Torii-HLMAC: Distributed, Fault-tolerant Data Center Architecture with Multiple Tree-based Addressing and Forwarding.
Elisa Rojas, Guillermo Ibáñez · Tiny Trans. Comput. Sci. · 2012
Data center networks are increasingly relying on Ethernet and flat layer two networks due to its excellent price and performance ratio and configuration convenience. Different approaches to implement a data center fabric have been recently proposed to overcome the limitations of Spanning Tree protocol (ST) and the configuration complexity of Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol. PortLand [1] is a recent protocol proposal for data centers that uses centralized control, location based pseudo MAC addresses and Up/Down turn prohibition to prevent loops. Positional addresses are assigned to hosts and switches by a discovery protocol and replace universal MAC addresses at edge switches. The Torii-HLMAC protocol [2] aims to improve Portland (and routing in fat trees in general) with alternative, simpler and distributed mechanisms. It uses topological pseudo MAC addresses, but multiple simple addresses (inspired in TRE [3]), in order to facilitate multipath forwarding, direct frame routing without tables and on the fly alternate path selection after link failure. BODY Just a few messages exchanged once the architecture is built and done! Have a high-bandwidth, load-balanced data center network forever