Brocade IP Fabrics Data Sheet

DATA SHEET
Brocade IP Fabrics
HIGHLIGHTS
••
Delivers superior scalability—up to
500,000 servers for large- to megascale data center pods—by leveraging
a cloud-proven, standard BGP-based
architecture
••Enables workload mobility, security,
and segmentation through standardsbased, controller-less BGP-EVPN or
controller-based network virtualization
options
••Ensures seamless integration in VMware
environments with NSX network
virtualization support and certifications
••Optimizes operational agility with
Brocade Workflow Composer, a network
automation platform that enables
cross-domain workflows for turnkey,
customizable, or do-it-yourself network
workflow automation—all supported in
multivendor network environments
Brocade IP Fabrics Fuel Automated Cloud Data Center
Scale and Agility
Brocade® IP fabrics leverage proven, open-standards protocols and
deliver superior automation and scalability to address the rapidly changing
requirements facing cloud data centers. Based on a cloud-proven,
standard BGP-based design, these fabrics bring the best practices of
mega-scale data center automation and expansion to any data center.
They enable open programmability and integration with commonly-used
open-source tools, providing an evolutionary approach to data center
automation and cloud optimization that allows organizations to address
their needs at their own pace. To ease the transition to IP fabrics and
automation, organizations can leverage Brocade Workflow Composer,
a network automation platform that enables cross-domain workflow
automation. It provides turnkey workflows for IP fabric provisioning,
validation, upgrades, and troubleshooting which can also be customized
for unique business needs.
Brocade Data Center Design Stack
••Reduces maintenance time and costs
through Brocade Workflow Composer
automation workflows supporting fast IP
fabric and BGP EVPN provisioning and
validation, intelligent in-service upgrades
and event-driven troubleshooting with
auto-remediation
Controller-based
(VMware NSX, VXLAN)
Virtualization
Controller-less
(BGP-EVPN, VXLAN)
Automation
••Leverages the power of DevOps
methodologies, popular open-source
technologies, industry best practices,
and a thriving technical community for
peer collaboration and innovation
••Enables cloud orchestration and control
through OpenStack integrations,
VMware vRealize plugins, and
OpenDaylight-based SDN controller
support
Fabrics
Platforms
Automation
(Python, Ansible, Puppet,YANG model REST and Netconf,
OpenStack, VMware vRealize plugins, OpenFlow)
Layer 2 Optimized Fabric
Layer 3 Optimized Fabric
Brocade Network OS
Brocade VDX Switches
Figure 1: Brocade enables an open, standards-based approach to data center design.
3 Stage Clos
SPINE
ECMP
CORE
EDGE
LEAF
LEAF
Figure 2: A Brocade IP fabric can be deployed in a three-stage Clos network with single-homed servers or, for additional resilience, dual-homed
servers using vLAGs.
As an integral part of the Brocade open,
standards-based approach to data
center design (see Figure 1), IP fabrics are
optimized for Layer 3 deployments of up
to 500,000 servers, and support flexible
network virtualization options to enable
seamless workload mobility, security,
and segmentation within and across data
centers.
Enabling High Scalability and
Resilience
Brocade IP fabrics deliver scalable
performance with ease, leveraging the
popular IP Clos architecture with Equal
Cost Multi-Path (ECMP) routing. Brocade
VDX® switches in a spine-leaf deployment
serve as the building blocks of a Brocade
IP fabric, providing a non-blocking and
scalable framework. Based on open
standards and a cloud-proven BGP
2
architecture, IP fabrics offer flexibility for
maximum interoperability. Data center
administrators can easily add spine
and leaf devices as needed to increase
path diversity and bandwidth for east–
west traffic, enabling higher application
performance and resilience.
Spine-leaf Clos networks have threestages: an ingress stage, a middle stage,
and an egress stage. There are multiple
paths for traffic to be switched through the
non-blocking spine, ensuring resilience
and peak application performance. In this
spine-leaf architecture, the number of
uplinks from a leaf switch is equivalent to
the number of spine switches. Similarly,
the number of downlinks from the spine is
equivalent to the number of leaf switches.
The total number of connections is the
number of leaf switches multiplied by the
number of spine switches. Servers can be
connected to the leaf switches in either a
single-homed manner or, for additional
resilience, in a dual-homed manner
using virtual Link Aggregation Groups, or
vLAGs (see Figure 2).
