reducing network tiers - event management software · pdf filenetwork architecture challenges...

Reducing Network TiersFlattening the Network

Kevin Ryan

Director – Data Center Solutions

www.extremenetworks.com

The New Computer

Data center capacity, not server capacity, is the new metric

Consolidation

High Computational Density Physical Location Consolidation

Green

Efficient Power Management

Virtualization

On Demand Provisioning Hardware Independence / High Availability

Location Independence

Network / Storage Convergence

Data Center Trends

© 2010 Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved.

A “Four Phase” Solution

NetworkTopology

ReduceNetwork

Tiers

Bandwidth andPerformance

Fixed andModularPlatforms

Robust andFlexibleStacking

Integration withVM Platforms

Provision1,000s ofSwitches

across MultipleSites

AutomatedConfiguration

NetworkProfiles for

VMs

Heterogeneous(Best-of-Breed)

support forVirtual

Machines

Network management

software, single pane of

glass

Direct Attach™

1G 10G 40G 100G

ApplicationAwareness &

Support

User GeneratedScripts

XML-enabledInfrastructure

Open APIs

Program &ApplicationIntegration


Some Networking

Challenges

Network Architecture Challenges

Growing Tiers from 2 or 3 to 5 Traditional network tiers

Core, distribution, access

Blade Switch Tier

Typically used instead of pass through to address cabling challenges

Virtual Switch Tier

Each tier adds:

Oversubscription

Latency

Power

Heterogeneity across and between switching tiers

Management overhead

Conflicting best practices

Flat Layer 2 versus segmented

MAC address explosion

Driven by Virtualization and flatter networks


Network boundary between switch and server has blurred

Switching at multiple levels

Virtual switchNIC cardsBlade switchesNetwork switchesDistributed virtual switches

Coexistence of different virtual switch models a challenge

Virtualization: A Networking Problem


The “Direct Attach” Data Center

Virtualization and Blade switches have introduced complexity to the network Additional 1 or 2 tiers

Connect servers directly into EoRchassis Leverage high fan out I/O modules

Leverage high-density MRJ21 connectors

Eliminate blade switch

Eliminate ToR switch

Simplify cable management

Collapse multiple tiers in the data center Reduce latency

Reduce oversubscription

Simplify management

Reduce power


Standard Data Center Architecture

Sample 12 Rack DC Network will have 5 Layers!

• 384 vSwitches

• 24 Blade Switches

• 12 TOR Switches

• 2 Agg Switches

• 2 Core Switches

A total of 424 Switches!!!


Blade Chassis

VSwitch

Blade Chassis

Blade Chassis

Blade Chassis

12 Racks

Blade Switch

TOR Switch

Aggregation Switch

Core Switch

384 Blade Servers

VSwitch

VMVM

Server Virtualization: A Networking Problem

Data Center Core

VM1 VM2

vSwitch

Today’s Inter-VM Switching

Who manages and troubleshoots the virtual switch?• Vswitch tools owned by server administrators• Requires networking expertise and network

coordinationVirtual switch heterogeneity leads to

complexityProblem of scale

• Virtual switch in every server leads to explosion of managed switches in data center

Troubleshooting and security challenges• No network visibility into inter-VM traffic

Inconsistency of policy between physical and virtual switches• VM sprawl becoming a challenge


VM2

Direct Attach Enabled Switch

Host: Fedora 12Hypervisor: QEMU-KVM

Guest OS: UbuntuActive applications:• gnome-system-monitor

for network and CPU utilization

• tcpdump to monitor attack traffic from VM1

VM1

Guest OS: UbuntuActive applications:• gnome-system-monitor

for network and CPU utilization

• hping to generate DoS attack targeted at VM2

Inter-VM traffic is transmitted and received on the same network physical port. VM2 CPU and network utilization severely impacted, due to DoS attack.

CLEAR-Flow enabled to dynamically provision/block DoS traffic. VM2 CPU and network utilization reverts to healthy.

VM2

Direct Attach: Eliminate the vSwitch “Virtually” Reducing Network Tiers


Direct Attach – “Physically” Reducing Network Tiers

High fan-out modules 96 ports on a single I/O module

Up to 768 ports in one chassis

No oversubscription –Up to 128Gbs per slot

MRJ 21 cabling 6:1 cabling reduction

Go straight from Blade Server directly to Aggregation switch

Eliminate multiple physical network tiers Blade switch

ToR switch


A “Four Phase” Solution

NetworkTopology

ReduceNetwork

Tiers

Bandwidth andPerformance

Fixed andModularPlatforms

Robust andFlexibleStacking

Integration withVM Platforms

Provision1,000s ofSwitches

across MultipleSites

AutomatedConfiguration

NetworkProfiles for

VMs

Heterogeneous(Best-of-Breed)

support forVirtual

Machines

Network management

software, single pane of

glass

Direct Attach™

1G 10G 40G 100G

ApplicationAwareness &

Support

User GeneratedScripts

XML-enabledInfrastructure

Open APIs

Program &ApplicationIntegration


Forward-looking Statements

This presentation contains forward-looking statements that

involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding

our expectations as to products, trends and our performance.

There can be no assurances that any forward-looking statements

will be achieved, and actual results could differ materially from

forecasts and estimates. For factors that may affect our

business and financial results please refer to our filings with the

Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without

limitation, under the captions: “Management’s Discussion and

Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and

“Risk Factors,” which is on file with the Securities and Exchange

Commission (http://www.sec.gov). We undertake no obligation

to update the forward-looking information in this release.


Thank You

Kevin Ryan

Director – Data Center Solutions

www.extremenetworks.com

reducing network tiers - event management software · pdf filenetwork architecture challenges...

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