Patent ID: 8902751

Claim:
A method of increasing throughput in a multi-tier network comprising a number of first tier switches and a number of second tier switches linked to the first tier switches, the method comprising: computing, using a processor, a percentage of throughput associated with increasing the number of first tier switches by a predetermined number and increasing the number of second tier switches by a proportional number to the predetermined number; selecting a target throughput; determining, based on the computed percentages of throughput, the number of first tier switches to be deployed in the multi-tier network such that throughput in the multi-tier network is increased; determining, based on at least the determined number of first tier switches to be deployed, a minimum number of required second tier switches to be deployed to achieve the target throughput; deploying the determined number of first tier switches in the multi-tier network; wherein the first tier switches are adapted to perform weighted cost multi-path routing; and deploying at least the minimum number of required second tier switches.