A scalable packet switch for distributed computing

To address the growing demands of distributed computing, the authors propose a new switch architecture called VIPER+ that is based on a self-routing nonblocking network design. VIPER+ can be designed from simple 2×2 switching elements, either electrical or photonic. The self-routing properties of the switch enable scalability with the technology of the switching devices employed. The switch architecture, targeted for optical implementation, relies on simpledistributed routing algorithms and uses cut-through switching to avoid buffering at the switch interface. The authors outline the switch architecture using VIPER+, and the projected performance based on analytical modeling