SPINE AND LEAF ARCHITECTURES FOR NEXT-GENERATION DATA CENTERS: PERFORMANCE, SCALABILITY, AND RESILIENCE

Abstract

Spine-and-leaf architectures have emerged as a viable solution to address performance, scalability, and resilience concerns as data centers continue to evolve to meet the evolving needs of modern applications and technologies. This article investigates the benefits and challenges of implementing spine-and-leaf topologies in next-generation datacenters. Through simulation-based experiments, analytical modeling, and case studies, we assess critical performance parameters, such as throughput, latency, bandwidth utilization, and fault tolerance. The results suggest that spine-and-leaf topologies significantly surpass traditional three-tier systems, offering reduced latency, increased throughput, and improved bandwidth efficiency. Spine-and-leaf networks' modular architecture enables uncomplicated scalability, and their inherent redundancy ensures significant resilience in the event of failures. The report emphasizes challenges such as operational complexity, elevated initial expenses, and interaction with legacy systems, despite these advantages. The integration of automation and software-defined networking (SDN) demonstrates the ability to resolve specific issues, thereby enhancing the efficacy of administration and scalability. Spine-and-leaf designs offer a sustainable alternative for data centers, resulting in improved performance and reliability. However, it is essential to conduct a thorough assessment of operational and cost variables to ensure successful implementation.