Organizations requiring even greater
scale can build a Brocade IP fabric
optimized five-stage Clos super-spine
network. A super-spine network consists
of multiple spine-leaf data center pods
that are connected through a third set of
higher-level spine switches (see Figure
3). As with a standard IP fabric, a superspine network supports highly resilient
and redundant connections. In short,
these are multiple three-stage Clos pods
interconnected with a super spine, creating
a larger, optimized five-stage Clos fabric
with Layer 3 connectivity between pods.
5 Stage Clos
SUPER SPINE
ECMP
CORE
SPINE
ECMP
ECMP
LEAF
Compute
Compute
Compute
DC POD 1
Compute
Compute
Compute
Compute
Compute
DC POD N
Figure 3: Brocade IP fabrics can be deployed in an optimized five-stage Clos network with single-homed or dual-homed servers for maximum scale.
Brocade IP fabrics deliver unprecedented
scale, enabling cloud architects to plan
their networks for current usage as well
as future growth (see Table 1). For more
information about Brocade IP fabrics,
read the white paper Brocade Data
Center Fabric Architectures: Building the
foundation for a cloud-optimized data
center.
Turnkey Automation for the Entire
Network Lifecycle
Brocade IP fabrics leverage Brocade
Workflow Composer, a network
automation platform that enables crossdomain workflows with turnkey workflow
automation for IP fabric provisioning,
validation, upgrades, troubleshooting,
and auto-remediation. Brocade Workflow
Composer automates the entire network
lifecycle to accelerate time to value and
reduce operational costs. With Brocade
Workflow Composer, IP fabric and BGP
EVPN deployment times are reduced
from days to just minutes through
automated provisioning of network
devices and network virtualization (see
Figure 4), delivering an out-of-the-box
experience that allows administrators
to deploy services with minimal effort.
High availability and performance are
ensured through automated validation
of IP interfaces, BGP peers, and IP
routes based on IP fabric best practices.
Configuration upgrades are simplified
through intelligent in-service upgrade
workflows to reduce ongoing maintenance
time and costs.
Brocade Workflow Composer also
delivers high levels of network resiliency
with troubleshooting workflows and
auto-remediation actions in response to
pre-configured sensors. For example,
Brocade Workflow Composer could use
a sensor to continually review switch port
health in a data center IP fabric network.
If a sensor detects an intermittent failure
on a switch port, it triggers a corrective
action workflow, achieving a closed
loop remediation to prevent any human
involvement at all. Collective intelligence
added over time empowers Brocade
Workflow Composer to identify and
seamlessly respond to known conditions
or deliver alerts for less common issues.
Eliminating human involvement in timeconsuming and often error-prone network
changes enables IT operations to be
more responsive and focus on innovation,
rather than routine maintenance and
troubleshooting.
Open Interfaces Enable Cloud
Agility and Innovation
To optimize operations and improve
agility, Brocade IP fabrics support
open-source, community-preferred
technologies to deliver automation.
Brocade Workflow Composer is built
on an open, extensible, microservicesbased framework that leverages the
power of DevOps methodologies, popular
open-source technologies, industry
best practices, and a thriving technical
community for peer collaboration and
innovation. With the highly extensible
Brocade Workflow Composer framework,
Brocade or third-party-developed
workflows can be executed on multivendor physical or virtual networking
3
Table 1: Physical server scale is a function of which Clos model is used and which Brocade VDX switches are deployed at the leaf, spine, and
super-spine levels.
Three-Stage Clos Brocade IP Fabric Physical Scale
Spine Switch
VDX 6940-36Q
VDX 8770-4
VDX 8770-8
36
72
144
10 GbE Server Port Scale
(Option 1: VDX 6740 leaf)
1,728
3,456
6,912
10 GbE Server Port Scale
(Option 2: VDX 6940-144S leaf)
3,456
6,912
13,824
Rack Scale
Five-Stage Clos Brocade IP Fabric Physical Scale
Super Spine
VDX 6940-36Q
VDX 8770-4
VDX 8770-8
Spine Switch
VDX 6940-36Q
VDX 8770-4
VDX 8770-8
648
2,592
10,368
31,104
124,416
497,664
Rack Scale
10 GbE Server Port Scale
(VDX 6740 leaf)
Brocade
Workflow
Composer
Public ASN
eBGP
eBGP
Private ASN
DC
Core
Spine
Leaf
Edge Leaf
Figure 4: Brocade Workflow Composer executes customizable turnkey workflows for IP fabric provisioning, validation, upgrades, troubleshooting, and
auto-remediation.
