What’s the difference between SDN, NV, and NFV?

As many of you know, or newcomers to IT see, we love our acronyms.  For whatever reason, IT is littered with two, three or four letter acronyms.   SDN seems to have accelerated this phenomenon.   As this title suggests I will describe SDN, NV and NFV in this blog.  All of them in our opinion (at Pica8) are software driven schemes that will forever change the way we think about service and application delivery.  Each is a different approach to network programmability. Let’s look into the latest acronyms.

Network Virtualization (NV)

NV is for anybody who’s using virtual machine technology. One data center challenge is to move VMs across different logical domains. NV attacks this problem. NV creates logical segments in an existing network by dividing the network at the flow level (similar to partitioning a hard drive). The goal is to allow people to move VMs independently of their existing infrastructure and not have to reconfigure the network.

NV is an overlay. Rather than physically connecting two domains in a network, NV creates a tunnel through the existing network to connect two domains. NV saves administrators from having to physically wire up each new domain Continue reading

Utilizing LLDP instead of CDP

In the last years, many vendors of network devices made available in the market equipments with interesting prices and quality that ended transforming the network environment of companies on a scenario that share different models and devices. Despite the fact that there is a seducing cost, unfortunately some property protocols (despite being interesting)  create a barrier of integration among many services or replacement of Switches, Routers,etc.

In order to mapping and discovering neighbor devices in a network with controlled environment  and with IP telephony, the Cisco suggest the CDP utilization, but unfortunately the protocol is property of  Cisco, limiting its utilization with other models and equipment.

The LLDP protocol is an open standard to discovery devices that are neighbors, with similarly as CDP, including the utilization of features for the VLAN voice.

With the tests below, we activate the LLDP in a Cisco 3750 Switch and a HPN 12500 Switch.

Configuring

Cisco3750(config)# lldp run
!Run LLDP on Cisco Switch 

[HPN12K] lldp enable
! Run LLDP on HP Comware-based Switch

To visualize the mapping of neighbors with Cisco we can use:

Cisco3750#show lldp neighbors
Capability codes:
    (R) Router, (B) Bridge, (T) Telephone, (C) DOCSIS Cable Device
    (W) WLAN Access Point, (P)  Continue reading

Installing KVM, Libvirt and Open vSwitch on Fedora

In my NetOps to DevOps Training Plan I mentioned installing KVM, Libvirt and Open vSwitch. I did this a few weeks ago and documented it to produce this tutorial. My motivation was to replace my VMware environment at home with something Open Source. I am also a strong believer in "eat your own dog food" and as a lot of the work I am doing in the Open Source community centers around these 3 technologies, I should get used to using them every day...

Installing KVM, Libvirt and Open vSwitch on Fedora

In my NetOps to DevOps Training Plan I mentioned installing KVM, Libvirt and Open vSwitch. I did this a few weeks ago and documented it to produce this tutorial. My motivation was to replace my VMware environment at home with something Open Source. I am also a strong believer in "eat your own dog food" and as a lot of the work I am doing in the Open Source community centers around these 3 technologies, I should get used to using them every day...

Prerequsites

Before we get started, I'll assume that you already have a Fedora Minimal Installation that you are ready to work on...

Installing the packages

sudo yum install -y @standard @virtualization openvswitch

That was easy wasn't it!

@standard installs some useful utilities and @virtualization installs libvirt + KVM

I'm sure you can guess what openvswitch does.

Configuration

Now here comes the fun part!

Configure the services

# Disable NetworkManager
sudo systemctl stop NetworkManager.service
sudo systemctl disable NetworkManager.service

# Enable "Proper" Networking
sudo systemctl enable network.service
sudo systemctl start network.service

# Enable the Open vSwitch service
sudo systemctl enable openvswitch.service
sudo systemctl start openvswitch.service

Setting up Networking with Open vSwitch

Our Continue reading

Setting Up Overlays on Open vSwitch

Packet Capture in Diverse / Tunneled Networks?

Packet Capture in Diverse / Tunneled Networks?

Installing KVM, Libvirt and Open vSwitch on Fedora

In my NetOps to DevOps Training Plan I mentioned installing KVM, Libvirt and Open vSwitch. I did this a few weeks ago and documented it to produce this tutorial. My motivation was to replace my VMware environment at home with something Open Source. I am also a strong believer in "eat your own dog food" and as a lot of the work I am doing in the Open Source community centers around these 3 technologies, I should get used to using them every day...

Networking is a Service, and you are the Service Provider

The status quo approach to Networking is the biggest barrier to realizing the full potential of Virtualization and the private, public, or hybrid cloud. We must re-think how Networking Services are delivered, in a way that comports with automation, decoupling, pooling, and abstractions. I would argue, the solution is a more software-centric approach – Network Virtualization. But more importantly, we must re-think how we view Networking as a career skill set and the value we bring to an organization.

This was the message of two keynote talks I recently gave at the Sydney & Melbourne VMUG user conferences. The title of the talk was Three reasons why Networking is a pain in the IaaS, and how to fix it. I will share the slides and a brief summary of that talk in a subsequent post. But before I do that, please indulge me in a heart-to-heart chat from one long time Networking professional (me) to another (you):

I emphasize the word services because if you really think about it, that is what Networking really is – Networking is a Service. It always has been, and will always continue to be a service – a service that will always be needed. Continue reading

Networking is a Service, and you are the Service Provider

The status quo approach to Networking is the biggest barrier to realizing the full potential of Virtualization and the private, public, or hybrid cloud. We must re-think how Networking Services are delivered, in a way that comports with automation, decoupling, pooling, and abstractions. I would argue, the solution is a more software-centric approach – Network Virtualization. But more importantly, we must re-think how we view Networking as a career skill set and the value we bring to an organization.

