Specialized optical switches utilized to reduce latency in switching between hardware devices in computer systems and methods of use thereof

Abstract

A system includes a switch and first and second servers. The switch receives first data and provides the first data to the first and second servers. The first server determines second data based on the first data and transmits the second data to the switch. The second server determines third data based on the first data in response to a faulty indication that the first server has failed to transmit the second data to the switch and transmits the third data to the switch. The switch transmits fourth data to the second server and a third server. The fourth data is either the second data or the third data. The second data is identical to the third data so as to confirm that one of the second data or the third data is transmitted to the third server when the first server has failed to transmit the second data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 at least one switch;   at least one first server;   at least one second server;   at least one first optical tap;   wherein the at least one first optical tap is configured to:
 i) receive a first data stream from at least one third server, 
 ii) split the first data stream into a first copy data stream and a second copy data stream, 
 iii) transmit the first copy data stream to the at least one first server, and 
 iv) transmit the second copy data stream to the at least one second server.