Network Disaggregation

Transcription

1 Network Disaggregation Mian Usman Network Architect Internet2 Global Summit

2 GÉANT Network The GÉANT network interconnects research, education and innovation communities worldwide, with secure, high-capacity networks. We design, plan, build and operate the large-scale, high-performance GÉANT network that connects European NRENs to each other and the rest of the world for sharing, accessing and processing the high data volumes generated by research and education communities and for testing innovative technologies and concepts. Interconnecting Europe s NRENs over a 500Gb highly-resilient pan-european backbone. NRENs serve 50 million users at 10,000 institutions across Europe. Network services: IP, Point-to- Point Services, VPN, Testbeds, performance monitoring Data transfer tests in 2017 between 10G servers in GÉANT and AARNET achieved 9.73Gbps over 48h through R&E networks, whereas over commercial links this was only 1.77Gbps. 2

3 R&E Networks - Optimised for research data transfers

4 BW Gbit/s BW Gbit/s R&E Networks - Optimised for research data transfers Public Internet Geneva to Canberra GEANT and R&E partners Geneva to Canberra GEANT exp1-aarnet_tcp_teries + R&E networks US to Australia Time during transfer sec Geneva to Canberra exp1-aarnet_isp2_tcpbuf_14feb Buffer size Mbyte R&E networks are designed for different goals than Internet

5 GÉANT Network Challenges Support exponential growth in network traffic Over 50% year on year growth - traffic expected to double every 18 months Find cost effective ways to support the traffic growth Increase space and power efficiencies Remove dependence on a single vendor solution Move away from monolithic to modular architecture Separate the hardware and software innovation Improve agility and ease of deployment To address these challenges we need to optimise the network architecture and take maximum advantage of the current disruptive trends With a growth rate of over 50% projected traffic in 10 years will be over 50 times that of current traffic. 5

6 GÉANT Packet Layer Evolution Three parallel tracks GÉANT investigating three options for replacement of current GÉANT packet platform Deploy high-density line cards in existing platform to support the traffic growth Find an alternative and cost-effective solution to replace existing platform with another vendor equipment or platform from same vendor. Disaggregated solution - White box and third party NOS 6

7 Industry Trends Web Scale companies redefining the industry Moving towards disaggregation From a monolithic block to a modular, flexible and best in class Clean separation between hardware and software each innovate independently of other Transport Layer Open Line System Data Centre Interconnects (DCI) or External Transponders Packet Layer Merchant Silicon White/Brite Boxes Third Party NOS 7

8 What is Disaggregation? Disaggregated network devices and SDN are not the same thing! Disaggregation separates the network in to components e.g. hardware and software It s the ability to source switching hardware and network OS separately Hardware from one vendor and software from another Similar to the systems Core of networking devices has always been ASICs Until Broadcom came along there weren t many options available Many options available in the market today De-coupling hardware and software lifecycle 8

9 Open Hardware White box, branded white box (brite box), bare-metal, proprietary switch???? Source: 9

10 Why Disaggregate? De-couple hardware and software lifecycle Natural mismatch in lifecycle of software and hardware Hardware is months Software lifecycle is much longer Software Architectures are tied to operational and business architectures Monolithic equipment requires big change which usually means change in operational tools, monitoring tools, training, processes etc. Get the next generation of hardware without changing the software 10

11 Why Disaggregate? Do we really need 12 million lines of codes to move packets between NRENs/Campuses? Disaggregation of software means the control plane can be split, simplified, made modular We can choose to only develop / deploy what is necessary for the required function Simplify core and have feature rich edge Focus on most minimalistic, simple and modular approach Apply RFC1925 Rule 12 to the network and protocols Perfection has been reached not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away 11

12 SDN and Network Disaggregation Easier to Deploy Low Cost Hardware No Vendor Lock in Extreme Flexibility Higher Software Cost Potentially Locked in to Software Vendor Lowest Capex Least Support if breaks Requires Specific Talents Least new skills to learn One Throat to Choke Vendor Lock in and Least Flexible Highest CAPEX Source: 12 Increased Flexibility High Cost Proprietary Hardware Decreased Vendor Lock in

13 Summary The network device disaggregation is a cultural shift There has to be a business case for moving to a disaggregated solution How does your cost structure look like? Disaggregation could increase operational costs 13

14 TNC The GÉANT community's flagship conference. Regular attendance of over 700 participants from all across the world. Bringing together decision makers, networking and collaboration specialists, and identity and access management experts from all major European networking and research organisations, universities, worldwide sister institutions, as well as industry representatives. tnc18.geant.org 14

15 Thank you Any questions? GEANT Limited on behalf of the GN4 Phase 2 project (GN4-2). The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No (GN4-2). 15