Optical Networks for Composable Data Centers

TL;DR

This paper reviews optical network technologies for composable data centers, highlighting a targeted design that reduces costs significantly while maintaining performance, thus advancing efficient data center networking.

Contribution

It introduces a cost-effective optical network design for composable data centers that minimizes transceiver use without compromising performance.

Findings

Capable of reducing capital expenditure by up to 34 times.

Maintains performance levels comparable to generic designs.

Provides a comprehensive overview of enabling technologies and research directions.

Abstract

Composable data centers (DCs) have been proposed to enable greater efficiencies as the uptake of on-demand computing services grows. In this article we give an overview of composable DCs by discussing their enabling technologies, benefits, challenges, and research directions. We then describe a network for composable DCs that leverages optical communication technologies and components to implement a targeted design. Relative to the implementation of a generic design that requires a (high capacity) dedicated transceiver on each point-to-point link on a mesh optical fabric in a composable DC rack, the targeted design can significantly reduce capital expenditure (by up to 34 times) because fewer transceivers are used. This is achieved with little or no degradation of expected performance in composable DCs.