Methods, systems, and apparatus, including an apparatus for generating clusters of building blocks of compute nodes using an optical network. In one aspect, a method includes receiving request data specifying requested compute nodes for a computing workload. The request data specifies a target n-dimensional arrangement of the compute nodes. A selection is made, from a superpod that includes a set of building blocks that each include an m-dimensional arrangement of compute nodes, a subset of the building blocks that, when combined, match the target n-dimensional arrangement specified by the request data. The set of building blocks are connected to an optical network that includes one or more optical circuit switches. A workload cluster of compute nodes that includes the subset of the building blocks is generated. The generating includes configuring, for each dimension of the workload cluster, respective routing data for the one or more optical circuit switches.

Systems and methods increase the fan-out (radix) of optical connections that are co-packaged with electric circuits, e.g., Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). Optical or electrical techniques are presented to break out multiple data streams from a Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) integrated with an ASIC. This provides the ability to increase the I/O capability (radix) of an ASIC, allowing the ASIC to connect to a larger number of devices (e.g., servers). A cross-connect system includes one or more cross-connect devices optically interconnected to 1) a plurality of switches with each switch connected to one or more subtending servers, and 2) a plurality of switch circuits having Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) integrated therewith, each of the one or more cross-connect devices is configured to provide fan-out of the plurality of switches between the plurality of switch circuits to increase a number of the subtending servers.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including an apparatus for generating clusters of building blocks of compute nodes using an optical network. In one aspect, a method includes receiving request data specifying requested compute nodes for a computing workload. The request data specifies a target n-dimensional arrangement of the compute nodes. A selection is made, from a superpod that includes a set of building blocks that each include an m-dimensional arrangement of compute nodes, a subset of the building blocks that, when combined, match the target n-dimensional arrangement specified by the request data. The set of building blocks are connected to an optical network that includes one or more optical circuit switches. A workload cluster of compute nodes that includes the subset of the building blocks is generated. The generating includes configuring, for each dimension of the workload cluster, respective routing data for the one or more optical circuit switches.

A system for using free-space optics to interconnect a plurality of computing nodes can include a plurality of node optical transceivers that are electrically coupled to at least some of the plurality of computing nodes. The system can also include a plurality of router optical transceivers that facilitate free-space optical communications with the plurality of node optical transceivers. Each node optical transceiver among the plurality of node optical transceivers can have a corresponding router optical transceiver that is optically coupled to the node optical transceiver. The system can also include a router that is coupled to the plurality of router optical transceivers. The router can be configured to route the free-space optical communications among the plurality of computing nodes.

Systems and methods increase the fan-out (radix) of optical connections that are co-packaged with electric circuits, e.g., Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). Optical or electrical techniques are presented to break out multiple data streams from a Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) integrated with an ASIC. This provides the ability to increase the I/O capability (radix) of an ASIC, allowing the ASIC to connect to a larger number of devices (e.g., servers). A cross-connect system includes one or more cross-connect devices optically interconnected to 1) a plurality of switches with each switch connected to one or more subtending servers, and 2) a plurality of switch circuits having Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) integrated therewith, each of the one or more cross-connect devices is configured to provide fan-out of the plurality of switches between the plurality of switch circuits to increase a number of the subtending servers.

In some embodiments, a system includes a super-channel multiplexer (SCM) and an optical cross connect (OXC) switch. The SCM is configured to multiplex a set of optical signals into a super-channel optical signal with a wavelength band. The OXC switch is configured to be operatively coupled to the SCM and a reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) degree. The OXC switch is configured to be located between the SCM and the ROADM degree and the OXC switch, the SCM, and the ROADM degree are configured to be included in a colorless, directionless, and contentionless (CDC) optical network. The OXC switch is configured to switch, based on the wavelength band, the super-channel optical signal to an output port from a set of output ports of the OXC switch. The OXC switch is configured to transmit the super-channel optical signal from the output port to the ROADM degree.

A system is configured to manage connectors configured to engage with corresponding connector ports. The system maintains the relative position of the connectors. For example, the connectors can be plugged into, or unplugged from, a network component, while retaining a desired arrangement. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more connector blocks, one or more cable blocks, one or more crossbars, one or more latching mechanisms, or a combination thereof. The connector blocks engage the connector tab of each connector, allowing the connector to be inserted/removed without a user having to engage/disengage each connector tab by hand. The cable blocks maintain a relative position among connectors and cables. The crossbar rigidly couples the connector blocks together and provides a rigid connection to a mounting reference such as, for example, a standard networking rack. The latching mechanisms secure and release the crossbar from the mounting reference.

Apparatus and methods automatically track the physical connection configuration of fiber optic cables using high spatial resolution RFID tag readout and high-resolution optical scanning. In further embodiments, the acquisition of RFID and/or optical scans are performed by a robotic scanning system.

Power supply for a networking device may be provided. The networking device may comprise a first plurality of switch bars each comprising a first switch type arranged parallel to one another and a second plurality of switch bars each comprising a second switch type arranged parallel to one another. The first plurality of switch bars and the second plurality of switch bars may be arranged orthogonally. A first plurality of power supplies may be fed by a first source. A second plurality of power supplies may be fed by a second source. Respective ones of a first portion of the first plurality of power supplies feed first respective pairs of the first plurality of switch bars and respective ones of a first portion of the second plurality of power supplies feed second respective pairs of the first plurality of switch bars. The first respective pairs of the first plurality of switch bars may be different from the second respective pairs of the first plurality of switch bars.

A networking device with orthogonal switch bars may be provided. The networking device may comprise a first plurality of switch bars comprising leaf switches arranged parallel to one another. In addition, the networking device may comprise a second plurality of switch bars comprising top of pod switches arranged parallel to one another. Furthermore, the networking device may comprise a third plurality of switch bars comprising top of fabric switches arranged parallel to one another. The first plurality of switch bars, the second plurality of switch bars, and the third plurality of switch bars may be arranged mutually orthogonally. The first plurality of switch bars may be adjacent to and connected to the second plurality of switch bars and the second plurality of switch bars may be adjacent to and connected to the third plurality of switch bars.