MD-WSS Datacentre Architecture for Dynamic Capacity Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional datacentre networks face challenges in flexibility, complexity, and cost due to hierarchical switch and router architectures, which hinder dynamic service provisioning and traffic steering in NFV environments, especially with high throughput requirements.
Innovation Solution
A datacentre architecture utilizing Multi Directional Wavelength Selective Switches (MD-WSS) with a common port and multiple tributary ports, enabling flexible wavelength routing and dynamic capacity provisioning between server clusters, simplifying control and signalling, and reducing the number of network devices needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional hierarchical switch and router architectures are used in datacentres, then network connectivity and service provisioning are achieved, but device complexity and management overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wavelength selection and routing functionality from the complex hierarchical switch/router architecture and concentrates it in dedicated WSS devices. This separation allows the core networking function to be simplified while maintaining full connectivity capabilities, directly reducing device complexity and management overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The WSS devices provide universal wavelength routing capabilities that can handle multiple service types and traffic flows simultaneously through a single device type, eliminating the need for multiple specialized switches and routers. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of devices and simplifies network management.
2Productivity
If hierarchical switches and routers are deployed to meet high throughput requirements, then network capacity is sufficient, but the number of devices and associated costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical switching architecture with an optical wavelength-based routing system. This substitution enables high throughput capacity to be achieved through wavelength multiplexing and selective routing, dramatically reducing the number of physical devices needed while maintaining or exceeding the throughput capacity of conventional hierarchical architectures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic service provisioning and traffic steering are implemented in NFV environments, then service flexibility is improved, but control plane complexity and signalling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control plane that acts as an intermediary between service management functions and the optical switching layer. This control plane manages wavelength allocation and routing decisions centrally, enabling dynamic service provisioning and traffic steering while keeping the data plane simple and efficient. The control plane handles the complexity of service orchestration, preventing it from propagating to individual network devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A datacenter for performing a service is provided. The datacenter is configured for receiving an optical signal comprising groups of wavelength bands, A1, A2, A3, . . . , AX, and B, X being an integer, the signal being associated with a request for a service to be executed by the datacenter, the datacenter being configured for executing the service and outputting the result of the service. The datacenter comprises at least one 1:N MD-WSS, having one common port and N tributary ports, where N is an integer and N>1, and a group of at least one server cluster, each comprising a respective transceiver configured to receive and transmit signals on at least some of the wavelength bands.