A dynamic flow control mechanism based on a hierarchical feedback model for data center networks

Abstract

Many studies have focused on developing Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) flow control mechanisms to enable more effective use of bandwidth in data center networks. However, the studies cannot achieve total optimization of bandwidth use for data center networks. This is because they do not take into account the path design of TCP flows and the hierarchical structure in data center networks through which TCP flows. To address this issue, we propose a TCP flow control mechanism for effectively using bandwidth by dynamically controlling paths through which TCP flows. To achieve this dynamic control, a hierarchical feedback model is used to obtain an optimal path establishment policy. With the model, all network components exchange their resource states with each other when each network component establishes a TCP flow. This enables each network component to learn the best TCP flow path for effective bandwidth use. An evaluation process shows that the mechanism achieves more effective bandwidth use and more efficient flow control than the conventional TCP flow control.