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7/28/2019 Next-Generation Data Center Core Switches
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Next-generation Data Center Core Switches
By Mark Wu
Introduction
Since the introduction of cloud computing technology in 2006, it has developed so
rapidly that almost all enterprise IT services have migrated, or are in the process of
migrating, to cloud-computing platforms.
Data centers are seeing an annual growth rate of over 40% in network devices.
Among all network devices in a data center, core switches are the key nodes in the
architecture of the entire cloud-computing network.
The reasons behind the development of Data Center Core Switches
The development of data center core switches can be attributed to many factors. The
primary driving force is the revolutionary transition from the client/server traffic
model to the server/server traffic model. During this transition, Incast and multicast
traffic models are more widely used on networks than previous unicast traffic models.
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As more and more core enterprise services migrate to IT platforms, enterprises are
increasing their spend on IT system construction. Development of data center
technologies, such as large-scale server clusters, virtualization, and big data, also
bring higher requirements for data center networks.
Service
(application)
driving
forces
Cloud
ComputingScalability
Multi-service
Integration
High
Reliability
Application
virtualization
Fast expansion of
data centers (scale up
and scale out)
Ethernet, SAN,
and high-speed
computing
Core services
on IT
platforms,
cluster
systems
Technical(vendor)
driving
forces
Network
adaptation to
virtualization
Innovation inhigh-performance
hardware-platforms +
control protocols
Everything overEthernet
(requiring10GE
100GE access)
ISSU, microkernel,
distributed
network
The preceding table shows that the key to the success of data center switches is to
combine service requirements with mature technologies. Huawei follows this
principle when developing next-generation data center core switches.
Characteristics of Current Data Center Core Switches
Currently, the data center core switches of mainstream vendors have the following
characteristics:
1. High scalabilityUsage
Scenario
For rapid expansion of
data centersFor VM migration
For more flexible
network architecture
scaling
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More accessible
servers, higher
accessibility, and
higher throughput
Scalable large L2
network to support
VM migration
Modular scaling for
data center networks,
for easier network
deployment,
maintenance andmanagement
Matching
technology
Higher-performance
hardware
New protocols and
hardware
components
Pod-based network
design
Chips with higher
processing
capabilities, interfaces
with higher speeds
(40GE/100GE), andnetwork devices with
higher port densities
New L2 protocol
TRILL (VLAN
anywhere but not
every where), and L2
interconnection
between data centers
New data center
network design
fulfilling network
requirements for scaleup and scale out
2. Virtualization capabilities
Usage
Scenario
To simplify network
topology and facilitate
network maintenance
To implement
resource sharing
and flexible
resource
allocation
To support migration
of VMs and detection
VMs
Matching
technology
Two (multi)-node
clusterVirtual switch
802.1BR, 802.1Qbg,
out-of-band NMS
Well developed
two-node cluster
technology and
two-node cluster
solutions for
mainstream vendors.
Multi-node clustertechnology is more
difficult and is still
under development.
Matrix expansion and
virtual stacking
technologies used on
access switches can
also establish clusters.
Virtual switch
technology helps
faster network
deployment and
improves
efficiency ofresource
utilization,
including
equipment rooms,
power supply
systems, and line
cards.
All these technologies
are currently under
development, and
major vendors have
their own solutions. It
is still uncertain
which technology will
become predominant.
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3. Support for multi-service integration and network convergence
UsageScenario
For complex
network services
For integration of
traditional servicesFor network convergence
Multi-tenant,
mobile IP, VPN,
etc.
Integration offirewall, network
analysis, and load
balancing services
Convergence oftraditional FC network
and HPC network with
Ethernet networks
Matching
technology
New protocols
and chips (VPN
technologies,
VxLAN/NvGRE,
IPv6, and so on)
Integrated service
line cards
Everything Over
Ethernet
New chips have
higher processing
capabilities and can
process complex
services.
Mainstream
vendors have just
started the
development of
new chips, and
none of these chipsare widely used.
Complex services
cannot be integrated
on ASIC. Therefore,
these services are
integrated into one
single device by
using integrated
service line cards.
New technologies, such
as 10GE access and DCB,
enable data from
heterogeneous networks
to be transmitted over
Ethernet, for example,
FCoE and RDMAoE.
Deficiencies of Current Data Center Core Switches
Although data center core switches have made many breakthroughs in services and
technologies, they still have the following deficiencies:
1. Insufficient network scalability
At present, very few data center core switches can provide scalability thatsupports network expansion for the next five to 10 years. This is because the
device architecture cannot keep pace with the rapid network expansion.
Server virtualization also brings great demand in L2 data switching. However,L2 networks and nodes are not very scalable due to defects of the L2
networks.
Traditional L2 protocols, such as STP, only solve the problem of L2 loops anddo not determine how to establish a large L2 network. There are still no mature
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solutions for L2 VM migration between data centers.
2. Separate network virtualization and service virtualization
Services and applications become more flexible and dynamic after servicevirtualization.
It is a big challenge for virtual networks to dynamically change configurationsand deployments to adapt to changes in services and applications.
