Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method of designing the racking configuration for boxes in racks and for determining which connections go between different racks, including: solving a rack select optimization sub-problem to determine racks to use; and solving a rack assign optimization sub-problem to determine which particular rack will hold a particular box. In another embodiment, an apparatus for designing the racking configuration for boxes in racks and for determining which connections go between different racks, including: a machine-readable representation for a racking configuration problem; and a solver that can read that machine-readable representation and that is configured to: solve a rack select optimization sub-problem to determine at least one rack to use; and solve a rack assign optimization sub-problem to determine which particular rack will hold at least one box.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for designing a network with a given set of network flow requirements, each flow requirement having a source, a destination and a bandwidth. The method comprises the steps of assigning each flow to a port on its associated source and destination, determining the partition of source and destination ports into port groups which are disjoint sets, and generating network modules to support the assignment of flows by using an appropriate interconnected combination of links, hubs and switches. The design of the module accounts for the relative costs of the links, hubs and switches and finds the allocation and subsequent module design that produces a cost effective interconnection fabric that supports all flow requirements.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for reprovisioning an interconnect fabric design for interconnecting a plurality of network nodes. A design for the interconnect fabric specifies an arrangement of elements of the fabric and flow requirements among the network nodes. The invention programmatically reprovisions the design. This may include determining whether the flow requirements are satisfied by the design and whether the design violates constraints on the elements, such as bandwidth capacity and number of available ports. If the design does not satisfy the flow requirements, then the design is modified until the flow requirements are satisfied. Modifications are performed systematically by first attempting those that are least disruptive to the design and, then, attempting modifications that are increasingly more disruptive. As a result, the design is efficiently and cost-effectively reprovisioned to meet the flow the requirements.

Abstract: In one embodiment of a computer implemented method of determining placement of components in a rack, a rack height, a set of components to be placed in the rack, and a height are provided for each of the components. A placement of the components in the rack is determined according to constraints. The placement of the components is then evaluated according to an objective. The constraints may comprise a rack height constraint, a single placement constraint, and a non-overlapping constraint. The rack height constraint ensures that placement of a particular component does not result in a top height of the particular component exceeding the rack height. The single placement constraint ensures that each component is placed once and only once. The non-overlapping constraint ensures that each slot in the rack is occupied by no more than a single component. The method may further comprise providing a weight and a weight distribution for each component in the set of components.

Abstract: A technique for providing reliability to an interconnect fabric for communication among a set of nodes. The technique may be used to efficiently and programmatically produce a cost-effective interconnect fabric having a degree of reliability over a range of design problems. In one aspect, ports associated with each node are partitioned into a first set of ports and a second set of ports. A primary interconnect fabric is formed among the first set of ports in response to a set of flow requirements and a backup interconnect fabric is formed among the second set of ports. The backup interconnect fabric carries a portion of communications carried by the primary fabric so as to protect against a failure of an element in the primary fabric.

Abstract: A technique for providing reliability to an interconnect fabric for communication among a set of nodes. Ports associated with each node are partitioned into a first set of ports and a second set of ports. A first interconnect fabric is formed among the first set of ports for each node in response to a set of flow requirements. A second interconnect fabric is formed among the second set of ports. Reliability is enhanced because, in the event of a failure of any single element of the first interconnect fabric, the flows among the nodes can still be achieved by the second interconnect fabric.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method of designing the racking configuration for boxes in racks and for determining which connections go between different racks, including: solving a rack select optimization sub-problem to determine racks to use; and solving a rack assign optimization sub-problem to determine which particular rack will hold a particular box. In another embodiment, an apparatus for designing the racking configuration for boxes in racks and for determining which connections go between different racks, including: a machine-readable representation for a racking configuration problem; and a solver that can read that machine-readable representation and that is configured to: solve a rack select optimization sub-problem to determine at least one rack to use; and solve a rack assign optimization sub-problem to determine which particular rack will hold at least one box.

Abstract: An excess-port network switch includes a plurality of ports configured to receive and transmit data. The plurality of ports is adapted to have a configured throughput. The excess-port network switch also includes a switch fabric configured to route data between the plurality of ports, where the switch fabric is also configured to have a predetermined throughput being less than the total configured throughput of the plurality of ports.

Abstract: A technique for verifying an interconnect fabric design for interconnecting a plurality of network nodes. A design for the interconnect fabric specifies an arrangement of elements of the fabric and flow requirements among the network nodes. The invention programmatically verifies that the flow requirements are satisfied by the design and that the design does not violate constraints on the elements, such as available bandwidth or number of ports. This may also include determining whether the network can continue to satisfy the flow requirements in the event of one or more failures of elements of the interconnect fabric.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for designing a network with a given set of network flow requirements, each flow requirement having a source, a destination and a bandwidth. The method comprises the steps of assigning each flow to a port on its associated source and destination, determining the partition of source and destination ports into port groups which are disjoint sets, and generating network modules to support the assignment of flows by using an appropriate interconnected combination of links, hubs and switches. The design of the module accounts for the relative costs of the links, hubs and switches and finds the allocation and subsequent module design that produces a cost effective interconnection fabric that supports all flow requirements.

Abstract: A technique for providing reliability to an interconnect fabric for communication among a set of nodes. Ports associated with each node are partitioned into a first set of ports and a second set of ports. A first interconnect fabric is formed among the first set of ports for each node in response to a set of flow requirements. A second interconnect fabric is formed among the second set of ports. Reliability is enhanced because, in the event of a failure of any single element of the first interconnect fabric, the flows among the nodes can still be achieved by the second interconnect fabric.

Abstract: A technique for providing reliability to an interconnect fabric for communication among a set of nodes. The technique may be used to efficiently and programmatically produce a cost-effective interconnect fabric having a degree of reliability over a range of design problems. In one aspect, ports associated with each node are partitioned into a first set of ports and a second set of ports. A primary interconnect fabric is formed among the first set of ports in response to a set of flow requirements and a backup interconnect fabric is formed among the second set of ports.