Unified Virtual Data Center Networking Solutions

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White PAPER Unified Virtual Data Center Networking Solutions Overview TBD Networks is a Force10 Technology Alliance partner and provides a management platform focusing on analytics and orchestration

TBD VirtualFabric provides analytics, resource autoallocation and orchestration capabilities for VMware and physical network environments.

1 White PAPER Unified Virtual Data Center Networking Solutions Overview TBD Networks is a Force10 Technology Alliance partner and provides a management platform focusing on analytics and orchestration for virtualized networks. Together, Force10 s Open Automation Framework and TBD Networks Virtual Fabric network software help IT administrators manage complex, virtual environments. TBD VirtualFabric provides analytics, resource autoallocation and orchestration capabilities for VMware and physical network environments. It provides full integration with VMware vsphere, ESXi, ESX and vcenter and can manage and provision Cisco, Brocade and now Force10 network switches and routers. The New Data Center Server virtualization has fundamentally changed data center networking. With the success of VMware, a whole new layer of virtual switches has been added and is radically changing how data center networks are architected and managed. Effectively much of the functionality found in the physical switches of the access layer of the network (Top of Rack and End of Row has been moved to the virtual switch that resides on the physical server. Together with 10Gb connectivity to the server and 40Gb uplinks a new data center blue print provides better performance, reduced wiring while maintaining redundancy and superior flexibility. The new challenge is consistent management of virtual and physical switch infrastructures that can keep up with the vastly increased provisioning speeds and change rates of virtualized environments that are driven by technologies such as vmotion and VMware DRS. Network Automation: Open Automation Framework The Open Automation Framework is comprised of a suite of inter-related network management tools that can be used together or independently. These tools provide data center managers with a complete set of capabilities required in today s dynamic virtual data center environments: JumpStart reduces installation time, eliminates configuration errors and enforces standard configurations by automatically configuring network switches SmartScripts improves network monitoring and management with a robust, Perl/Python scripting environment HyperLink increases network flexibility by automatically provisioning VLANs when VMs are migrated SwitchLink simplifies network management by integrating with multiple third party system management tools JumpStart JumpStart automated bare metal configuration reduces operational expenses, accelerates switch installation, simplifies OS upgrades and increases network availability by automatically configuring Force10 switches. This eliminates the need for a network administrator to manually configure the switch, resulting in faster installation, elimination of configuration errors and enforcement of standard configurations. Upon installation, the Force10 switch searches the network for a DHCP server. The DHCP server provides the Force10 switch with an IP address and the location of a TFTP server. The TFTP server maintains a configuration file and an approved version of FTOS, the operating system for Force10 switches. The Force10 switch automatically configures itself by loading the configuration file and FTOS FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. [ PAGE 1 OF 5 ]

SmartScripts SmartScripts increases network availability and manageability by allowing network administrators to deploy custom monitoring and management scripts on Force10 switching platforms.

Virtually any function that can be performed through the CLI can be implemented with SmartScripts.

Running scripts on Force10 switches allow administrators to avoid the use of polling mechanisms that waste valuable network bandwidth.

2 SmartScripts SmartScripts increases network availability and manageability by allowing network administrators to deploy custom monitoring and management scripts on Force10 switching platforms. With this capability, network administrators can implement version control systems, automatically generate alerts, create custom logging tools and automate management of network devices. Virtually any function that can be performed through the CLI can be implemented with SmartScripts. SmartScripts provides a scripting environment that supports Perl and Python, making it easy for IT administrators to quickly develop scripts without having to learn a new scripting language. Running scripts on Force10 switches allow administrators to avoid the use of polling mechanisms that waste valuable network bandwidth. HyperLink Virtual environments require network infrastructure to be dynamic in order to ensure network connectivity and security policies are maintained when VMs are migrated. HyperLink facilitates communications between Force10 network switches and virtual management software to orchestrate automated VM/VLAN provisioning. When a VM is migrated, the virtualization management software notifies HyperLink. HyperLink provisions the VLAN to the new server before the virtual machine is migrated, ensuring network connectivity is in place prior to the VM being migrated. HyperLink 1.0 supports VMware vsphere 4.0/4.1 and Citrix XenServer 5.6. SwitchLink SwitchLink improves network manageability by allowing Force10 network devices to be managed by third party system management tools. SwitchLink communicates with third party system management tools, avoiding the need for a dedicated network management tool. JumpStart Automated Bare Metal Provisioning Automatic network switch configuration Reduce installation time Enforce standard configurations Eliminate configuration errors Simplify OS upgrades SmartScripts Perl and Python Dynamic Scripting Scripting environment for custom monitoring and management Increase network uptime Reduce time for problem resolution Improve configuration mgmt and auditing Perl Python HyperLink Hypervisor Switch Communications VM/VLAN provisioning Increase data center flexibility Maintain network connectivity and security with VM migration Reduce OpEx VMware 4.0, 4.1 Citrix XenServer 5.6 SwitchLink System Mgmt Orchestration Integration with system management tools Simplify network management Minimize number of management tools Reduce OpEx XML TBD Virtual Fabric HP Network Automation software IBM System Director Avoid Vendor Lock-in The Open Automation Framework provides IT managers the flexibility to deploy network automation without vendor lock-in. By supporting industry standards and developing a strong ecosystem of technology partners, Force10 gives IT managers the choice to select hypervisor and system management technology partners that best meet their needs FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. [ PAGE 2 OF 5 ]

