Topology discovery and identification of switches in a three-stage interconnection network

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for discovering a topology and identifying switches in a three-stage switch network comprising a plurality of interconnected switch boards, the method steps comprising:

• (i) ascertaining an intended topology of the three-stage switch network;
• (ii) creating a list of the plurality of switch boards that are present in the three-stage switch network;
• (iii) determining a connection pattern for each of the plurality of switch boards by obtaining information indicating how each of the plurality of switch boards is connected to neighboring switch boards;
• (iv) classifying each of the plurality of switch boards on the list of the plurality of switch boards as a node switch board (NSB), an intermediate switch board (ISB), or a jump switch board (JSB), and creating a respective NSB list of the switch boards characterized as a NSB, creating a respective ISB list of the switch boards characterized as an ISB, and creating a respective JSB list of the switch boards characterized as a JSB;
• (v) grouping the switch boards classified as ISBs into sectors and creating an ISB matrix;
• (vi) grouping the switch boards classified as NSBs into sectors and creating an NSB matrix;
• and
• (vii) determining a number for each JSB, ISB, and NSB, thereby determining the topology of the three-stage switch network.

A system for discovering a topology and identifying switches in a three-stage switch network comprising a plurality of interconnected switch boards, the system comprising a server computer configured for:

• ascertaining an intended topology of the three-stage switch network;
• creating a list of the plurality of switch boards that are present in the three-stage switch network;
• determining a connection pattern for each of the plurality of switch boards by obtaining information indicating how each of the plurality of switch boards is connected to neighboring switch boards;
• classifying each of the plurality of switch boards on the list of the plurality of switch boards as one of a node switch board (NSB), an intermediate switch board (ISB), or a jump switch board (JSB);
• creating a respective NSB list of the switch boards characterized as a NSB, creating a respective ISB list of the switch boards characterized as an ISB, and creating a respective JSB list of the switch boards characterized as a JSB;
• grouping the switch boards classified as ISBs into sectors and creating an ISB matrix;
• grouping the switch boards classified as NSBs into sectors and creating an NSB matrix;
• and
• determining a number for each JSB, ISB, and NSB, thereby determining the topology of the three-stage switch network.