Arrangement for testing network switch expansion port using external logic to emulate connected expansion port

Abstract

A network switch chip having an expansion port configured for transferring data according to a prescribed bus protocol is tested using an external logic unit (e.g., a field programmable gate array) configured to emulate a connected expansion port. The external logic unit is configured for receiving an expansion port frame from the expansion port via an expansion bus, generating a new expansion port frame, and outputting the new expansion port frame to the expansion port via the expansion bus. Hence, a test engineer can validate the expansion port of the network switch chip by detecting the reception of the new expansion port frame by the expansion port. Hence, the expansion port of the network switch chip can be tested without the necessity of a second network switch chip.