Aniruddha Kushwaha

On the Unprecedented Scalability of the FISSION (Flexible Interconnection of Scalable Systems Integrated Using Optical Networks) Datacenter

Internet traffic is doubling almost every other year which implies that datacenter (DC) scalability will play a critical role in enabling future communications. In this paper, we propose FISSION (Flexible Interconnection of Scalable Systems Integrated using Optical Networks)-a scalable, fault-tolerant DC architecture based on a switchless optical-bus backplane and carrier-class switches, and its supporting protocol. The FISSION DC enables unprecedented scalability using affordable optics and standardized electrical switches. It is architecturally bifurcated into sectors that internally have a nonblocking carrier-class switching interconnection structure. Sectors are connected in the switchless backplane using optical buses. Each sector can receive traffic on all wavelengths (achieved through optical-bus property without any switch reconfiguration) and across all fibers, but a sector transmits on only a group of wavelengths and only in one of the fiber rings in the backplane. The switches function based on an SDN methodology that facilitate mapping of complex protocols and addresses to DC-specific addressing that is scalable and easier to use. We present an analysis to optimize the FISSION architecture. A simulation model is proposed that (1) compares the FISSION approach to other contemporary designs; (2) provides scalability analysis and protocol performance measurement; and, (3) provides optical layer modeling to validate working of the FISSION framework at high line-rates. Our architecture, which provides 100% bisection bandwidth, is validated by simulation results exhibiting negligible packet loss and low end-to-end latency.

How Much NFV Should a Service Provider Adopt

Network function virtualization and software-defined networking have the potential to change provider revenue streams and offer new services. We measure the impact of NFV on large provider networks by accurately modeling a contemporary service provider. In our model, we consider actual equipment that is currently deployed and understand the impact of NFV on CapEx, OpEx, and service delivery. Apart from accurately modeling a contemporary provider network, we also inculcate robustness in the model to factor in for uncertainty of network traffic. We answer the key questions: what functions in a network can be virtualized and which functions need to continue as traditional hardware? We also harp upon the question as to what new services can be considered and in which circumstances? Our model considers various combinations of network architectures that are used in contemporary networks. The model is supported by extensive analysis and simulation that verify our results from cost, performance, and scalability (of services and the model itself) perspectives.

A novel pCDC ROADM architecture using MxN WSS

A novel partial Colorless-Directionless-Contentionless and gridless ROADM architecture using a MxN Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS) as a base building block is proposed. The MxN WSS allows us to create an interesting trade-off between cost and features in a contentionless environment. An argument is placed for a partial CDC-gridless ROADM architecture that is of a lower cost than all other combinations and achieves almost similar functionality compared to a full CDC design. Extensive simulations verify our claim over three different core network topologies as well as test our architecture for 100Gbps transmission requirements.

Analyzing the impact of NFV in large provider networks: A use case perspective

Network Function Virtualization (NFV) has the potential to transform the way providers do business. In particular, NFV can be an ideal solution for the current provider situation — whereby revenue is decreasing (due to competition), bandwidth requirements are increasing and the cost of provisioning increases with the bandwidth requirements. In such a situation, NFV can be a real game-changer, in terms of providing alternate avenues towards saving CapEx and OpEx, while also facilitating a new set of portfolio services to the end user. We model a realistic service provider and measure the impact of NFV on current network deployment. We then compute price-points at which it would start to make sense for a provider to indulge in NFV. Our simulations and optimizations study has built-in robustness that facilitate stability of the results across traffic variations as well as provider types.

Developing and Deploying a Carrier-Class SDN-Centric Network Management System for a Tier 1 Service Provider Network

Software-defined networking (SDN) has considerably shaken the telecommunications industry, with almost every major vendor upgrading their product portfolio and all providers building use cases to inculcate the SDN concept. Significant collaborative activity is underway toward a common set of SDN standards. However, with a huge amount of existing network gear, one question remains: How should providers adopt SDN given the existing infrastructure? To this end, we have developed a well-standardized technology with minor tweaks and created a hardware paradigm whose forwarding plane conforms to carrierclass standards, but whose control plane caters to the SDN philosophy. This paper discusses our experience building such a control plane and its subsequent deployment. We describe the design and implementation of a network management system (NMS) for carrier-class networks using carrier Ethernet manifestations. The management system subscribes to the SDN philosophy, thereby facilitating user-control-based provisioning and service definitions. A centralized controller communicates with carrier Ethernet switch routers (CESRs) that provision services based on multiple identifiers such as IPv6, IPv4, MAC, CTAG/STAG, and port-based identifiers. In this paper, we describe the design of the controller in the NMS and the control state-machine in the CESR, as well as their interactions. The paper details the concepts underlying the SDN system as well as its module-level and service-level implementation aspects. Our key contribution is that the CESR we built along with the SDN NMS is put to the test in a tier 1 provider network, thereby facilitating real network performance measurement. A citywide network was built and we present its results in this paper.

Flexible interconnection of scalable systems integrated using optical networks (FISSION) data-center—concepts and demonstration

With Internet traffic doubling almost every other year, data-center (DC) scalability is destined to play a critical role in enabling future communications. While many DC architectures are proposed to tackle this issue by leveraging optics in DCs, most fail to scale efficiently. We demonstrate flexible interconnection of scalable systems integrated using optical networks (FISSION), which is a scalable, fault-tolerant DC architecture based on a switchless optical-bus backplane and carrier-class switches. The FISSION DC can scale to a large number of servers (even up to 1 million servers) using off-the-shelf optics and commodity electronics. Its backplane comprises multiple, concentric bus-based fiber rings to create a switch-less core. Sectors, which constitute top-of-the-rack switches along with server interconnection pods, are connected to this switchless backplane in a unique opto-electronic architectural framework to handle contention. The FISSION protocol uses segment-routing paradigms for use within the DC as well as an SDN-based standardized carrier-class protocol. In this paper, we highlight, through three use cases, a FISSION test-bed, and show its feasibility in a realistic setting. These use cases include communication within the FISSION DC, in situ addition deletion of servers at scale and equal-cost multipath (ECMP) provisioning.

DOSE: Double optics single electronics data-center using a switchless optical frontplane and backplane

We propose a scalable data-center architecture and associated protocol using the double use of optics in both the backplane as well as the frontplane, segregated by an electrical SDN switch. The advantage of our architecture is seemingly infinite scalability in conjunction with the ability to transport large chunks of data (with full bisection bandwidth) between servers across the data center. We present the architecture, system design, scalability issues as well as power profiles. Further, we present a protocol that facilitates software defined networking and communication within the data center. A simulation model is shown that validates the architecture for different manifestations of the data-center using various services and variations of the architecture. The proposed architecture results in low latency and excellent throughput, while reducing total cost of wiring within the data-center.