Indirect Generalized Hypercube Network for Data Center Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The upper layers of a fat tree network in data centers often become over-subscribed, unable to accommodate the maximum bandwidth demands of lower devices, leading to congestion and inefficient use of provisioned bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an indirect generalized hypercube network (IGHN) within the data center, where each server has multiple network interfaces, allowing direct bi-directional links between servers in different racks, bypassing the aggregation layer and enabling alternative routing paths that reduce congestion and optimize bandwidth utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If servers are connected through upper layers of fat tree network, then network connectivity is established, but bandwidth capacity is insufficient and congestion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network routing paths by introducing direct inter-server links at the server level, separating the routing function from the traditional fat tree hierarchy. This creates multiple independent routing paths: through upper layers and through direct links, allowing traffic to be distributed and avoiding congestion at aggregation points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces direct links between servers as intermediary pathways, bypassing the traditional upper layer routing. These direct links act as mediators that provide alternative routes for data traffic, reducing dependency on the over-subscribed upper layers of the fat tree network.
2Productivity
If direct links between servers are added, then routing efficiency improves, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements direct links between servers selectively rather than universally. Not all servers need direct links, but strategic placement of direct links between frequently communicating servers provides sufficient routing efficiency improvement without requiring complete mesh connectivity, thus limiting the increase in network complexity.
3Quantity of substance
If upper layers are over-subscribed, then bandwidth demand is high, but congestion occurs and bandwidth utilization becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts traffic from the over-subscribed upper layers by providing direct routing paths at the server level. This extraction reduces the load on upper layer links, allowing them to operate within their capacity while maintaining high bandwidth demand satisfaction through the new direct paths.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects and implementations of the present disclosure are directed to an indirect generalized hypercube network in a computer network facility. Servers in the computer network facility participate in both an over-subscribed fat tree network hierarchy culminating in a gateway connection to external networks and in an indirect hypercube network interconnecting a plurality of servers in the fat tree. The participant servers have multiple network interface ports, including at least one port for a link to an edge layer network device of the fat tree and at least one port for a link to a peer server in the indirect hypercube network. Servers are grouped by edge layer network device to form virtual switches in the indirect hypercube network and data packets are routed between servers using routes through the virtual switches. Routes leverage properties of the hypercube topology. Participant servers function as destination points and as virtual interfaces for the virtual switches.