clock derived from its received
signal for its transmit clock. Because a port does not interface to external timing equipment directly,
traffic card synchronization is independent of the type of external timing equipment and the version of
the controller card installed in the chassis.
• Real-time clock with battery
The XCRP3 Controller cards each support a real-time clock that is set through the SmartEdge OS and
is not affected by power failures, system shutdown, or reload.
Caution Risk of data loss. You can corrupt the system if you attempt to install an external- or
internal-storage device not obtained from Redback
®
, because these items have not been tested
with the SmartEdge router. To reduce the risk, use only the internal-storage devices provided by
Redback.
Note If an external-storage device is installed in the active controller card, the standby controller card,
if installed, must also have an external-storage device installed; however, the device types
(Type I or Type II) need not match.
Note Support for the real-time clock is dependent on the release of the SmartEdge OS.