Growable packet (ATM) switch architecture: Design principles and applications

Kai Y. Eng, Mark J. Karol, Y. S. Yeh

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

The authors consider the generic problem of designing a large N × N (N > 1000) high-performance, broadband packet (or asynchronous transfer mode) switch. Focusing on switch growability, they provide ways to construct arbitrarily large switches out of modest-size packet switches, without sacrificing overall delay/throughput performance. They propose and study a growable switch architecture based on three key principles: (a) a generalized knockout principle which exploits the statistical behavior of packet arrivals and thereby reduces the interconnect complexity; (b) output queuing, which yields the best possible delay/throughput performance; and (c) distributed intelligence in routing packets through the interconnect fabric, which eliminates internal path conflicts. Other attractive features of the proposed architecture include the guarantee of a first-in first-out packet sequence, broadcast and multicast capabilities, and, most importantly, compatibility with variable-length packets, which avoids the need for packet size standardization. In a broadband ISDN (integrated services digital network) example, the authors show a 2048 × 2048 switch configuration with building blocks of 42 × 16 packet switch modules and 128 × 128 interconnect modules, both of which fall within existing hardware capabilities.

Original languageEnglish
Pages1159-1165
Number of pages7
StatePublished - 1989
EventIEEE Global Telecommunications Conference & Exhibition (GLOBECOM '89). Part 1 (of 3) - Dallas, TX, USA
Duration: 27 Nov 198930 Nov 1989

Conference

ConferenceIEEE Global Telecommunications Conference & Exhibition (GLOBECOM '89). Part 1 (of 3)
CityDallas, TX, USA
Period27/11/8930/11/89

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