Data center architecture utilizing optical switches
AssigneeJuniper Networks, Inc.
InventorAdel Saleh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention describe flexible (i.e., elastic) data center architectures capable of meeting exascale, while maintaining low latency and using reasonable sizes of electronic packet switches, through the use of optical circuit switches such as optical time, wavelength, waveband and space circuit switching technologies. This flexible architecture enables the reconfigurability of the interconnectivity of servers and storage devices within a data center to respond to the number, size, type and duration of the various applications being requested at any given point in time.
Claims20
A method for routing data in a switch network, the method comprising:
- receiving, by the switch network, optical data from a plurality of node devices, the switch network comprising:
- a first level of optical switches and a second level of optical switches that are located between the first level of optical switches and the plurality of node devices, the second level of optical switches being configured to change pathways of light between the first level of optical switches and the plurality of node devices;
- and
- a level of electronic switches that are connected to the first level of optical switches, wherein the first level of optical switches are between the electronic switches and the second level of optical switches in the switch network;
- changing one or more optical pathways between one or more optical switches of the first level of optical switches and the plurality of node devices using one or more optical switches of the second level of optical switches;
- and
- receiving additional optical data by the one or more optical switches of the first level using the changed one or more optical pathways.
An optical switch arrangement, comprising:
- a first level of optical switches operatively coupled to communicate data from a plurality of node devices;
- a second level of optical switches coupled to the first level of optical switches and operatively coupled to the plurality of node devices, the second level of optical switches being located between the first level of optical switches and the node devices and configured to change one or more optical pathways of light propagating between the first level of optical switches and the plurality of node devices;
- and
- a level of electronic switches that are connected to the first level of optical switches, wherein the first level of optical switches are between the electronic switches and the second level of optical switches.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.