Edge Switch Virtual Lane Segmentation for Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional high-speed optical transceivers in data centers consume excessive power and generate significant heat, making them inefficient for large-scale data transfer, while lower-power alternatives offer reduced data bandwidth and speed.
Innovation Solution
The system aggregates data from server ports into virtual lanes, using edge switches with shuffle ports and optical transmitters operating at lower speeds to distribute data efficiently across multiple channels, reducing power consumption while maintaining high-speed communications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional high-speed optical transceivers are used to provide fast network connectivity, then data transfer speed is improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the high-speed data stream into multiple lower-speed virtual lanes. Each virtual lane operates at a reduced data rate (e.g., dividing a 100 Gbps stream into multiple 25 Gbps lanes), allowing the use of lower-power optical transceivers while maintaining overall high data transfer capacity through parallel transmission channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the dimension of parallelism by creating multiple virtual lanes for data transmission. Instead of using a single high-speed channel that consumes excessive power, the system distributes data across multiple lower-speed channels, achieving the same throughput with reduced power consumption per channel.
2Productivity
If the number of pods is increased to support more servers, then data center capacity is improved, but total power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation at the pod level by dividing each pod into multiple sub-pods, each with its own edge switches and aggregation switches. This hierarchical segmentation allows for more granular power management and enables the data center to scale capacity by adding sub-pods with lower power consumption characteristics rather than full pods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of optical transceivers by operating them at lower data rates (e.g., 25 Gbps instead of 100 Gbps) through virtual lane decomposition. This parameter change reduces the power consumption per transceiver, allowing the data center to increase the number of pods and servers while keeping total power consumption manageable.
3Use of energy by moving object
If optical transceivers operate at lower power, then power consumption is reduced, but data bandwidth and transfer speed decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments a single high-bandwidth data stream into multiple virtual lanes, each transmitted at lower speed by lower-power transceivers. The aggregate bandwidth is maintained by the combined capacity of multiple lanes, so while each individual lane operates at reduced speed, the total data bandwidth remains high.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple lower-speed data streams from parallel virtual lanes into a single high-capacity logical channel. By combining the throughput of multiple low-power transceiver channels, the system achieves aggregate bandwidth comparable to or exceeding that of single high-power transceivers while consuming significantly less power.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly reduces power consumption while maintaining high-speed data transfer capabilities, achieving lower power usage with multi-core optical transceivers that consume approximately 409.6 W per pod compared to traditional systems.
Implementation Method 1
Each shuffle port has a plurality of first optical transmitters with each first optical transmitter having a second data speed less than the first data speed. The first optical transmitters for each shuffle port has an aggregated data rate exceeding the first data speed. The first optical transmitter generates first optical data streams carrying a portion of the aggregated data.
Data Source
AI summary
Comprises aggregating data received by a first number of server ports of an edge switch. The server ports operate at a first data speed. The aggregated data is distributed into a plurality of virtual lanes with each virtual lane carrying a portion of the aggregated data at a second data speed less than the first data speed.