Juniper New Data Center architecture Metafabric

The Juniper Network introduces a new architecture: Metafabric, which combines exchange, routing, and software to build a comprehensive approach to data centers and cloud networks.

Http://www.aliyun.com/zixun/aggregation/13534.html, senior analyst Andre Kindness of >forrester Research, says the new data Center architecture is no longer limited to the network industry's " short-sighted approach, "All programs are about virtual machines moving from server to server, and then programming this move." But the bigger story takes place between data centers and then between data centers and cloud computing. These mixed environments are areas that we need to focus on, but no one really solves the problem. ”

In the area of interconnected data centers and cloud computing, the network has lagged behind other areas of the IT industry. Juniper Networks are trying to build a larger cloud network by Metafabric customers beyond the data center network to think about problems.

"This is the first time that the Juniper network encapsulates everything they do," says Joe Skorupa, vice president of Gartner Research. "They do provide a lot of flexibility so that you can build architecture in a data center, and they allow you to extend these environments across WANs. ”

Metafabric also hints at Qfabric's next development, Qfabric is the signature data center technology for Juniper Networks. The external control and management plane within the Qfabric interconnect and director devices can join the supplier's QFX node device, including its newest QFX5100 switch.

"The Qfabric architecture still exists, but some components will be merged and eventually become the backbone of the new architecture," says John Merline, a Fortune 100 insurance company Northwestern Mutual data Network manager and architect. "This is a simplification, there will be fewer moving parts, The future of Qfabric interconnect and director has been identified. ”

Metafabric: Many Juniper network data center Moving parts

The Juniper Network has updated several different platforms to support Metafabric, including an improved MX router, a new qfabric node/switch (QFX5100), and a new network management platform (Junos space receptacle Director).

The MX router now supports Ethernet VPN (EVPN), a new encapsulation technology for MPLS networks, which allows users to extend 2-tier networks across WANs. "Other vendors use proprietary protocols for this, but we believe that the open environment should use standard protocols to ensure seamless movement of virtual machines across subnets, data centers, and WANs," said John David, senior vice president and general manager of the Juniper Network campus and Data Center Business department. This MX Evpn support also includes the VM traffic optimizer to create a valid path for VMS to move across the WAN.

This new Junos space receptacle Director is an extensive network management platform with visualization, analysis, and control functions that can be used for both virtual and physical networks.

Northwestern Mutual Company's Merline says that single pane management for virtual and physical networks is particularly appealing because it is compatible with VMware. He expects VMware NSX to provide network virtualization, "We can see the overlay network on the physical network so that when a problem arises, you can troubleshoot it through a single pane." ”

At the same time, the QFX5100 of the Juniper Network is a new series of qfabric node devices that can be run as a traditional 10-and 40,000-Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) top rack switch. QFX5100 uses the Broadcom Trident II chip, which provides multiple combinations of 10 and 40,000 gigabit ports. It also offers a number of new features, including a standalone topology topology for service software upgrades.

Evolution of metafabric containing qfabric

Finally, the Juniper Network strengthens its virtual chassis technology, which allows engineers to manage and run 10 Juniper network switches as a single device. A new technology-virtual chassis architecture (VCF) combines traditional virtual chassis technology with qfabric external control plane elements. Customers can now combine 20 devices into VCF and add some qfabric control plane elements without the need to use external interconnect and director devices-a juniper network that traditionally requires these devices.

"VCF is a spine-leaf (spine-leaf) network architecture that provides you with the simplicity of the virtual chassis and the advantages of qfabric, and Qfabric's external control plane is actually integrated into the control plane of the switch itself," says Davidson. ”

These qfabric control plane elements include the capabilities of the Juniper Network device sharing topology and routing information, and the ability to push MAC addresses across the network without having to rely on the spanning tree protocol.

Davidson that VCF is a midrange extensible option for customers who want to build larger, but smaller architectures than qfabric built with a common virtual chassis. This is exactly what Merline originally used for Northwestern Mutual.

Merline has deployed five qfabric systems in its two data centers, 1 large g systems for production networks, and 1 m-level qfabric for its lab environment. However, Northwestern maintains a fully independent network as a vertical zone (DMZ), and Merline wants to upgrade the zone to Qfabric. He does not need a full qfabric of the large number of ports involved in the deployment, so he envisions using the VCF of the new QFX5100 on the Juniper network to build the DMZ.

VCF also reflects an evolution. Customers do not need to build qfabric through interconnect and director device orchestration and Interconnect QFX nodes, and customers can build a spine-leaf (QFX) network architecture for SPINE-LEAF switches to integrate these external devices.

"Eventually they will go down this path and you won't need to use interconnect," says kindness of Forrester. ”

All Juniper Network QFX devices will support VCF and EX9200 and all future ex devices. The Juniper Network has also introduced a Reference architecture and professional services approach to support metafabric.