The split‐switching network (SSN): A high‐performance multicast ATM switch

Abstract

AbstractThis paper proposes a new high‐performance multicast ATM switch architecture. The switch, called the split‐switching network (SSN), is based on banyan networks. The SSN achieves multicasting in a way that is non‐typical for banyan‐based switches: copying and routeing of multicast cells are carried out simultaneously and within the same fabric. Thus, cells are copied only when needed as they traverse the switch towards the appropriate output ports. The SSN consists of successive spliting stages, and buffering is provided in front of each stage. The SSN is non‐blocking with complexity of order Nlog2/2N for a switch of size N, and is characterized by distributed and parallel control. The throughput‐delay performance of the SSN is shown to be similar to that of a non‐blocking output‐buffering switch under different mixtures of unicast/multicast traffic. In particular, the SSN achieves a maximum throughput of 100 per cent and the cell delay and delay variation remain small for loads just below the maximum throughput.