This was the message of two keynote talks I recently gave at the Sydney & Melbourne VMUG user conferences. The title of the talk was Three reasons why Networking is a pain in the IaaS, and how to fix it. I will share the slides and a brief summary of that talk in a subsequent post. But before I do that, please indulge me in a heart-to-heart chat from one long time Networking professional (me) to another (you):

I emphasize the word services because if you really think about it, that is what Networking really is – Networking is a Service. It always has been, and will always continue to be a service – a service that will always be needed. Continue reading

Networking is a Service, and you are the Service Provider

The status quo approach to Networking is the biggest barrier to realizing the full potential of Virtualization and the private, public, or hybrid cloud. We must re-think how Networking Services are delivered, in a way that comports with automation, decoupling, pooling, and abstractions. I would argue, the solution is a more software-centric approach – Network Virtualization. But more importantly, we must re-think how we view Networking as a career skill set and the value we bring to an organization.

This was the message of two keynote talks I recently gave at the Sydney & Melbourne VMUG user conferences. The title of the talk was Three reasons why Networking is a pain in the IaaS, and how to fix it. I will share the slides and a brief summary of that talk in a subsequent post. But before I do that, please indulge me in a heart-to-heart chat from one long time Networking professional (me) to another (you):

I emphasize the word services because if you really think about it, that is what Networking really is – Networking is a Service. It always has been, and will always continue to be a service – a service that will always be needed. Continue reading

Networking is a Service, and you are the Service Provider

Wi-Fi Tools

Weighing AWS VPN Options

 Option 1

Build the VPNs off the Internet routers themselves. Route AWS traffic in to the corporate network through the firewall. In an ideal world, you’d probably dedicate some routers for this purpose, but I’ve never had anyone do that. We’re talking about a LAN-to-LAN VPN, here; one doesn’t commonly deploy totally dedicated infrastructure for each new Continue reading

HP Comware-based Switches – Configuring filters for BPDU (bpdu-filtering)

The Spanning-tree protocol sends messages every two second in order to keep the LAN stability, protecting the topology from physical loops (blocking the logical loop) and providing high availability in case of any switch fail.

For that matter, the Switches exchange messages called BDPUs which are utterly important for the correct functioning of the network described as above.

There are scenarios when is necessary to deactivate the protocol within a specific interface, utilizing other protocols and features of high availability such as RRPP, Smart-Link, Monitor-Link, etc or when also the Switch needs to transport the information in tunnel form (transparent), for example, QinQ.

In client-sharing environments, it is not recommended that the network alteration be advised for all  Swtiches that do not belong to that particular network and have the same Switch in common, for example, Service Provider and Data Center.

The main question in this scenario of BPDU filtering is to certify that the network does not have any sort of loop that can cause a disaster for the Network Engineer’s project.

Certifying those questions, the HP Comware based Switches carry the following commands, that may help  finding a solution:

Interface gigabitethernet 1/0/1
stp disable
! Deactivating  STP only on  Continue reading

ONS2014 SDN Idol finalist demonstrations

ONS2014 Announces Finalists for SDN Idol 2014 provides some sFlow related trivia relating to the finalists. 

Slovak Air Force MiG-29 with 2008 Digital Camoflage, 1/48

For best article visual quality, open Slovak Air Force MiG-29 with 2008 Digital Camoflage, 1/48 directly at NetworkGeekStuff.

I am failing to find words to describe this very beautiful 1/48 scale model, but this one is simply very special for me. First reason is that as a Slovak national, it was very enjoyable to be able to build this majestic plane. Second reason is that I was able to finally incorporate proper pre-shading technique along with manually painted (with painfully detailed masking) of the digital camouflage pattern this plane uses. The painting of this one actually took me two weeks of work every evening (yes, I have full time job, so that is the best I can have). Because this plane is so special for me , I will also make this article a little bit different as well. So this time it will not be only a simple few picture gallery, but I will actually go a little bit over the construction right after that.

MiG-29AS in Slovak Air Force
(super quick history)

Slovak Air Force MiG29 – plane number #0921

The Mikoyan MiG-29 (Russian: Микоян МиГ-29; NATO reporting name: “Fulcrum“) is a fourth-generation jet fighter Continue reading

Network Flavors in OpenDaylight

OpenStack uses the concept of flavors to define compute/storage configurations that vary in terms of resource consumption. When we start to consume the network as a resource pool, we need a similar concept. This post explains how this is achieved in the context of the Flavors application in the OpenDaylight project

Network Flavors in OpenDaylight

OpenStack uses the concept of flavors to define compute/storage configurations that vary in terms of resource consumption. When we start to consume the network as a resource pool, we need a similar concept. This post explains how this is achieved in the context of the Flavors application in the OpenDaylight project

Fallacies of Distributed Computing

If you haven't read the Fallacies of Distributed Computing you should. Specifically points 2 and 3.

2) Latency is Zero 3) Bandwidth is Infinite

The truth is that not all networks are created equally. We may have some pools of 2:1, 4:1, 8:1 oversubscribed fabric. We may links between data centers at varying bandwidths and costs to the business.

In a cloud network, we can increase our ROI by charging out portions of the network based on their actual cost to the business, but to do this we need to model the network appropriately. Applications also need to consume networking in an abstract way, and the concept of using Flavors as this abstraction is an interesting prospect.

Problem Statement

The problem is that todays cloud networking solutions (OpenDaylight included) are based on "Overlay Networks". The Overlay Network solution only assumes L3 reachability between tunnel endpoints Continue reading

Network Flavors in OpenDaylight

OpenStack uses the concept of flavors to define compute/storage configurations that vary in terms of resource consumption. When we start to consume the network as a resource pool, we need a similar concept. This post explains how this is achieved in the context of the Flavors application in the OpenDaylight project