Data Center Networks Overview

Abstract

This paper talks about systems and protocols related to the data center along with problems occurring with running data centers and solutions addressing those errors. To begin with, basic concepts of the data center is introduced by presenting the design and evaluation of a representative system-Portland-which is a specifically designed protocol for data centers with efficient routing, loop-avoided forwarding, and effective detection and recovery about faults. After introducing some basic ideas and topology about the data center, problems regarding data center are discussed; specifically, the Google and Facebook Data Center is analyzed. Google Data Center's four-clusterpost network could no longer satisfy the demand for the bandwidth, a necessary solution to scale out, and a cost-effective means to update. On the other hand, the operational data of production network infrastructure at Facebook is presented to show the roles that the reliability plays in large scale data centers' network. Lastly, after exquisitely describing the nature, pros and cons, and the characteristics of Data Centers, an application developed upon the data centers is interpreted: CrystalNet, a network emulator, is discussed, which can generate a virtue network functioning like a real network, allowing network software operators to test or validate their ideas and software tools on the virtue network before implementing them to the real network.