CLOS
CLOS is a scalable, non-blocking network architecture using multiple stages of switches to efficiently connect large numbers of endpoints, often used in data centers and HPC environments.
CLOS networks are designed with multiple interconnected switch stages, providing high throughput, low latency, and fault tolerance. Their modular structure allows for easy scaling by adding more switches or stages, making them ideal for environments with growing traffic demands.
Key benefits include uniform traffic distribution, redundancy, and support for advanced features like multicast. CLOS architectures are fundamental in modern data centers, enabling efficient east-west traffic and supporting large-scale compute and storage systems.
Best practices include careful traffic engineering, redundancy planning, and comprehensive monitoring to optimize performance and ensure reliability.