Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed for enabling load balancing to be achieved in a loop-free switching path, reverse path learning network, such as an Ethernet network. The network is divided into a plurality of virtual networks, with each virtual network providing a different path through the network from a source node to a destination node. When it comes time to send a set of information from the source node to the destination node, one of the plurality of virtual networks, and hence, one of the plurality of paths, is selected. The set of information is then updated to indicate the selected virtual network, and sent into the network to be transported to the destination node along the selected path. With multiple paths, and with the ability to select between the multiple paths, it is possible to balance the load imposed on the multiple paths.

Abstract: A network of spine switches and leaf switches is disclosed wherein the spine switches and leaf switches are coupled using a simplified interconnect made up of multiple signal carrying media (SCM's). In the simplified interconnect, “virtual” links are used rather than physical links to couple the leaf switches to the spine switches. The virtual links are implemented using wavelength division multiplexing. By implementing virtual links, the network achieves the same connectivity as that provided by a Clos network without the complex interconnect that is typically required in a Clos network.