Mesh Clos Network Topology for Scalable Datacenter Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
As datacenter switch capacity needs to double every two years to keep pace with increasing data traffic, existing technologies face challenges in scaling beyond current limits, particularly with the slowing down of Moore's law and high power consumption of switches, necessitating alternative approaches to maintain network performance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a computer network system using mesh networks with interconnected internal switches forming mesh switch devices, which are then deployed in a Clos topology to efficiently scale network size, reducing power consumption and increasing connectivity without enlarging switch ASICs, and utilizing adaptive routing for efficient packet forwarding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If switch capacity is increased by employing larger ASICs with more data lanes, then network bandwidth is improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a large radix-64 switch into multiple smaller radix-8 switch ASICs connected in a mesh network topology. Instead of using one large ASIC, the system uses nine smaller ASICs (three per mesh switch device, with three mesh switch devices in series) interconnected through mesh networks. This segmentation reduces the power consumption of individual ASICs while achieving the same aggregate switch capacity through parallel processing across multiple devices.
2Productivity
If multiple switches are connected to scale network bandwidth and radix, then network capacity is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested architecture where mesh networks are embedded within mesh switch devices, and multiple mesh switch devices are nested within the overall Clos topology network. Each mesh switch device contains three internal switches forming a mesh network, and these devices are interconnected in a Clos topology. This nested structure provides a systematic way to scale network capacity while maintaining manageable complexity through hierarchical organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional two-dimensional Clos topology to a three-dimensional mesh-Clos hybrid topology by adding the mesh network dimension within each switch device. The mesh networks provide additional routing dimensions and paths, enabling more efficient packet forwarding and reducing the complexity of inter-switch connections while maintaining high bandwidth and radix.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional Clos topology is used to scale network size, then connectivity is improved, but power consumption and cost increase due to more switches and active cables
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the Clos topology with mesh networks to create mesh switch devices that combine the scalability of Clos with the efficiency of mesh routing. By integrating multiple switches within each mesh switch device and connecting them via mesh networks, the system achieves high connectivity while reducing the total number of external connections and active cables required, thereby lowering power consumption and cost.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a computer network system, includes a plurality of mesh networks, each mesh network including at least three interconnected respective internal switches with each respective internal switch being connected to each other one of the respective internal switches via a respective internal network connection, and Clos topology network connections connecting the mesh networks in a Clos topology arrangement.