Data center connectivity systems and methods through packet-optical switches

1. A data center network, comprising:

a plurality of packet-optical switches each at a location in the data center network and each comprising a switch fabric comprising both a Layer 1 fabric and a packet fabric communicatively coupled to one or more line ports;

wherein the plurality of packet-optical switches are communicatively coupled to one another in a topology to form data connectivity in the data center network, and

wherein each of the plurality of packet-optical switches is configured to

provide the data connectivity through the Layer 1 switch bypassing the packet fabric when the location does not require Layer 2 forwarding in the topology, and

provide the data connectivity through the Layer 1 switch and using the packet fabric to provide the data service with multi-point connectivity when the location requires Layer 2 forwarding in the topology.

2. The data center network of claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of servers at the locations interconnected to one another via the data connectivity, wherein the data center network comprises a distributed data center.

3. The data center network of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of servers are interconnected to one another to form the distributed data center using one or more of Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) and Internet Protocol (IP).

4. The data center network of claim 1 , wherein at least one location comprises a content source which performs content distribution over the data connectivity.

5. The data center network of claim 4 , wherein the content distribution uses Ethernet multicast within dedicated Ethernet private trees over the data connectivity.

6. The data center network of claim 1 , wherein the topology comprises a mesh of different data centers together to form a distributed data center.

7. The data center network of claim 1 , wherein the packet fabric utilizes a software-defined virtual switch using Software Defined Networking (SDN).

8. A packet-optical switch at a location in a data center network having a topology, the packet-optical switch comprising:

one or more line ports; and

a switch fabric comprising both a Layer 1 fabric and a packet fabric communicatively coupled to the one or more line ports,

wherein the one or more line ports are communicatively coupled to other locations in the topology to form data connectivity in the data center network, and

wherein the packet-optical switch is configured to

provide the data connectivity through the Layer 1 switch bypassing the packet fabric when the location does not require Layer 2 forwarding in the topology, and

provide the data connectivity through the Layer 1 switch and using the packet fabric to provide the data service in multi-point connectivity when the location requires Layer 2 forwarding in the topology.

9. The packet-optical switch of claim 8 , wherein one or more servers at the location are interconnected to other servers via the data connectivity, wherein the data center network comprises a distributed data center.

10. The packet-optical switch of claim 9 , wherein the one or more servers and the other servers are interconnected to one another to form the distributed data center using one or more of Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) and Internet Protocol (IP).

11. The packet-optical switch of claim 8 , wherein the location comprises a content source which performs content distribution over the data connectivity.

12. The packet-optical switch of claim 11 , wherein the content distribution uses Ethernet multicast within dedicated Ethernet private trees over the data connectivity.

13. The packet-optical switch of claim 8 , wherein the topology comprises a mesh of different data centers together to form a distributed data center.

14. The packet-optical switch of claim 8 , wherein the packet fabric utilizes a software-defined virtual switch using Software Defined Networking (SDN).

15. A method of operation a packet-optical switch at a location in a data center network having a topology, the method comprising:

at the packet-optical switch comprising a switch fabric comprising both a Layer 1 fabric and a packet fabric communicatively coupled to one or more line ports to provide data connectivity in the data center network, providing the data connectivity through the Layer 1 switch bypassing the packet fabric when the location does not require Layer 2 forwarding in the topology, and

providing the data connectivity through the Layer 1 switch and using the packet fabric to provide the data service in multi-point connectivity when the location requires Layer 2 forwarding in the topology.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

interconnecting one or more plurality of servers at the location other servers via the data connectivity, wherein the data center network comprises a distributed data center.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the one or more servers and the other servers are interconnected to one another to form the distributed data center using one or more of Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) and Internet Protocol (IP).

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the location comprises a content source which performs content distribution over the data connectivity.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the content distribution uses Ethernet multicast within dedicated Ethernet private trees over the data connectivity.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the topology comprises a mesh of different data centers together to form a distributed data center.