Reliability models for some fast packet switch architectures

This paper discusses ongoing research to develop reliability models for ATM switching and transport mechanisms. The major focus of this paper is the reliability of the ATM switching fabrics. The right choice of the packet switching architecture is crucial to the realization of broadband ISDN. In the recent past, a number of fabric structures have been put forward and performances evaluated and prototypes built and tested. Here we propose to study the space division type of switches and to compare their reliability, modularity and complexity. Since they are basically multistage interconnection networks, the fabric structure and its reliability are important criteria in a choice of one fast packet switch architecture over another, while modularity may be high for many of them