The Lippis Report

At Ixia’s iSimCity I sat down with Renuke Mandis, Technical Marketing Engineer at Extreme Networks to discuss the problem of VM moves not only between racks, but also between Layer 3 boundaries, which is a much harder problem to solve.  Extreme Networks demonstrates how to extend VMs across Layer 3 boundaries using VPLS.

I talk with Renuke Mendis, Technical Marketing Engineer at Extreme Networks as we discuss Extreme Network’s Open Fabric test results of the Lippis/Ixia Active-Active Ethernet Fabric Test at iSimCity. This was the first time the networking industry has ever attempted to test an Ethernet fabric in public across multiple vendors. We tested Extreme Network’s X670V Top of Rack and BlackDiamond X8 core data center Ethernet switches for this industry fabric test. We tested Extreme’s fabric for performance and reliability as well as VM support.

No matter where an IT architect looks they are confronted with scaling issues and many times one solution creates another problem.  To address increasing VM density many are expanding broadcast domains with flatter 2-tier architectures only to get bogged down in broadcast issues.  To scale virtualized networks the industry offers VXLAN, but that moves L2 scaling into a multicast-scaling problem.  Software-Defined Network and in particular OpenFlow offers a good approach for provisioning and control but introduces flow oriented architecture scaling issues of its own.  I discuss scaling challenge with Shehzad Merchant Chief Technology Officer at Extreme Networks.

Duration: 10:24 minutes

Lippis Intro/Analysis @ : 00:10 sec

Question 1

@ 1:35 sec: Shehzad: Let’s first start with Extreme’s view of 40 and 100GbE.  How is Extreme incorporating it and why?

Question 2 @ 3:50 sec: Forwarding table architecture and size define logical networking scale.  Extreme recently introduced UFT or Unified Forwarding Table.  What is it and how does it work?

Question 3 @ 6:35 sec: Extreme has partnered with Big Switch Networks to address network visualization scale via its Big Tap and Big Virtual Switch.  Can you talk to this solution?

Question 4 @ 8:51 sec: Can you sum up all the initiatives that Extreme has under way to deliver on its Open Fabric architecture for clo

ud-scale networking?

REGISTER FOR THE OPEN NETWORKING USER GROUP HERE:

Merchant VP of Technology at Extreme Networks joins me to discuss Extreme’s approach to open networking including its Open Fabric, Software Defined-Networking or SDN initiative plus network programmability.

Duration: 12 minutes 20 seconds

Lippis Intro/Analysis Starts @ : 00:10 sec

Question 1 @ 1:58 sec: Shehzad. lets first start with Extreme’s view of SDN market drivers. What are your customers asking for?

Question 2 @ 3:52 sec: Shehzad, Extreme describes an SDN architecture with four layers. Let’s describe that to the audience as its central to the re-distribution of network responsibilities and functions.

Question 3 @ 6:51 sec: Shehzad, Extreme’s initiative consist of four components: 1) Open programmability of networking, 2) SDN/OpenFlow & Multiple controller support, 3) support for OpenStack and quantum and 4) all of the above built on top of an open fabric. Can you talk to each initiative and how they are additive in value?

Question 4 @ 10:39 sec: What does Extreme’s Open fabric SDN approach bring to IT business leaders and how can they take advantage of it?

The edge network has to be more intelligent to support Bring Your Own Device or BYOD as well as existing wired desktops. But many SecOps groups would rather deny mobile access than allow it due to security threats, thanks to lack of visibility or device, user and location information mobile devices offer upon network access. To mitigate this concern, Extreme Networks launched its Intelligent Mobile Edge Network initiative including Ridgeline 3.1 to provide SecOps context-aware identity information and application visibility for mobile and fixed endpoints entering the network. In addition a new line of edge switches called the Summit x440 works closely with WiFi equipment to increase 802.11n performance and scalability. Huy Nguyen, Sr. Director of Product management at Extreme, joins me as we discuss the fundamental changes in edge networking thanks to BYOD and Extreme’s approach to securing mobile devices so corporations can gain the productivity gains of user device freedom.

