Modeling the Performance of the Clock Phase Caching Approach to Clock and Data Recovery

Abstract

Optical switching could enable data center networks to keep pace with the rapid growth of intra-data center traffic, however, sub-nanosecond clock and data recovery time is crucial to enabling optically-switched data center networks to transport small packet dominated data center traffic with over 90% efficiency. We review the clock-synchronized approach to clock and data recovery, which enables sub-nanosecond switching time in optically switched networks. We then introduce an analytical model to mathematically explore the operation of clock phase caching, and use this model to explore the impact of factors such as fiber temperature, clock jitter and symbol rate on the BER and clock and data recovery locking time performance of the clock phase caching approach, as well as their impact on scalability. Using commercial data center parameters matching those used in our previous experimental research, we find that our analytical model provides estimates that closely match our previous experimental results, validating its use for making predictions of the performance of clock phase cached systems.