How are the switches in a spine-and-leaf topology interconnected?

In a spine-and-leaf network topology, switches are interconnected in a specific pattern to create a highly scalable and non-blocking network fabric. The spine-and-leaf architecture is commonly used in data center networks due to its simplicity, scalability, and predictability in terms of performance. In this topology, switches are organized into two layers: spine switches and leaf switches.

Here's how the switches are interconnected in a spine-and-leaf topology:

1. Spine Switches:

   • The spine layer consists of multiple spine switches, typically arranged in a row or column. The number of spine switches depends on the desired scale and redundancy of the network. Spine switches are highly interconnected with leaf switches, forming a full mesh topology with the leaf layer.

2. Leaf Switches:

   • The leaf layer consists of multiple leaf switches, and each leaf switch is connected to every spine switch. Leaf switches are directly connected to end devices such as servers or other network equipment. The leaf layer is where devices connect for network access.

3. Full Mesh Connectivity:

   • In a spine-and-leaf topology, every leaf switch is connected to every spine switch, creating a full mesh connectivity between the leaf and spine layers. This full mesh ensures that there are multiple, equal-cost paths between any leaf switch and any spine switch.