Taurus: Towards A High-Performance and Generic Congestion Control Framework for Datacenter Networks

Abstract

Taurus introduces a novel and generic congestion control framework optimized for the unique demands of high-performance datacenter networks (DCNs). This framework is designed to overcome the inherent trade-off between maximizing network utilization and ensuring low latency across diverse traffic patterns. By achieving true genericity and superior performance metrics, Taurus promises significant improvements in metrics such as flow completion time (FCT) and overall network efficiency.

Report

Key Highlights

• Novel Congestion Control (CC): Taurus is a new framework designed specifically to manage traffic and minimize congestion in modern large-scale datacenter environments.
• Focus on Genericity: A primary objective is creating a CC mechanism that performs optimally across a wide array of traffic matrices, topologies, and workloads, addressing the limitations of specialized, workload-specific protocols.
• High Performance Metrics: The framework is engineered to deliver both high throughput and exceptionally low latency, crucial for maintaining quality of service (QoS) for latency-sensitive applications.
• State-of-the-Art Comparison: Taurus aims to significantly outperform existing cutting-edge DCN CC protocols (e.g., DCQCN, Timely, or HPCC) in key metrics like Flow Completion Time (FCT).

Technical Details

• Framework Architecture: Taurus likely utilizes a modular or programmable architecture, potentially leveraging Explicit Congestion Notification (ECN) or in-network telemetry capabilities provided by modern switch ASIC pipelines (like P4).
• Control Mechanism: The control loop probably involves both end-host feedback (RTT measurements) and fine-grained network feedback (queue occupancy/depth signaling).
• Rate Adjustment: The system likely implements a sophisticated, rapid rate adjustment mechanism to react quickly to microbursts and transient congestion events common in DCNs, potentially integrating both delay and loss signals.
• Adaptivity: To achieve genericity, Taurus must incorporate mechanisms to dynamically adapt its parameters based on real-time network conditions (e.g., adjusting the aggressiveness level depending on whether short or long flows dominate the current traffic).

Implications

• SmartNIC Acceleration: High-performance CC frameworks like Taurus require extremely fast, low-overhead execution. This creates a significant opportunity for RISC-V-based SmartNICs, which can host the specialized packet processing and control plane logic needed for rate calculation and signaling with higher efficiency and lower TCO than traditional x86 hosts.
• Custom Silicon Design: If Taurus utilizes highly specialized control algorithms, network operators or vendors might integrate these algorithms into custom ASICs. RISC-V provides the ideal flexible and customizable instruction set architecture (ISA) base for designing highly optimized, application-specific network processors or accelerators.
• Open Hardware Adoption: As a generic, high-performance framework, Taurus encourages the adoption of open-source network infrastructure solutions. RISC-V, being an open ISA, aligns naturally with this trend, driving forward the development of open hardware platforms capable of executing cutting-V Taurus-like protocols efficiently.
• Ecosystem Advancement: Faster, more efficient datacenter networks enabled by Taurus drive demand for next-generation server and switching hardware, stimulating innovation and market opportunities for RISC-V-based solutions in the critical DCN backbone.