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A survey of hybrid optical data center network architectures

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Abstract

This paper presents a survey of data center network architectures that use both optical and packet switching components. Various proposed architectures and their corresponding network operation details are discussed. Electronic processing-based packet switch architectures and hybrid optical–electronic-based switch architectures are presented. These hybrid optical switch architectures use optical switching elements in addition to traditional electronic processing entities. The choice of components used for realizing functionality including the network interfaces, buffers, lookup elements and the switching fabrics have been analyzed. These component choices are summarized for different architectures. A qualitative comparison of the various architectures is also presented.

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Acknowledgments

Part of this work was supported by the DST-EPSRC funded India-UK Advanced Technology Centre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks, Systems and Services (IU-ATC), IIT Madras, Chennai.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India

    Ganesh C. Sankaran & Krishna M. Sivalingam

  2. HCL Technologies Ltd, Chennai, India

    Ganesh C. Sankaran

  3. India-UK Advanced Technology Centre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks, Systems and Services (IU-ATC), Chennai, India

    Ganesh C. Sankaran & Krishna M. Sivalingam

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  1. Ganesh C. Sankaran
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  2. Krishna M. Sivalingam
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Correspondence to Krishna M. Sivalingam.

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Sankaran, G.C., Sivalingam, K.M. A survey of hybrid optical data center network architectures. Photon Netw Commun 33, 87–101 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11107-016-0643-2

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