3 TBDVirtualFabric TBDVirtualFabric is a software solution that extends dynamic virtualization to include storage and network resources. It provides analytics, automation and crosstechnology orchestration to eliminate storage latency and bottlenecks in highly consolidated, shared environments. It reduces administrative overhead by enabling simplified management strategies. Finally it improves utilization by eliminating resource competition and resulting misallocation of resources. The software is deployed as a virtual appliance and consists of three modules: Module I: Analyze & Act This module provides action-oriented analytics for VMware environments. By identifying and fixing resource misallocations and bottlenecks through advanced analytics it eliminate performance and latency problems that are typical for virtualized and cloud environments. By providing action-oriented recommendations and one-click, semi-automatic execution it reduces administration effort By improving resource allocation it boosts utilization and reduces cost. Key functionality includes: Discovery and Visualization across virtual and physical environments Identification of storage (FC/FCoE, iscsi, NFS) latency and bottlenecks Identification of network bottleneck Analytics algorithms for scoring of virtual machines contributing to bottlenecks and latency events Recommendations for bottleneck elimination based on contribution scores and configuration and loadbased target assessment One-click execution of recommendations Module II: Resource Auto-Allocation This add-on module provides capabilities for automatically improving resource allocation. DSNRM (Dynamic Storage and Network Resource Management) for optimistic deployment with automated selection of network locations and datastores Workflow-based execution during maintenance window Automated and approval-based semi-automated modes Module III: Cloud Orchestration This add-on module extends dynamic virtualization capabilities outside the hypervisor to creating Virtual Fabrics of resources. Stackable and mobile per-application, per-customer virtual fabrics vmotion awareness to allow mobility across racks and multiple layers of switches Figure 1. VM module solution steps. Cross-vendor provisioning across virtual and physical switches Device Support: Brocade IP Switch Family Cisco ASA Family Cisco IOS Family Cisco Nexus Family Force 10 Switch Family TBD VirtualFirewall VMware ESX/ESXi 3.5/4.0/4.1 VMware vsphere vcenter 2.5/4.0/ FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. [ PAGE 3 OF 5 ]

Stackable and mobile per-application, per-customer virtual fabrics vmotion awareness to allow mobility across racks and multiple layers of switches Cross-vendor provisioning across virtual and

4 Stackable and mobile per-application, per-customer virtual fabrics vmotion awareness to allow mobility across racks and multiple layers of switches Cross-vendor provisioning across virtual and physical switches Figure 2. Stackable virtual and physical switches. The Joint Solution Force10 Automation and TBD Analytics and Orchestration As the use of virtualization in data centers increases, data center managers are identifying challenges that must be overcome to fully realize the benefits of virtualization. The increase in flexibility offered by virtualization comes at a cost of more complexity. The previous computing model where different parts of the stack; application, server, storage and network; were managed somewhat independently by separate groups, is being challenged as the level of interaction between these different parts of the technology stack must interact much more closely than ever before. For example, prior to migrating a VM from one ESX host to another, the virtualization administrator must ensure the VLAN is properly configured to ensure the virtual environment maintains its key characteristics. Additionally, the dynamic nature of the virtual environment requires this move to happen immediately, adding a time constraint to the problem. One way to solve this problem is for the virtualization administrator to work with the network administrator to provision the VLAN prior to migrating the VM. The problem with this is it may take many days for the network administrator to provision the VLAN. Another way to solve this problem is for the virtualization manager to predefine all the servers where the VM might be migrated and have the VLAN appropriately provisioned. This is a less than ideal situation. Alternatively the administrator my elect to configure the server port in trunk all mode, however that opens a raft of security issues. The other common way to solve this problem is to use orchestration software that communicates with the hypervisor and the network switch. When the virtualization administrator tells the orchestration software to migrate the VM, the orchestration software tells the network switch to provision the VLAN, then migrates the VM. When the Server/Virtual administrator migrates the VM via the orchestration software (UI) the orchestration software then configures the VLAN on the switch then initiates the VM migration. This solution eliminates the need for pre-planning, ensures the virtual environment maintains security and QoS characteristics and avoids the need for the virtualization manager to wait for the network administrator. If the VM admin has the security clearance for the Network Switches. Virtualization managers can implement this solution using TBDVirtual Fabric analytics and orchestration software along with Force10 Networks switches equipped with Force10 s Open Automation software. TBDVirtualFabric is a software solution that extends dynamic virtualization to include storage and network resources that provides latency and bottleneck elimination automation and cross-technology orchestration FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. [ PAGE 4 OF 5 ]

5 Summary TBD Networks and Force10 Networks deliver a comprehensive solution for consistent management of dynamic, virtualized environments. TBD VirtualFabric network virtualization software provides visibility across virtual and physical networks and one-stop provisioning and change management across VMware vsphere and physical switches from leading vendors. Force 10 switches are now fully integrated into virtual fabrics that provide superior performance, ease of administration and utilization. Combined with Force 10 best-of-class 10Gb and 40Gb switching technology for data and IP storage networks you can a high performance VMware cloud environment with unparalleled performance at significantly reduced cost. Force10 Networks, Inc. 350 Holger Way San Jose, CA USA PHONE FACSIMILE 2011 Force10 Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. Force10 Networks, Adit, E-Series, Traverse, and TraverseEdge are registered trademarks and Axxius, C-Series, ExaScale, FTOS, MASTERseries, P-Series, S-Series, TeraScale, and TransAccess are trademarks of Force10 Networks, Inc. All other company names are trademarks of their respective holders. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Certain features may not yet be generally available. Force10 Networks, Inc. assumes no responsibility for any errors that may appear in this document. WP v FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. [ PAGE 5 OF 5 ]

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Dubrovnik, Croatia, South East Europe 20-22 May, 2013 Cisco Solution for Private Cloud Sascha Merg Technical Solutions Architect 2011 2012 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Connect