Challenges for Optically Enabled High-Radix Switches for Data Center Networks

We discuss challenges for optically enabled high-radix switches in data centers. We highlight the clear advantages of using high-radix switches and explain why coupling such switches with midboard optics can be a winning solution. We further analyze the trends in pluggable transceivers and data center switches and indicate that if current scaling trends are set to continue, very different hardware, software, and architectures should be adopted to support future data centers networks.

[1]  William J. Dally,et al.  High-radix interconnection networks , 2008 .

[2]  G. Amdhal,et al.  Validity of the single processor approach to achieving large scale computing capabilities , 1967, AFIPS '67 (Spring).

[3]  Ariel Hendel.  Large- scale Data Center networks , 2014, OFC 2014.

[4]  Benjamin G Lee,et al.  30-Gb/s 90-nm CMOS-driven equalized multimode optical link. , 2013, Optics express.

[5]  H.J.S. Dorren,et al.  Fundamental bounds for photonic interconnects , 2011, 16th Opto-Electronics and Communications Conference.

[6]  Jung Ho Ahn,et al.  HyperX: topology, routing, and packaging of efficient large-scale networks , 2009, Proceedings of the Conference on High Performance Computing Networking, Storage and Analysis.

[7]  O. Raz,et al.  A novel 3D stacking method for opto-electronic dies on CMOS ICs , 2012, 2012 38th European Conference and Exhibition on Optical Communications.

[8]  William J. Dally,et al.  Principles and Practices of Interconnection Networks , 2004 .

[9]  Sang Joon Kim,et al.  A Mathematical Theory of Communication , 2006 .

[10]  Oded Raz,et al.  Demonstration of Wafer Scale Fabrication of 3-D Stacked Transmitter and Receiver Modules for Optical Interconnects , 2013, Journal of Lightwave Technology.

[11]  A. Ghiasi.  Is there a need for on-chip photonic integration for large data warehouse switches , 2012, The 9th International Conference on Group IV Photonics (GFP).

[12]  Alexander S. Szalay,et al.  Petascale computational systems , 2007, Computer.

[13]  Clint L. Schow,et al.  35-Gb/s VCSEL-Based optical link using 32-nm SOI CMOS circuits , 2013, 2013 Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exposition and the National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference (OFC/NFOEC).

[14]  James E. Jaussi,et al.  Multi-Gbit I/O and interconnect co-design for power efficient links , 2010, 19th Topical Meeting on Electrical Performance of Electronic Packaging and Systems.

[15]  B. M. Oliver.  Thermal and quantum noise , 1965 .