Data Center Interconnect (DCI) by Dell Enterprise SONiC
Tue, 28 Feb 2023 19:18:19 -0000
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Let’s talk about how Dell Enterprise SONiC is bringing Data Center Interconnect (DCI) into the mix with open source.
A data center is the beating heart of any IT enterprise environment. It used to be a sunk investment, providing little to no return. As the data center evolved into a positive asset that an enterprise could leverage, the ability to interconnect with other data centers became a critical capability. Today, the ubiquitous adoption of virtualization and application services availability is driving demand for integration in current data centers.
The interconnection of data centers is not new; enterprises use many different technologies to interconnect data centers. For example, VPLS or virtual private LAN service is an Ethernet based point to multipoint Layer 2 virtual private network that connects geographically dispersed data centers as if they are connected over a common Layer 2 connection.
Unfortunately, when these technologies were created, they were based on having a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) backbone, so deploying them is often complex.
Ethernet Virtual Private Network (EVPN) DCI is all about deploying an overlay based on the familiarity of 802.1q VLANs, that is, stretching Layer 2 over a Layer 3 backbone.
In its first release, Enterprise SONiC Distribution by Dell Technologies supported single-site EVPN fabrics for single-site data centers. As Dell Enterprise SONiC becomes more popular, the fabrics built using Enterprise SONiC need to connect with each other by leveraging simple Layer 2 and Layer 3 technologies.
To achieve this, Dell introduced key EVPN VXLAN components that allow data center interconnectivity.
Let's get together and collaborate
With the proliferation and exponential data growth, the single site data center can no longer absorb or meet the data demands. Connecting multiple data centers to leverage their respective resources is key to the adoption of new applications, services, and overall new business income streams.
Figure 1 shows two typical single site data centers isolated from each other. In this case, the resources (such as storage and compute) reside within a single data center. This type of deployment presents unique challenges, including lack of integration, and potentially site redundancy.
Figure 2 shows several data centers interconnected over EVPN DCI. Dell Enterprise SONiC version 4.0 introduces the much-needed EVPN VXLAN software feature-set enhancement that allows for different geographically located data centers to interconnect.
This new feature allows multiple use cases such as:
- Workload cluster bring-up
- vSAN stretch cluster
- Efficient resource sharing
- Standards based fabric connectivity
References
To learn more about Dell Enterprise SONiC Distribution and related solutions please see:
Enterprise SONiC Distribution by Dell Technologies
Enterprise SONiC Distribution Data Center Interconnect Guide
Enterprise SONiC Distribution User Guide
Note: Consult with your Dell sales engineer or representative if access to the Dell Enterprise SONiC User Guide is not available.
Related Blog Posts
Be more agile with EVPN Multihoming (MH)
Thu, 04 Jan 2024 16:51:10 -0000
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Let’s talk about enhancing your basic EVPN fabric. In your typical data center EVPN fabric, an end host uses dual homed connections onto the leaf or Top of Rack (ToR) switches.
The ToRs are usually a pair of switches configured with multi-chassis link aggregation (MC-LAG) to provide end-host link redundancy if one of the ToRs failed.
These links are Layer 2 with spanning-tree deployed on the fabric. Spanning tree typically blocks half of the links to avoid any network loops. As a result, the fabric bandwidth is cut in half. This only happens when the LAG consists of single links, as demonstrated in Figure 2.
However, if there was a way to attain link redundancy, flexibility, and full link bandwidth utilization things could be more interesting in the EVPN landscape.
Dell Enterprise SONiC 4.2 brings EVPN multihoming into the data center. It is a standards-based replacement for multi-chassis link aggregation (Multi-chassis Link Aggregation Group) and legacy stacking technology.
Figure 1. Dell Enterprise SONiC EVPN MH
Figure 1 shows the supported Dell Enterprise SONiC EVPN MH deployment. It shows the maximum number of VTEPs that can be connected to a single end host.
These connections are independent, meaning each link belonging to the link aggregation (LAG) can be connected to multiple independent upstream switches and these upstream switches do not have to be interconnected.
Deployment simplicity is the main benefit of EVPN MH, as all the connections only have to be connected from the end-host or server to the switches.
Achieve end host enhanced connectivity and link efficiency with EVPN MH
In an EVPN fabric, especially a data center fabric, the end hosts or servers are dual homed to a pair of Top of Rack (ToR) switches providing link redundancy. This deployment is common and it uses MC-LAG.
The other deployment option is known as stacking. This option involves several switches stacked together with a primary switch acting as the controller of the stack. All end-hosts or servers are connected to each of the switches part of the stack.
Note: A stack consisting of a single switch is also possible, but rarely deployed.
Both deployments offer link and device redundancy, but they have some limitations that EVPN MH can overcome. The benefits and limitations for each deployment option are described in the following lists.
