Data center interconnect as a switch
AssigneeDavid I-Keong Wong
InventorDavid I-Keong Wong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An interconnect module (“ICAS module”) includes n optical data ports each comprising n optical interfaces, and an interconnecting network implementing a full mesh topology for interconnecting the optical interfaces of each port each to a respective one of the optical interfaces of each of the other ports. In one embodiment, each optical interface exchanges data signals over a communication medium with optical transceiver. The interconnecting module may implement the full mesh topology using optical fibers. The interconnecting module may be used to replace fabric switches as well as a building block for a spine switch.
Claims22
A data center network having a plurality of data interfaces for receiving and transmitting data signals from and to a plurality of servers, comprising:
- a first plurality of data switching units, wherein each of the first plurality of data switching units comprises (a) a plurality of first level interconnecting devices providing a subset of the data interfaces;
- and (b) one or more second level interconnecting devices routing data signals of the subset of data signals among the subset of data interfaces of the first level interconnecting device and a data interface with an external network, wherein the first and second interconnecting devices are interconnected to implement a full mesh network of a predetermined number of nodes;
- and
- a second plurality of data switching units, wherein each of the second plurality of the data switching units comprises a plurality of third level interconnecting devices, wherein each third level interconnecting device routes data signals received from, or to be transmitted to, a corresponding one of the first level interconnecting devices in each of the first plurality of data switching units.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.