G. Watson

Bio: G. Watson is an academic researcher from Stanford University. The author has contributed to research in topics: NetFPGA & Open platform. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 2 publications receiving 351 citations.

NetFPGA--An Open Platform for Gigabit-Rate Network Switching and Routing

Abstract: The NetFPGA platform enables students and researchers to build high-performance networking systems in hardware. A new version of the NetFPGA platform has been developed and is available for use by the academic community. The NetFPGA 2.1 platform now has interfaces that can be parameterized, therefore enabling development of modular hardware designs with varied word sizes. It also includes more logic and faster memory than the previous platform. Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) logic is used to implement the core data processing functions while software running on embedded cores within the FPGA and/or programs running on an attached host computer implement only control functions. Reference designs and component libraries have been developed for the CS344 course at Stanford University. Open-source Verilog code is available for download from the project website.

Reconfigurable networking hardware: a classroom tool

Abstract: We present an educational platform for teaching the design, debugging and deployment of real networking equipment in the operational Internet. The emphasis of our work is on teaching and, therefore, on providing an environment that is flexible, robust, low cost and easy to use. The platform is built around 'NetFPGAs'-custom boards containing eight Ethernet ports and two FPGAs. NetFPGA boards, when used with VNS (Virtual Network System-another tool we have developed), can be integrated into dynamically configurable network topologies reachable from the Internet. VNS enables a user-space process running on any remote computer to function as a system controller for the NetFPGA boards. NetFPGA and VNS are used at Stanford in a graduate level networking course to teach router implementation in hardware and software.

A scalable, commodity data center network architecture

Abstract: Today's data centers may contain tens of thousands of computers with significant aggregate bandwidth requirements. The network architecture typically consists of a tree of routing and switching elements with progressively more specialized and expensive equipment moving up the network hierarchy. Unfortunately, even when deploying the highest-end IP switches/routers, resulting topologies may only support 50% of the aggregate bandwidth available at the edge of the network, while still incurring tremendous cost. Non-uniform bandwidth among data center nodes complicates application design and limits overall system performance.In this paper, we show how to leverage largely commodity Ethernet switches to support the full aggregate bandwidth of clusters consisting of tens of thousands of elements. Similar to how clusters of commodity computers have largely replaced more specialized SMPs and MPPs, we argue that appropriately architected and interconnected commodity switches may deliver more performance at less cost than available from today's higher-end solutions. Our approach requires no modifications to the end host network interface, operating system, or applications; critically, it is fully backward compatible with Ethernet, IP, and TCP.

Hedera: dynamic flow scheduling for data center networks

Abstract: Today's data centers offer tremendous aggregate bandwidth to clusters of tens of thousands of machines. However, because of limited port densities in even the highest-end switches, data center topologies typically consist of multi-rooted trees with many equal-cost paths between any given pair of hosts. Existing IP multipathing protocols usually rely on per-flow static hashing and can cause substantial bandwidth losses due to long-term collisions.In this paper, we present Hedera, a scalable, dynamic flow scheduling system that adaptively schedules a multi-stage switching fabric to efficiently utilize aggregate network resources. We describe our implementation using commodity switches and unmodified hosts, and show that for a simulated 8,192 host data center, Hedera delivers bisection bandwidth that is 96% of optimal and up to 113% better than static load-balancing methods.

PortLand: a scalable fault-tolerant layer 2 data center network fabric

Abstract: This paper considers the requirements for a scalable, easily manageable, fault-tolerant, and efficient data center network fabric. Trends in multi-core processors, end-host virtualization, and commodities of scale are pointing to future single-site data centers with millions of virtual end points. Existing layer 2 and layer 3 network protocols face some combination of limitations in such a setting: lack of scalability, difficult management, inflexible communication, or limited support for virtual machine migration. To some extent, these limitations may be inherent for Ethernet/IP style protocols when trying to support arbitrary topologies. We observe that data center networks are often managed as a single logical network fabric with a known baseline topology and growth model. We leverage this observation in the design and implementation of PortLand, a scalable, fault tolerant layer 2 routing and forwarding protocol for data center environments. Through our implementation and evaluation, we show that PortLand holds promise for supporting a ``plug-and-play" large-scale, data center network.

The road to SDN: an intellectual history of programmable networks

Abstract: Software Defined Networking (SDN) is an exciting technology that enables innovation in how we design and manage networks. Although this technology seems to have appeared suddenly, SDN is part of a long history of efforts to make computer networks more programmable. In this paper, we trace the intellectual history of programmable networks, including active networks, early efforts to separate the control and data plane, and more recent work on OpenFlow and network operating systems. We highlight key concepts, as well as the technology pushes and application pulls that spurred each innovation. Along the way, we debunk common myths and misconceptions about the technologies and clarify the relationship between SDN and related technologies such as network virtualization.