4
Workflows
Visual Flow
Web GUI
CLI
ChatOps
User
Interfaces
Composable
Services
Credential /
Authorization
Workflow
Engine
Device
Inventory
Data Store
Rules
Engine
REST API
Action
Action
Audit
Message Bus
Sensors /
Actions
Sensor
Systems
Sensor
Devices
Tools
Figure 5: Brocade Workflow Composer’s workflow-centric, cross-domain network automation architecture.
platforms using community-preferred
technologies and services.
Brocade Workflow Composer provides
customizable turnkey automation
workflows along with support for
community-preferred tools such as
Python, Ansible, Puppet, Mistral, and
YANG model-based REST and Netconf
APIs. Together, these automated
workflows and open tools enable
straightforward customization and
extensibility for optimized delivery of
current and future cross-domain IT
services. Brocade Workflow Composer
also leverages StackStorm technology
including over 1000 customizable sensors
and actions for popular platforms and
applications to get any IT organization up
and running with automation quickly.
With this open, workflow-centric
approach, Brocade Workflow Composer
enables automation across the entire
network lifecycle—from initial provisioning,
configuration, and validation to
troubleshooting and remediation with
event-driven automation.
Moreover, cloud orchestration and control
through OpenStack integrations, VMware
vRealize plugins, and OpenDaylightbased SDN controller support enable
full network integration with compute
and storage resource provisioning and
management.
Cross-Domain Network
Automation for Multivendor
Platforms
Brocade Workflow Composer takes a
workflow-centric, cross-domain approach
to bringing network automation into IT
operations. Whether an organization
is just beginning or well along the path
to digital transformation, Brocade
Workflow Composer provides turnkey,
customizable, or do-it-yourself network
workflow automation that suits a wide
range of business needs. This workflow
automation addresses all stages of
network lifecycle management and easily
integrates with tool chains and processes
from other IT domains. Brocade Workflow
Composer utilizes a logic engine and
services that include customizable If This
Then That (IFTTT) logic, which responds
to Brocade Workflow Composer’s
customizable code-based sensors and
workflows to determine and execute
actions (see Figure 5). A highly flexible
solution, Brocade Workflow Composer
supports multivendor environments and
enables IT organizations of all sizes to
improve IT agility through automation,
integration, and innovation.
5
AUTOMATION ON YOUR TERMS
Brocade Global Services
Affordable Acquisition Options
Brocade IP fabrics leverage Brocade
Workflow Composer to enable IT
organizations of all sizes to transition to
automation at their own pace.
Brocade Global Services has the
expertise to help organizations build
scalable, efficient cloud infrastructures.
Leveraging 20 years of expertise in
storage, networking, and virtualization,
Brocade Global Services delivers worldclass professional services, technical
support, and education services,
enabling organizations to maximize
their Brocade investments, accelerate
new technology deployments, and
optimize the performance of networking
infrastructures.
Brocade Capital Solutions helps
organizations easily address their IT
requirements by offering flexible network
acquisition and support alternatives.
Organizations can select from purchase,
lease, Brocade Network Subscription,
and Brocade Subscription Plus
options to align network acquisition
with their unique capital requirements
and risk profiles. To learn more, visit
www.nonetworkcapex.com.
An Evolutionary Approach Yields
Revolutionary Results
The process of automating infrastructure
involves various steps that deliver
great value but require advancements
in technology, skills, and processes.
While some organizations are farther
along in this process, many are seeking
ways to get started by using their
existing skills, resources, or investment.
Brocade Workflow Composer enables IT
organizations of any size to transition to
automation at their own pace.
••Automate cross-domain network
workflows: Develop and execute your
automation strategy at your own pace
with turnkey, customizable, or do-ityourself network workflow automation
that easily integrates with your existing
tool chains—all supported in multivendor
network environments.
••Innovate and optimize network
operations: Leverage the power of
proven DevOps methods, popular
open-source technologies, industry
best practices, and a thriving technical
community for peer collaboration and
innovation.
••Accelerate time to value and reduce
operational costs: Easily automate
the entire network lifecycle including
provisioning, configuration validation,
and troubleshooting and remediation
with event-driven automation.
6
Maximizing Investments
To help optimize technology investments,
Brocade and its partners offer complete
solutions that include professional
services, technical support, and education.
For more information, contact a Brocade
sales partner or visit www.brocade.com.
