In Part I of this blog series, “What is the open packet optical switch, Voyager?”, we discussed the challenges and remedies for providing additional bandwidth for intra and inter data center connections. DWDM is a powerful technology that provides hundreds of gigabits of bandwidth over hundreds or thousands of kilometers using just a fiber pair. We also reviewed some information about DWDM networks and transponder functionality. Voyager provides all the functionality of Cumulus Linux running on a Broadcom Tomahawk based switch and integrates the transponders into the switch itself, all in 1RU. This makes it the first open and fully integrated box operating at DWDM, Layer 2 and Layer 3 in 1RU, making it extremely flexible.
Incorporating routing, switching and DWDM in one node could mean fewer boxes needed for the network, since DWDM functionality could be incorporated directly into border leafs. Because it runs Cumulus Linux (CL), all CL data center functionality, such as VXLAN Routing with EVPN, is also supported. For example, a pair of Voyager nodes can be used as VXLAN routing centralized routers with EVPN, hosting VXLAN VTEPs, running MLAG, and provide the long distance DWDM connectivity all in one box!
Voyager also Continue reading
sudo mn --custom ~/onos/tools/dev/mininet/onos.py,sflow-rt/extras/sflow.py \The screen capture above shows the network topology in the ONOS web user interface.
--link tc,bw=10 --controller onos,1 --topo tree,2,2
mininet-onos> iperf h1 h3The screen capture above shows top flows, busiest Continue reading
The managed software platform uses a "digital twin" to learn from the data coming into the system to find hidden patterns and predict future behavior.
ARM is also targeting the telco central office, working with such open source groups as the Central Office Re-architected as a Data Center (CORD).
Most SD-WAN vendors are limited by their inability to create a Service-Centric Fabric.
Over at the Packet Pushers, Anthony Miloslavsky suggests that network architects have outlived their usefulness, so it is time to think of a new role. He describes a role called the “NRE” to replace the architect; the NRE would—
…spend no less than 50% of their time focusing on automation, while spending the other 50% deeply embedded in the operations/engineering/architecture realms of networking. They participate in an on-call rotation to stay in touch with the ops side of the house, with a focus on “treating operations as if it’s a software problem” in response. NREs would provide a expert big picture view of BOTH the development/automation and network operation/design sides of the house.
The author goes on to argue that we need someone who will do operations, engineering, architecture, and development because “pure architecture” folks tend to “lose touch” with the operations side of things. It is too easy to “throw a solution over the cubicle wall” without considering the implementation and operational problems. But, as a friend used to ask of everything when I was still in electronics, will it work? I suspect the answer is no for several reasons.
First, there is no such person as described, and Continue reading
Just two days after Giannandrea left Google, he was hired by Apple in a move to boost its AI-capabilities against competitors, including Google and Amazon.
Both of Dell Technologies’ brands come out on top of IDC’s latest quarterly tracker, which includes separate rankings for HCI branded products and hyperconverged software providers.
An overview of recent organizational changes at Cisco as the CEO shifts executive roles and responsibilities and brings new leadership on board.
An overview of recent organizational changes at Cisco as the CEO shifts executive roles and responsibilities and brings new leadership on board.
New government restrictions over VPN usage may have an impact on SD-WAN providers that aren’t working with state-approved providers.