A framework for benchmarking performance of switch fabrics

A framework for benchmarking performance of switch fabrics is presented. The framework consists of three components: traffic models, metrics that quantify behavior, and finally experimental procedures. The framework is independent of the target switch fabric architecture for most part. However, it does point to traffic models, metrics, and procedures that capture pathologies in a given architecture and tend to be target architecture specific. The framework is applicable to both centralized and distributed fabric architectures. The framework defines a common set of criteria for evaluation of fabric architectures and control algorithms.