Shehzad Merchant - Data Center Virtualization: A Networking Problem - Interop Mumbai 2009

Data Center Virtualization – A Networking Problem

© 2009 Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved.

Shehzad Merchant

Sr. Director, Strategy and Market Development

Agenda

1. The Evolving Data Center

2. The Networking challenges

3. The Solution Envelope

4. Discussion

Extreme Networks Confidential and Proprietary.

© 2009 Extreme Networks Inc. All rights reserved.

Evolution of Computing Environments

Evolution timeline

Mainframe Mini

Computer

Personal

ComputerCloud computing


Enabling the New Data Center:The Promise of Virtualization

Page 5© 2009 Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved.

Consolidation

Cost

Power

Elasticity

Hardware Independence

Location Independence

Dynamism

Load Balancing

Power Management

Simplified Management

On Demand Application Provisioning

The Networking Challenges


VM VM

VSwitch

VM VM

The Dissolving Network Edge

Network boundary between edge switch and server has blurred

Switching at multiple levels

Virtual switch

Network switch

Switching in NIC cards

Distributed virtual switches

Co-existence of different virtual switch models a challenge


Edge

NIC

Aggregation

Core

Server

Server

The Departmental Divide

Who owns the networking configuration?

Server and network administrators traditionally distinct

Server administrators not skilled at network configuration

Dealing with inconsistencies in server and network configuration

Increased likelihood of errors

Troubleshooting, maintenance require direct coordination across groups

Shifting locus of control


Dealing with Scale

Adding Burden To the Administrator

Multiple network devices per server

Multiple virtual switches

Switching in NIC cards

Blade switches

Increase in the magnitude of managed end points

Application-driven heterogeneity adds complexity

VMware, Microsoft, Citrix


VM Mobility

Force-Fitting Dynamism onto a Static Network

VM Mobility requires network configuration to follow VMs VLAN, QoS, ACLs, Rate Limiting tied

to VM, not network port

Best practices are conflicting Flat L2 versus segmented

Requires coordination between server & network administrators Automated and dynamic VM

migration


Edge

Core

Edge

NIC

VM

Vswitch

Server

NIC

VM

Vswitch

Server

Power Management

VM Load Balancing

Dynamic Resource Management


Based on CPU, Memory, NIC utilization

No visibility into network congestion

Requires uniform network policies

Bring the network into the equation

Optimize the power savings

Security in a Virtualized World

Compliance No separation by default Audit trail, reporting and compliance

need to be revisited

Dealing with VM Sprawl Dormant VMs pose an exploitable

threat

Patch Management Needs to be dealt with at a VM level

Dealing with network security within the server Lack of visibility into inter-VM traffic Firewall, IDS/IPS for inter-VM traffic


The Solution Framework


Evolving the Network

Value to the Data Center

Customized

Program & Application Integration

Scripting and Widgets

Deep Insight and Broad Control of

Infrastructure

XML-enabled Infrastructure

Simple

Bandwidth and Performance

Networking Density

Fixed and Modular

Platforms

Robust and Flexible Stacking

Efficient

Integration with VM Platforms

Heterogeneous (Best of Breed)

support for Virtual

Machines

Automated

Configuration, Provisioning,

Event Detection and

Response

Application Awareness &

Support

Provision 1000s of Switches

across Multiple Sites

© 2009 Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 14

Vendor differentiation

Orchestration

Tying together the network, storage, and servers

• Network management tools to provide complete network view

• Not just configuration• Real time statistics and status monitoring• IP, MAC, Identity and location information

• Integration into third party tools• XML based APIs• Smart provisioning of resources

• Power, load balancing and security• Reduced need for co-ordination• Consistent application of policies

Bringing it together:

Page 18Extreme Networks Confidential and Proprietary.

© 2009 Extreme Networks Inc. All rights reserved.

Building A Smarter, Greener Data Center

Depending on the network


Leverage mature network functionality

Use network switches for advanced functionality

Wire speed

Sophisticated functionality

Predictable behavior

Customizable and automated

Keep Hypervisor simple

Continue to leverage current expertise and investment in network resources

Standards driving to this direction

VEPA

THANK YOU


Shehzad Merchant - Data Center Virtualization: A Networking Problem - Interop Mumbai 2009

Technology

Transcript of Shehzad Merchant - Data Center Virtualization: A Networking Problem - Interop Mumbai 2009