Switch

backbone switch for use in SoC and systems

Quick Explanation

  • Supports blocking and non-blocking mode
  • Supports first come first serve scheduling
  • Supports multiple channel allocation
  • Supports dynamic channel creation
  • Supports power estimation

Overview

VisualSim uses libraries like Switch, Serial switch and crossbar switch to provide the functionality of both the blocking and non-blocking configuration, based on the parameter setting. The Non-blocking switch is a mesh crossbar switch with a point-point connection between each source and destination. The blocking switch is a crossbar with a single bus resource, meaning that all the requests and data must flow through this single internal resource. This standard block has 4 input and output device connections. Additional ports can be added. The only restriction is that the names must be in order. The ports are set in pairs only.

Serial switch in particular is a serial mesh crossbar switch with a point-to-point connection between each source and destination. The standard serial switch block has 16 Input/Output Device connections. Multiple channels can be defined to each Source-Destination combination.

Parameters Used

The network switch plays an integral role in most modern Ethernet local area networks. Some of the parameters used in this block are as follows:

Number_of_Connected_Devices: This is a hidden parameter and must be added when additional ports are provided for this block

  • Speed_Mhz: This is the speed of the switch and is in Mhz
  • Width_Bytes: This is the width of each port and the crossbar on this switch
  • Block_Mode: true is for blocking and false is for non-blocking
  • Number_of_Connected_Devices: This is a hidden parameter and must be added when additional ports are provided for this block

Switch - Key Features

Switch Block:

  • Link bandwidth and duplex settings
  • Priority settings for ports
  • Port mirroring

Serial Switch Block:

  • Supports power estimation
  • Parallel communication
  • Supports multiple PHYs to be connected to each channel

Crossbar Switch Block:

  • Non-blocking switch
  • Links between input and output ports

In General:

A switch in the context of networking is a high speed device that receives incoming data packets and redirects them to their destination on a local area network. Essentially, switches are the traffic cops of a simple local area network. A network switch is a multiport network bridge that uses hardware addresses to process and forward data at the data link layer of the OSI model. Some switches can also process data at the network layer by additionally incorporating routing functionality. Switches manage the flow of data across a network by transmitting a received network packet only to the one or more devices for which the packet is intended. Each networked device connected to a switch can be identified by its network address, allowing the switch to direct the flow of traffic, maximizing the security and efficiency of the network.

In a network, a cross-bar switch is a device that is capable of channelling data between any two devices that are attached to it up to its maximum number of ports. The paths set up between devices can be fixed for some duration or changed when desired and each device-to-device path (going through the switch) is usually fixed for some period. The crossbar provides a logical connection between an input port and an output port.

Switch - Provides interface between traffic and latency plotter