This chapter briefly introduces the data center network and reviews the challenges for future intra-data-center networks in terms of scalability, cost effectiveness, power efficiency, upgrade cost, and bandwidth utilization. Current data center network architecture is discussed in detail and the drawbacks are pointed out in terms of the above-mentioned parameters. A detailed background is provided that how the technology moved from opaque to transparent optical networks. Additionally, it includes different data center network architectures proposed so far by different researchers/team/companies in order to address the current problems and meet the demands of future intra-data-center networks.
Experimental demonstration of elastic optical networks based on enhanced software defined networking (eSDN) for data center application
