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Two types of networks are associated with a PowerScale OneFS scale-out NAS cluster—the back-end (internal) network and front-end (external) network.
All intra-node communication in a storage cluster is performed across a dedicated back-end network. This back-end network, which is configured with redundant switches for high availability, acts as the backplane for the storage cluster, enabling each storage node to act as a contributor in the storage cluster. The back-end network isolates node-to-node communication to a private, high-speed, low-latency network.
Client data traffic flows through the front-end, external network. Each PowerScale node provides two front-end network ports, resulting in linear network scalability and bandwidth to each node. PowerScale nodes support 10–100 Gb/s front-end, external networking, depending on the model. Port requirements vary, depending on the workload demand and throughput requirements of the trading system. For front-end external networking, Dell Technologies recommends a minimum port configuration using 25 Gb/s ports, and, in some cases, 100 Gb/s ports for large, very active datasets.
In addition, Dell Technologies recommends using enterprise-class network switches, such as the Dell PowerSwitch S and Z series switches, for the external network. These data center switches can negotiate link speeds from 10 Gb/s to 400 Gb/s and offer flexible networking options supporting various link speeds and configurations.