A cost-effective low-latency overlaid torus-based data center network architecture

In this paper, we present the design, analysis, and implementation of a novel data center network architecture named CLOT, which delivers significant reduction in the network diameter, network latency, and infrastructure cost. CLOT is built based on a switchless torus topology by adding only a number of most beneficial low-end switches in a proper way. Forming the servers in close proximity of each other in torus topology well implements the network locality. The extra layer of switches largely shortens the average routing path length of torus network, which increases the communication efficiency. We show that CLOT can achieve lower latency, smaller routing path length, higher bisection bandwidth and throughput, and better fault tolerance compared to both conventional hierarchical data center networks as well as the recently proposed CamCube network. Coupled with the coordinate based geographical addresses and credit based flow control, the specially designed POW routing algorithm helps CLOT achieve its maximum theoretical performance. Besides, an automatic address configuration mechanism and malfunction detection mechanism are provided to facilitate the network deployment and configuration. The sufficient mathematical analysis and theoretical derivation prove both guaranteed and ideal performance of CLOT.