Brocade IP Fabric Specifications
General
Operating system
Layer 2 switching
Layer 3 switching
Automation and programmability
Multitenancy and virtualization
High availability
Brocade Network OS, a modular operating system
••Service Node Load Balancing
••BFD/ARP Optimizations
••Conversational MAC Learning
••Virtual Link Aggregation Group (vLAG)
••Layer 2 Access Control Lists (ACLs)
••Edge Loop Detection (ELD)
••Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) RFC 826
availability/In-Service Software Upgrade—
••High
hardware-enabled
••IGMP v1/v2 Snooping
••MAC Learning and Aging
Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) IEEE
••Link
802.3ad/802.1AX
••Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs)
••Border Gateway Protocol (BGP4+)
••DHCP Helper
••Layer 3 ACLs
••Multicast: PIM-SM, IGMPv2
••OSPF v2/v3
••Static routes
••IPv4/v6 ACL
••Policy-Based Routing (PBR)
••Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD)
••32-Way ECMP
••VRF Lite
••VRF-aware OSPF, BGP, VRRP, static routes
••VRRP v2 and v3
••VRRP-E
••IPv4/IPv6 dual stack
••IPv6 ACL packet filtering
••Brocade Workflow Composer
••DHCP automatic fabric provisioning
••OpenFlow 1.3
••REST API with YANG data model
••Puppet
••Python
IP Fabric Gateway for NSX with VMware
••Brocade
NSX Orchestration
••NSX-V Certification
••ISSU L2 and L3
••BFD
••L2 Loop prevention in an overlay environment
••VLAN Encapsulation 802.1Q
••Private VLANs
••Per-VLAN Spanning Tree (PVST+/PVRST+)
••Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) 802.1w
••Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP) 802.1s
••STP PortFast, BPDU Guard, BPDU Filter
••STP Root Guard
••Pause Frames 802.3x
••Static MAC Configuration
••Uni-Directional Link Detection (UDLD)
••BUM Storm Control
••BGP Additional Path
••BGP GTSM
••BGP Peer Auto Shutdown
••Multicast refactoring
••IPv6 routing
••OSPF Type-3 LSA Filter
routing for IPv4 and IPv6 using any
••Wire-speed
routing protocol
••BGP EVPN Control Plane Signaling RFC 7432
••BGP-EVPN VXLAN Standard Based Overlay
••Multi-VRF
••IP Unnumbered Interface
••Intersubnet Routing (Symmetric and Asymmetric)
••IP over Port Channel
••Static Anycast Gateway
••ARP Suppression
••PyNOS Libraries
••Ansible
••Mistral
••vRealize Operations and vRealize Log Insight
••NetConf API
••Automatic Migration of Port Profiles (AMPP)
••OSPF3-NSR
••BGP4-GR
7
Brocade IP Fabric Specifications (continued)
Quality of Service (QoS)
••ACL-based QoS
••Eight priority levels for QoS
••Class of Service (CoS) IEEE 802.1p
••DSCP Trust
••DSCP to Traffic Class Mutation
••DSCP to CoS Mutation
••DSCP to DSCP Mutation
••Random Early Discard
••Per-port QoS configuration
••ACL-based Rate Limit
••Dual-rate, three-color token bucket
••ACL-based remarking of CoS/DSCP/Precedence
••ACL-based sFlow
Strict Priority (SP), Deficit Weighted
••Scheduling:
Round-Robin (DWRR), Hybrid Scheduling
••IPv4/IPv6 management
••Industry-standard Command Line Interface (CLI)
••Netconf API
••REST API with YANG data model
••Brocade VDX Plugin for OpenStack
Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) IEEE
••Link
802.1AB
••MIB II RFC 1213 MIB
••Switch Beaconing
••Management VRF
••Switched Port Analyzer (SPAN)
••Telnet
••SNMP v1, v2C, v3
••Port-based Network Access Control 802.1X
••RADIUS (AAA)
••TACACS+
••Secure Shell (SSHv2)
••sFlow RFC 3176
••Out-of-band management
••Remote SPAN (RSPAN)
••RMON-1, RMON-2
••NTP
••Management Access Control Lists (ACLs)
••Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
••Range CLI support
••UDLD
••OpenStack Neutron ML2 plugin
••Python
••Puppet
(Hybrid)
••Queue-based Shaping
••Flow-based QoS
Management
Management and monitoring
Security
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••BPDU Drop
••Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)
••Secure Copy Protocol
••Port Security
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