System and method for network switching
A system and method for network switching is provided. A plurality of processing modules is accessed and each processing module includes a plurality of processing nodes. Each processing node is associated with an intra-module port and an inter-module port. At least a portion of the processing nodes are connected within each processing module via the intra-module ports. A ring of the processing modules is formed via inter-module connections between a portion of the inter-module ports of the processing modules. One of the processing nodes of at least a portion of the processing modules is connected with a network switch.
1. A system for network switching, comprising:
a plurality of processing modules, each processing module comprising a plurality of processing nodes each processing node associated with an intra-module port and an inter-module port;
at least a portion of the processing nodes connected within each processing module via the intra-module ports;
a ring of the processing modules formed via inter-module connections between a portion of the inter-module ports of the processing modules; and
one of the processing nodes of at least a portion of the processing modules connected with a network switch,
wherein a different portion of the processing modules are connected with a further network switch.
2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the network switch is connected to every S processing module, wherein S is a number of steps.
3. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the network switch is connected to every S and S- 1 processing module, wherein S is a number of steps.
4. A system according to claim 3 , wherein the inter-module connection is removed between the inter-module ports of two adjacent processing modules both connected to the network switch.
5. A system according to claim 4 , wherein a maximum number of required intra-module or inter-module ports on each processing module is limited to two.
6. A system according to claim 4 , wherein one of another ring and an external device is connected to the ring of processing modules via a further network switch.
7. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the network switch is connected to every S and S-r processing modules, wherein S is a number of steps and r is an integer with a value of 1<r<S.
8. A system according to claim 1 , wherein one of the network switch and another network switch is connected to two of the intra-module ports on at least one of the processing modules.
9. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the network switch performs shortcuts comprising at least one of amending or increasing shortcuts in response to packet traffic patterns.
10. A method for network switching, comprising:
accessing a plurality of processing modules, each processing module comprising a plurality of processing nodes each processing node associated with an intra-module port and an inter-module port;
connecting at least a portion of the processing nodes within each processing module via the intra-module ports;
forming a ring of the processing modules via inter-module connections between a portion of the inter-module ports of the processing modules;
connecting one of the processing nodes of at least a portion of the processing modules with a network switch; and
connecting a different portion of the processing modules with a further network switch.
11. A method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
connecting the network switch to every S processing module, wherein S is a number of steps.
12. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
connecting the network switch to every S and S- 1 processing module, wherein S is a number of steps.
13. A method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
removing the inter-module connection between the inter-module ports of two adjacent processing modules both connected to the network switch.
14. A method according to claim 13 , further comprising:
limiting a maximum number of required intra-module or inter-module ports on each processing module to two.
15. A method according to claim 13 , further comprising:
connecting one of another ring and an external device to the ring of processing modules via a further network switch.
16. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
connecting the network switch to every S and S-r processing modules, wherein S is a number of steps and r is an integer with a value of 1<r<S.
17. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
connecting one of the network switch and another network switch to two of the intra-module ports on at least one of the processing modules.
18. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the network switch performs shortcuts comprising at least one of amending or increasing shortcuts in response to packet traffic patterns.
19. A method for network switching, comprising:
accessing a plurality of processing modules, each processing module comprising a plurality of processing nodes each processing node associated with an intra-module port and an inter-module port;
connecting at least a portion of the processing nodes within each processing module via the intra-module ports;
forming a ring of the processing modules via inter-module connections between a portion of the inter-module ports of the processing modules;
connecting one of the processing nodes of at least a portion of the processing modules with a network switch;
connecting the network switch to every S and S- 1 processing module, wherein S is a number of steps; and
removing the inter-module connection between the inter-module ports of two adjacent processing modules both connected to the network switch.
20. A method according to claim 19 , further comprising at least one of:
limiting a maximum number of required intra-module or inter-module ports on each processing module to two; and
connecting one of another ring and an external device to the ring of processing modules via a further network switch.