The growable switch architecture: a self-routing implementation for large ATM applications

A growable switch architecture consisting of an output column of `small´ packet switch modules preceded by a memoryless distribution network is proposed. This architecture allows modular growth to very large switch sizes while conforming to the board input/output (I/O) constraints. As incoming packets (asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cells) arrive to enter the fabric, they are routed instantaneously to their respective output packet switch modules on a slot-by-slot basis through the cell distribution network, and the maximum number of cells accepted into each output packet switch module is designed according to the generalized knockout principle. Buffering of multiple cell arrivals to a destination is provided only in the output packet switch modules, thus achieving perfect output queueing and hence the best delay-throughput performance