The Lippis Report

The Lippis Report is happy to announce the availability of the Fall 2012 active-active data center ethernet fabric performance and reliability test. This is a first for the computer networking industry. To deliver a two-tier data center network, spanning tree protocol is eliminated and replace with active-active links between Top-of-Rack and Core switches and between Core switches. The industry is offering multiple active-active protocol options such as Brocade’s ISL or Inter-Switch Link, Cisco’s FabricPath, Juniper’s Qfabric, TRILL or Transparent Interconnection of Lots of Links, SPBM or Shortest Path Bridging MAC mode, ECMP or Equal-Cost Multi-Path and MLAG or Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation Protocol. We will test them all and compare their performance and reliability. Lippis Enterprises has teamed with Ixia for the execution of this important cloud networking industry test. If your company produces 10GbE and/or 40GbE data center switches with active-active links then it is invited to participate free of charge.

Testing is scheduled during the first week of September, October and November of 2012. Equipment suppliers have until end of day PT August 1, 2012 to signup for a test slot, but don’t wait until then, as test slots will be gone. There are only a few test spots available as we have received a number of commitments already. The test prospectus can be downloaded HERE detailing logistics, test methodology, schedule, test result promotion and FAQs. 



While the Lippis Report test were being conducted of the IBM System Network’s RackSwitchtm G8124E, G8264 and G8316 ToR data center switches at Ixia’s iSimCity, Dan Tuchler, VP of Product Management at IBM joined me to discuss the firm’s latest product investment. We talk cloud network architecture, Software Defined Networking and what’s unique about the new G8124E, G8264 and G8316 ToR switches.

Lippis Enterprises and Ixia are very excited to announce a new test suite for active-active cloud networks at the modern iSimCity plus a more flexible testing schedule. The active-active test is in addition to 10GbE & 40GbE data center switch performance and power consumption test. Vendors may choose one or both tests to submit products. The fall testing schedule will span over three months providing greater flexibility and lab access for vendors to submit products.

The industry is offering multiple active-active protocol options such as Brocade’s VCS Fabric, Cisco’s FabricPath, Juniper’s Qfabric, TRILL or Transparent Interconnection of Lots of Links, SPBM or Shortest Path Bridging MAC mode, ECMP or Equal-Cost Multi-Path and MLAG or Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation Protocol. We plan to test them all. This video explains the new Active-Active Ethernet Fabric test and flexible schedule.

Andre Kindness, Senior Analyst at Forrester Research, joins Zeus Kerravala, principal at ZK Research, and I for our annual predictions podcast. We discuss Cisco, IBM Network Systems, Huawei, Juniper, Extreme, Arista, Nicira, Big Switch, Verizon, AT&T, HP Networking, Citrix, F5, Riverbed, Brocade, Broadcom, Meru, Aerohive, Ruckus, Meraki, Infoblox, Palo Alto Networks, Polycom, Embrane, et al, and what 2012 will bring for them and you. Enjoy, Nick

We have a new app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch available on the App Store. Now you can get all of your favorite Lippis Report content in a native app on your iOS device. The app features:

• Update Notifications, so you’ll be alerted when a new Research Note or download is available.
• Easy sorting by download type, so you can get just the type of content you want, when you want it.
• Listen to all of the latest Podcasts directly on your iDevice.
• Read our white papers and Research Notes.
• Watch the latest videos from the Lippis Report.
• Easily share content via your Twitter, Facebook or Email account.

Follow the link above for the free download.

On Tuesday Auguest 16th a week before HP’s news of potentially exiting the PC business, Zeus Kerravala, Senior VP of Research at the Yankee Group and Andre Kindness Senior Analyst at Forrester Research joined me in a round table discussion to reflect on HP Networking. We assess HP Networking’s progress since it announced the acquisition of 3Com back in Nov of 2009 and its prospects for the future. In a word our mutual assessment is disappointment with major short and long-term threats from Huawei. But there is hope for the future if HP can create a bold new vision for the industry and execute it. If you are going to listen to one podcast this year about HP, this should be it.