3. Insufficient openness to network behavior
As network application environments become more complex, many customerswant to customize their own network behaviors. However, customer networks
have their own characteristics and requirements, and standard devices cannot
meet the special requirements of all customers. To address this problem, some
vendors have introduced the idea of using open standard interfaces to control
network behavior.
Openflow, OpenStack, and SDN technologies were developed following thisidea. They share network control details with external applications to support
the customization of network behavior. Although these technologies still need
improvement and have not been widely used on network devices, these
technologies may be the way of the future.
Other than technologies that separate service control from forwarding,customization of network behavior can also be implemented through APIs
provided by network devices or through middleware provided by an open
platform. The need for network behavior customization cannot be ignored
regardless of the technology used.
4. Duplicate investment on core switches of data centers and campus networks
Separate core switches for data centers and campus networks ensure networksecurity. However, deploying two groups of core switches increases
investment on physical devices and raises costs of device management and
maintenance.
For customers, using the same hardware platform for data center and campus
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network services allows the implementation of uniform service management
and the facilitation of network deployment, operation, and maintenance. The
core of the data center and campus network are physically coupled through
virtual switch technology.
Technically, it is an inevitable trend for a data center and campus network toshare the same group of core switches.
5. High electricity costs
New core switches use more power than old core switches. Traditional powersupply systems in the data center equipment rooms cannot meet the
requirements of these new switches. High power consumption results in high
temperatures, which may degrade the reliability of the device.
New switches use more power because they use complex, high-frequencychips to provide complex services.
Therefore, it is important to reduce the power consumption of data center coreswitches. Energy-saving core switches improve device reliability, save energy,
and have lower requirements for data center equipment rooms.
Huaweis Next-generation Data Center Core Switches
Huawei is dedicated to offering competitive data center core switches and data
center network solutions for customers around the world. Huawei has developed the
CloudEngine 12800 series, its next-generation data center core switches, which
provide the following features to meet service requirements of customers in the
cloud-computing era:
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CE12812 CE12808 CE12804
1. Scalable network: higher scalability
By 2012, the largest switching capacity of a data center core switch will be480 Gbps per slot because the maximum capacity of a switch panel is 48 x
10GE. If the expected service life of a core switch is five years, the switch
must support a bandwidth upgrade to at least eight times the current
bandwidth. That is, the switching capacity must increase to about 4 Tbps per
slot in five years.
Huawei CE12800 supports standard Layer 2 protocols, such as TRILL, usedto build large Layer 2 networks. In addition, the Layer 2 TRILL network can
seamlessly connect to standard IP networks, allowing customers to flexibly
deploy services on a large network.
2. Virtual network: close coupling of application and network
In-band protocols between server network adapters and network devices canquickly detect the migration of a large number of VMs, and network devices
can also respond to VM migration. However, this is not enough for
cloud-computing applications.
To respond to changes in virtualized services, many devices, including loadbalancing devices and WAN routers, need to adjust their configurations. The
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configuration adjustment may even involve multiple data centers.
Therefore, network virtualization needs to be closely coupled with servicechanges using out-of-band network management interfaces. Inbound
protocols can combine with out-of-band network management interfaces to
implement end-to-end virtualization.
3. Open network: comprehensive customization capabilities
Huawei supports Openflow, OpenStack, and SDN technologies. Huawei also provides open service platforms with standard APIs or
middleware to overcome defects in standard protocols. An open service
platform allows customers to quickly deploy their own network services.
4. Resource-sharing: one group of core switches for data centers and campus
networks
Huaweis CE12800 supports virtual switch technology, which can virtualize asingle switch into a maximum of eight local switches (the number will
increase to 16 in the future). The excellent forwarding performance of the
CE12800 will provide an integrated service platform supporting both data
center services and campus network services.
Physical coupling of core nodes helps customers realize uniformmanagement and deployment of services and a simplified operations and
maintenance, which reduces a customers capital and operating expenditures.
5. Environmentally-friendly design: build a green data center
Huawei's next-generation data center switches are installed withenergy-saving ASIC chips and transceivers and offer the industry's most
efficient digital power modules. Power consumption of key components can
be adjusted based on traffic volume, which reduces power consumption per
unit of transmission speed.
Expanding the service life of network devices is an effective way to protectthe environment because abandoning a core switch would result in high
carbon emissions, which is much more costly than the power fees of a core
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switch. Huawei's next-generation data center switches support a capacity
upgrade to at least eight times the current capacity. This scalability can
support a service life of up to five to 10 years, saving resources and
protecting customer investment.
Huawei CE12800: Next-generation Data Center Core Switches
Huaweis CE12800 series of are designed for cloud-computing data centers and
super-large virtualized data center networks. The CE12800 has high bandwidth
scalability and is capable of upgrading bandwidth from 1 Tbps to 4 Tbps per slot.
Compared with other core switches, CE12800 is highly competitive in terms of its
scalability, virtualization, openness, usability, and energy efficiency. The
CE12800 series offer core switches for future-oriented data centers.
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