Fabric Networking

1. Fabric Networking

2. • Definition
• Hype Cycle for Networking 2015
• Why?
• The Traffic Flow
• North-South Traffic
• East-West Traffic
• Operational Complexity
• Bubbles, Shadows and the Tyranny of Trees
• Fabric Model
• Business Impact
• Vendors
Agenda

3. source: https://www.gartner.com/doc/3100229/hype-cycle-networking-communications-
Ethernet switching fabric is a type of data center Ethernet construct in which multiple
physical switches interconnect and combine with hardware and software components
to form a more elastic, automated switch network that behaves like one single switch
with centralized management.
Ethernet fabric is not limited to a specific protocol across its switching fabric member
nodes.
Definition

4. source: https://www.gartner.com/doc/3100229/hype-cycle-networking-communications-
Hype Cycle for Networking 2015

5. Why?
& Storage& Storage
…because the data center has evolved, but not the network!

6. source: http://thenetworksurgeon.com/cisco-spine-and-leaf-architecture-discussion-nexus-5500-vs-6001/
The Traffic Flow
North-SouthTraffic
East-West Traffic

7. source: http://thenetworksurgeon.com/cisco-spine-and-leaf-architecture-discussion-nexus-5500-vs-6001/
North-South Traffic
North-SouthTraffic

8. source: http://thenetworksurgeon.com/cisco-spine-and-leaf-architecture-discussion-nexus-5500-vs-6001/
East-West Traffic
East-West Traffic

9. Data CenterA function of devices + interactions
Number of managed devices
•Each switch is autonomous
•7 managed devices
N*(N-1)
2
Number of potential interactions
•Shared protocols
•21 potential interactions
*N = no. of managed devices
Operational Complexity

10. Bubbles, Shadows and the Tyranny of
Trees
source: http://forums.juniper.net/t5/The-New-Network/Bubbles-Shadows-and-the-Tyranny-of-Trees/bc-p/78372#M383

11. source: http://forums.juniper.net/t5/The-New-Network/Bubbles-Shadows-and-the-Tyranny-of-Trees/bc-p/78372#M383
Bubbles, Shadows and the Tyranny of
Trees

12. source: http://forums.juniper.net/t5/The-New-Network/Bubbles-Shadows-and-the-Tyranny-of-Trees/bc-p/78372#M383
Bubbles, Shadows and the Tyranny of
Trees

13. source: http://thenetworksurgeon.com/cisco-spine-and-leaf-architecture-discussion-nexus-5500-vs-6001/
Fabric Model
Spine/Core
Leaf/Edge

14. Business Impact
Ethernet fabric has become popular in data centers as early adopters claim these end-
user benefits:
•Simplicity and automation gained through Ethernet fabric can save a significant
amount in labor costs.
•Ease of scaling the fabric up and down without performance impact can offer
scalability benefits.
•Network virtualization and northbound APIs provided by the fabric management
platform can integrate better with applications to provide application-aware network
policy support.
•VENDOR LOCK IN
source: https://www.gartner.com/doc/3100229/hype-cycle-networking-communications-

15. 4
IaaS
Workload definition, Optimization, & Orchestration
SDE Software Defined
Compute
Software Defined
Storage
Software Defined
Networking
Resource Abstraction & Optimization
APIAPI
PaaS
Cloud
Operating
Environment
datastore mobile devopsmiddleware services
Traditional
Workloads
Services & Composition Patterns
API & Integration
Services
security
App
External
Ecosystem
Marketplace
API
Economy
servicesanalytics
API
commerce
API
collaboration
API
location
API
data
APIAPI
SaaS
Solutions
Applicability

16. source: http://forums.juniper.net/t5/The-New-Network/Bubbles-Shadows-and-the-Tyranny-of-Trees/bc-p/78372#M383
Vendors