MC-LAG deployment
- A minimum of two ToR/Leaf switches are required
- A single switch deployment is not supported
- An end host or server can connect only up to two ToRs/Leaf switches at any given time
- All connections from the end-host or server are Layer 2 based
Stacking deployment
- A maximum of eight switches are stacked with one primary or controller switch
- Specific types of stacking cables are required to form the stack
- A single switch deployment is not supported
- All end hosts or servers connect to each switch part of the stack to maintain link redundancy, resulting in a cable management situation
- All connections from the end-host or server are Layer 2 based
EVPN multihoming deployment
- A minimum of one ToR/Leaf switch is required
- An end-host or server can connect to four separate ToR/Leaf switches (VTEPs) at any given time
- All links from the end-host or server to the VTEPs are active
Figure 2. MC-LAG vs. EVPN multihoming deployment
Figure 3. Stacking vs. EVPN multihoming deployment
The advantages offered by EVPN multihoming are clear when compared with the traditional stacking and MC-LAG. Table 1 summarizes these differences.
Table 1. Stacking compared to MC-LAG and EVPN-MH
EVPN offers an upgrade to the legacy Layer 2 VPN technology. EVPN should be considered each time a new fabric is deployed, especially when virtualization is one of the workloads.
Dell Enterprise SONiC 4.2 offers even more simplicity into the adoption of EVPN in the data center.
Additional resources
Dell Enterprise SONiC 4.2.0 User Guide (log in required)
Transform Your Data Consumption with Dell Enterprise SONiC and PowerFlex Appliance
Thu, 28 Sep 2023 18:16:45 -0000
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Different types of data generated by our everyday needs defines our digital world. To survive the constant evolution of this world, transformation should be the first order of business. One way to spark transformation is by developing the ability to intelligently leverage the data we produce.
Data centers are the convergence of software and hardware elements that provide predictable outcomes for mission-critical workloads. These workloads need to reside and evolve within a well-defined infrastructure.
This infrastructure is known as hyperconverged or converged infrastructure, where compute, networking, and storage components work together in a single appliance.
Dell Technologies’ product portfolio has several hyperconverged/converged (H/CI) platforms, one of which is VxRail, and PowerFlex, which facilitates this transformation.
This blog introduces PowerFlex, as well as Dell Enterprise SONiC, an open-source networking operating system. These appliances complement each other and serve as a holistic solution for your H/CI needs.
Dell PowerFlex: The basic pillars of digital transformation
The Dell PowerFlex family empowers organizations to leverage the benefits of fully integrated, high-power appliances to achieve predictable outcomes. It brings three key pillars: flexibility, high performance, and linear scalability. These pillars work together to simplify infrastructure management, increasing IT agility overall.
PowerFlex offers the flexibility to meet the diverse and rapidly evolving needs of the modern data center and IT Enterprise. For example, PowerFlex allows for mix and match storage, compute, and hyperconverged nodes for a dynamic deployment. This flexibility allows users to scale their storage and compute resources together or independently.
PowerFlex also supports a wide range of operating environments: bare metal operating systems, hypervisors, and container platforms. It offers a robust toolset for simplifying IT operations for the entire infrastructure with PowerFlex Manager, automating complex life cycle management activities.
The transformation pillars of flexibility, performance, and scalability need a foundation on which to build to deliver the predictable outcomes. The infrastructure or fabric is that foundation—and Dell Enterprise SONiC is the networking operating system that builds this fabric.
Dell Enterprise SONiC: Open-source networking made real
SONiC is an open-source, Linux-network operating system. It started in the cloud-scale data center for a hyperscale deployment model. Its modular or container-based architecture allows it to expand into increasingly applicable edge, cloud, and Enterprise deployments.
Dell Enterprise SONiC is Dell’s own version of the SONiC community version. Dell’s version contains Dell proprietary features that provide the foundational fabric for our edge, cloud, and Enterprise customers delivering H/CI environments such as PowerFlex solutions.
H/CI environments require some basic networking features such as jumbo frames, link aggregation, line-rate performance, Quality of Service (QoS), simple Spanning-Tree port types (portfast/edge), and VLANs.
In addition to these basic Layer 2 features, Dell Enterprise SONiC provides VxLAN EVPN, Data Center Interconnect (DCI), MC-LAG, PoE, PoE+, 802.1x, and additional features for the edge, cloud, and Enterprise environments.
With Dell Enterprise SONiC, our customers can:
- Leverage the entire open networking product portfolio to facilitate transitions between platforms
- Deploy alert framework and streaming
- Have access to a growing third-party application ecosystem
- Count on round-the-clock, single-source, world-class support
The best of both of worlds
By combing PowerFlex and Dell Enterprise SONiC, you get the best of both worlds. When working alongside each other, these solutions deliver scalable databases, provide deep insight with next generation analytics, and consolidate IT systems to improve efficiency. Additionally, these solutions help integrate your cloud native applications, and bring together bleeding edge applications such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to create revenue streams.
Dell Enterprise SONiC brings open-source networking to the H/CI ecosystem by providing various competitive benefits. These include open architecture, community-driven development, vendor-neutrality, as well as enhanced scalability, performance, and security features. These benefits help to improve the efficiency, reliability, and security of an H/CI environment.
Together PowerFlex and Dell Enterprise SONiC deliver a unique solution based on innovative infrastructure open source for the next generation cloud, edge, and Enterprise IT providers for mission-critical workloads running on top of a hyperconverged or converged infrastructure.
For more information about these solutions, see the Dell Technologies Enterprise SONiC for PowerFlex Deployment Guide.