Switch Fabric Control Plane Architecture for Cable Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing switch fabric systems require a large number of physical connections between control processors and modules, leading to unmanageable cabling and potential data transmission without control, as control signals and data signals are often sent through separate cables.
Innovation Solution
A system where each cable carries both control and data signals, with a control plane processor determining connections to ensure that data is not sent without a functional control signal, reducing the number of cables needed and maintaining data integrity by integrating control and data plane connections within the same cables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate cables are used for control signals and data signals, then data transmission can continue even if control signals fail, but the number of cables becomes large and unmanageable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines control signals and data signals into the same cable by using different wavelength optical signals. The control plane processor and data plane operations share common cable infrastructure, reducing cable quantity while maintaining system functionality. This merging approach directly addresses the contradiction by reducing cable complexity while preserving data transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable system is designed to carry multiple functions simultaneously - both control plane traffic and data plane traffic through the same physical medium. This multi-functionality allows a single cable to replace what would traditionally require separate cables, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining operational reliability.
2Productivity
If control signals and data signals are sent through separate cables, then data can be sent without control monitoring, but this creates security and control integrity issues
Solution Approach 1:
By merging control and data signals into the same cable infrastructure, the patent ensures that control integrity is maintained alongside data transmission. The control plane processor can monitor and control data plane operations through the shared cable, preventing unauthorized or unmonitored data transmission while maintaining efficient data flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the control plane processor continuously monitors data plane operations through the same cable infrastructure. This feedback loop ensures that data transmission remains under control supervision, maintaining control integrity while allowing productive data flow. The control plane can detect and respond to anomalies in real-time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cables are used for control processor connections, then control and data functions are independent, but the system becomes difficult to manage and scale
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges control plane and data plane cable requirements into a unified infrastructure. By using the same cable for both control and data signals, the system becomes easier to manage and scale. Adding new modules or expanding the network requires fewer additional cables, improving ease of operation and scalability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable infrastructure is designed with universality in mind, where each cable can carry multiple types of traffic (control and data). This multi-functional design simplifies system expansion and adaptation, as the same cable type and connection methods can be used for various purposes, improving both scalability and ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a system includes multiple access switches, a switch fabric having multiple switch fabric portions, and a control plane processor. Each switch fabric portion is coupled to at least one access switch by a cable from a first set of cables. Each switch fabric portion is configured to receive data from the at least one access switch via the cable from the first set of cables. The control plane processor is coupled to each switch fabric portion by a cable from a second set of cables. The control plane processor is configured to send control information to each access switch via a cable from the second set of cables, a switch fabric portion, and a cable from the first set of cables. The control plane processor is configured to determine control plane connections associated with each access switch and is configured to determine data plane connections associated with each access switch as a result of the control plane connections.