Access-Point to Access-Point Connectivity for PON-based OWC Spine and Leaf Data Centre Architecture

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel OWC-PON-based spine-and-leaf data center architecture that reduces power consumption by 46% compared to traditional designs, using infrared transceivers and optical networking components.

Contribution

It introduces a new integration of OWC and PON technologies into data center networks, replacing spine switches with optical line terminals and APs for improved efficiency.

Findings

Achieves 46% power reduction with eight racks.

Uses infrared WDM transceivers for rack connectivity.

Replaces spine switches with optical line terminals.

Abstract

In this paper, we propose incorporating Optical Wireless Communication (OWC) and Passive Optical Network (PON) technologies into next generation spine-and-leaf Data Centre Networks (DCNs). In this work, OWC systems are used to connect the Data Centre (DC) racks through Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) Infrared (IR) transceivers. The transceivers are placed on top of the racks and at distributed Access Points (APs) in the ceiling. Each transceiver on a rack is connected to a leaf switch that connects the servers within the rack. We replace the spine switches by Optical Line Terminal (OLT) and Network Interface Cards (NIC) in the APs to achieve the desired connectivity. We benchmark the power consumption of the proposed OWC-PON-based spine-and-leaf DC against traditional spine-and-leaf DC and report 46% reduction in the power consumption when considering eight racks.