I am happy to announce the availability of the full test report results detailing the performance and power consumption measurements of the following companies’ products:

· Alcatel-Lucent’s OmniSwitch 10K,
· Arista’s 7504 Series Data Center Switch,
· BLADE Network Technologies’, an IBM Company, IBM BNT RackSwitch G8124 and IBM BNT RackSwitch G8264,
· Force10 Network’s S-Series S4810,
· Hitachi Cable’s Apresia 15000-64XL-PSR,
· Juniper Network’s EX Series EX8216 Ethernet Switch
· Voltaire®’s Vantage™ 6048

You’ll get:

· Detailed profiles of each product.
· Performance test results, including latency, throughput, congestion, IP multicast and cloud simulation.
· Power consumption measurements detailing how much energy each product consumes per 10GbE port with a projection of its energy cost per year and over three years.
· How the new ToR switches perform with the new Broadcom, Marvell or Fulcrum Micro chips that every vendor is starting to use.
· Anomalies explained such as Arista’s HOL blocking and back pressure detection during congestion test, or Hitachi’s 64Byte VLAN tag issue during latency test.
· Detailed recommendations on cloud network architecture and which products to use.

To view a sample and download your copy CLICK HERE

The Lippis Report is happy to announce the availability of the Fall 2012 round of industry data center switching performance, virtualization and power consumption test evaluating 10/40Gbps Ethernet fabrics. Lippis Enterprises has teamed with Ixia for the execution of this important cloud networking industry test. If your company produces 10GbE and/or 40GbE data center switches, then it is invited to participate free of charge.

Test week is scheduled First Week of September, October and November, 2012. Equipment suppliers have until end of day PT August 1, 2012 to signup for a test slot, but don’t wait until then, as test slots will be gone. There are only a few test spots available as we have received a number of commitments already. The test prospectus can be downloaded HERE detailing logistics, test methodology, schedule, test result promotion and FAQs. 



CLICK HERE to download the Test Prospectus.

by Lippis Report Testing

This report details the test results of the Force10 Networks S-Series S4810 enterprise Top-of-Rack (ToR) Ethernet switch. All 48 10GbE ports of the Force10 Networks S-Series S4810 are populated and tested for performance, throughput, latency and power consumption. The Force10 Networks S-Series S4810 test results are then compared against IBM BNT RackSwitch G8264, Voltaire Vantage™ 6048 and Apresia 15K ToR switches.

To download the test report please CLICK HERE

by Lippis Report Testing

This report details the test results of the IBM BNT RackSwitch G8124 & G8264 enterprise Top-of-Rack (ToR) Ethernet switches. All 24 and 64 10GbE ports of the IBM BNT RackSwitch G8124 & G8264, respectively, are populated and tested for performance, throughput, latency and power consumption. The IBM BNT RackSwitch G8124 & G8264’s test results are then compared against Force10 Networks S4810, Voltaire Vantage™ 6048 and Apresia 15K ToR switches.

To download the test report please CLICK HERE

by Lippis Report Testing

This report details the test results of the Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch™ 10K enterprise core Ethernet switch. All 256 10GbE ports are populated and tested for performance, throughput, latency and power consumption. The OmniSwitch™ 10K’s test results are then compared against Juniper’s EX8216 and Arista Networks 7504 core switches.

To download the test report, please click here

Zeus Kerravala of the Yankee Group and I recorded our annual and very popular predictions for the coming year. We hit a lot of topics such as 2011 being the year of mobile computing thanks to the iPad and Androd tablets and the huge implications of a new tier of computing. MSFT Lynx fizzling, Extreme Networks rebounding, the rise of private clouds and desktop virtualization, a big IPO year coming, video conferencing adoption acceleration, Polycom not making it alone, wifi/3G/4G blurring, etc. This end-of-year, forward-looking Lippis Report podcast is one of our most popular, so we offer it to our subscribers as a holiday gift with wishes for a great holiday season and prosperous New Year.