By the Lippis Report

During the Fall 2011 edition of the Open Industry Network Performance & Power Test for Cloud Networks Evaluating 10/40 GbE Switches, Extreme Networks submitted its X8 Data Center Switch. We tested this switch populated with 192-40GbE ports, the highest density in the industry. We found the lowest latency and power consumption to date in the industry.

By Extreme Networks

High Performance Computing Clusters (HPCC) are no longer exclusive to the scientific community. “Big Data Analytics” are big business. Financial services, retail and manufacturing all require real-time analysis for real-time business decisions. This white paper discusses the cluster interconnect, its importance to HPCC and a lowest latency, higher performing solution from Extreme Networks®.

By Extreme Networks

Colleges and universities have made large investments in wiring dormitories and residence halls. However, today’s students are using mobile devices with no wired Ethernet connector. Today’s laptops, tablets and smartphones rely on 802.11n Wi-Fi. Campus administrators require a simple and effective way to deliver wireless service quickly; leveraging existing wired investment to keep cost down. It is also beneficial to maintain a wired connection in the rooms, delivering both wired and wireless service. Extreme Networks Altitude 4511 uniquely enables administrators to meet student demands while achieving business goals, with a cost-effective solution that is a snap to install and can scale as needs grow.

By Extreme Networks

Today’s mobile users require consistent Wi-Fi with high throughput, but traditional ceiling-mounted access points can make it challenging to extend 802.11n into facilities with many rooms, walls and other obstructions. The combination of the Altitude™ 4511 wallplate access point, fortified with Motorola radio technology and intelligent switches from Extreme Networks, makes it faster and easier to deploy and manage a converged wired and wireless network edge with security and high performance
that’s right where the mobile users are located for better access and service.

By Jim Metzler, Ashton Metzler & Associates

This white paper proposes a new approach to architecting and designing data center networks for current dynamic and highly virtualized data centers.

While the Lippis Report test were being conducted of the Extreme Networks BlackDiamond® X8 Core and Summit® X670V ToR data center fabric switches at Ixia’s iSimCity, Darius Goodall, Product and Technical Marketing of Extreme joined me to discuss the firm’s latest product investment. We talk cloud network architecture and what’s unique about the new X8 and X670V.

Download “Fall 2011 Open Industry Network Performance And Power Test Report” here.

Andre Kindness, Senior Analyst at Forrester Research and Zeus Kerravala, principal at ZK Research join me to discuss the shift-taking place in data center networking. Data Center networking is at an inflection point thanks to industry transitions driving new economics, technologies and IT delivery via mobile and cloud computing. These market transitions happen only once every decade or so and we detail its dynamics in this industry analyst round table. We discuss virtualization, merchant silicon, software defined networking, the rise of best of breed products, what network designs are working and which aren’t. We end with how IT business leaders can navigate an industry is transition.

By Extreme Networks

Several technology inflection points are coming together that are fundamentally changing the way networks are architected, deployed and operated, both in the public and private cloud. From performance, to scale, to virtualization support and automation to simplified orchestration, the requirements are rapidly changing and driving new approaches to building data center networks. This white paper does an excellent job at articulating cloud-scale network architecture via an open fabric that accounts for all major industry trends.

Extreme Networks has added to its Extreme Open Fabric cloud networking portfolio by introducing a unique 10/40GbE ToR switch in its Summit X670; an ultra low latency switch thanks to a PHY-less design and cut-through switching. For the core, the new BlackDiamond X8 is a massive core switch built for virtualized infrastructure. It boasts 192x40GbE or 768 10GbE ports, 5 Watts/10GbE port power consumption, 128K VMs, high reliability and compact size being only one-third of a rack or 14.5 RUs. In this Lippis Report podcast, I talk with Shehzad Merchant, VP of Technology at Extreme Networks, about Extreme’s new cloud networking products and the architecture it now offers to IT architects and designers.