ICAS Module Full Mesh Topology Data Center Network

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current data center networks face congestion issues due to hash collisions, aggregation congestion, and strict-sense blocking conditions in fat tree topologies, leading to increased latency and power consumption, which are exacerbated by the limitations of CMOS technology and the aggregation model.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an interconnect-as-a-switch (ICAS) module with a full mesh topology, where each port group connects to every other port group, eliminating the need for fabric switches and reducing congestion by providing a non-blocking interconnection across multiple interfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If fat tree topology with fabric switches is used, then network coverage and connectivity are improved, but congestion and blocking conditions occur leading to increased latency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork connectivityVSAvoidlatency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network is segmented into multiple ICAS modules, each handling a specific subset of connections. This segmentation eliminates the single-point congestion problems of fat tree topologies by distributing traffic across multiple independent interconnect modules, each operating without blocking conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using active fabric switches that require routing decisions and buffer management, the patent inverts the approach by using passive ICAS modules that provide direct physical interconnections. This inversion eliminates the source of congestion at the switching fabric while maintaining full connectivity through the modular interconnect structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Device complexity

If aggregation model is used to reduce hardware, then device complexity is reduced, but aggregation congestion occurs leading to increased power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware requirementsVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the active switching function from the interconnect fabric and relocates it to the edge devices (TOR switches). This extraction eliminates the need for power-hungry aggregation at the fabric switches, as the ICAS modules provide passive, non-blocking interconnections that consume minimal power while maintaining full bandwidth.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Each ICAS module is designed to be self-contained and self-configuring, eliminating the need for complex control plane processing and routing decisions at the interconnect layer. This self-service approach reduces the computational overhead and power consumption associated with aggregation and traffic management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11671330B2Network interconnect as a switch

Publication Date: 2023.06.06 WONG DAVID I KEONG

AI summary

An interconnect as a switch module (“ICAS” module) comprising n port groups, each port group comprising n-1 interfaces, and an interconnecting network implementing a full mesh topology where each port group comprising a plurality of interfaces each connects an interface of one of the other port groups, respectively. The ICAS module may be optically or electrically implemented. According to the embodiments, the ICAS module may be used to construct a stackable switching device and a multi-unit switching device, to replace a data center fabric switch, and to build a new, high-efficient, and cost-effective data center.