Evolution of data centers: A critical analysis of standards and challenges for FSO links

Abstract

As the bandwidth-intensive and performancesensitive application portfolio broadens, so does the interest in data center networks (DCNs) by network research community. Most DCNs deployed today are wired DCNs in which copper and optical fiber cables are used for communication. Despite recent advances in DCN design, there are two inevitable problems facing wired DCNs; hotspots and cabling complexity. To alleviate these problems, recent research works explore the integration of wireless technologies, such as, free space optical (FSO) communication or 60 GHz radio frequency, into DCNs. Wireless links can be used to augment conventional wired DCNs, or to realize a pure wireless DCN. In this paper, we discuss and analyze challenges that may face FSO-DC designers, and identify standardization needs and opportunities to help accelerate the development of FSO links for DCNs. To this end, we review state of the art of wireless DCNs using FSO links. We also briefly review and summarize physical layer specifications of existing standards related to indoor FSO communication, such as, IEEE 802.11 standard, IEEE 802.15.7 standard for visible light communications (VLC), and the families of standards developed by the Infrared Data Association (IrDA) and the VLC Association (VLCA).

Free-space optical link optimization in visible light communication system

“…FSO/RF investigates the performance of the amplify and forward multi-hop with the characteristics which includes high speed, availability in poor weather, longer range, low cost, for improved low SNR [21]. OWC can be applied for indoor, underwater, space and outdoor communication especially for data centers and indoor LAN [22][23], in [24] underwater sensing, in [25] space communication, and in [26] mobile networks backhaul. For indoor VLC, power is consumed for lighting and communication in a transmission setting [27]; the amount of power consumed is based on data usage which is subject to the driver circuitry.…”

Optical Wireless Communication for the Internet of Things: Advances, Challenges, and Opportunities

“…Based on the IoT five-layer model discussed in Section II, we can see that the OWC fits in the Object Abstraction layer with other RF technologies and standards, such as RFID, 5G, WiFi, Bluetooth Low Energy, etc. Unlike RF, OWC has fewer standards with the most notable standard being the IEEE 802.15.7-2018 [13], [70]. Therefore, in the case of OWC application in IoT, we cannot only mention the standard as is the case for RF.…”

Optical wireless communications for airport surface operations: Opportunities and challenges

“…OWC combines the flexibility of wireless communication and the high speed and bandwidth of optical communication. As its enabling technologies rapidly advance, OWC is finding its place in many indoor, outdoor, space and underwater applications, such as indoor local area networks and data centers [4][5], mobile networks backhaul [6], space communication [7], and underwater sensing [8].…”