ToR: Overview
Data centers are undergoing a fundamental shift. Application developments and server virtualization are causing IT to seek a more flexible, efficient, and available infrastructure that can dynamically adapt to the needs of the business. To achieve this vision, data center architectures are changing to become more modular, so that data center managers can easily add racks of servers by adding racks that are precabled to a top-of-rack (ToR) switch and then connected to aggregation-layer switches using fiber-optic cables.
To deliver the necessary bandwidth, servers will transition to 10 Gigabit Ethernet in the short term for server and interswitch connectivity. The transition to 10 Gigabit Ethernet will also enable the adoption of a unified fabric using FCoE when organizations are ready to take advantage of the technology to achieve further efficiencies within the data center.
The modular approach improves data center design, deployment, and operations flexibility and increases efficiency and responsiveness, reducing overall capital expenditures (CapEx) and operating expenses (OpEx). The ToR architecture suits the modular approach and enables rack-and-roll deployment for further modularity and flexibility at the rack level. The ToR network and cabling architecture model enables a graceful transition from Gigabit Ethernet to 10 Gigabit Ethernet attached servers and provides infrastructure readiness for future adoption of 40 and 100 Gigabit Ethernet server and switch-to-switch connectivity without the need to change the cabling plant.
ToR implementations should address:
- Support for storage devices (Fibre Channel, Small Computer System Interface [SCSI] or NAS, FCoE, etc.)
- Support for convergence and unified fabric with growth factors incorporated
- Reliability, scalability, and redundancy
- High-capacity and high-density server access requirements
- Flexibility and expandability with easy access for moves, additions, and changes
- Migration from Gigabit Ethernet to 10 Gigabit Ethernet server connectivity with future support for 40 and 100 Gigabit Ethernet
- Cabling architecture balance with power, cooling, structural loading, management, and operations needs
With Ixia's ToR solutions, you can:
- Accelerate time to market by conducting functional tests early in the development lifecycle
- Compare performance of different blade servers, cabling, and appliances using Ixia's test wizards, industry-leading automation, and performance benchmarking test suites
- Check 40GE readiness with Ixia's K2 product line
- Confirm application
- Address scalability, functionality, and redundancy with IxNetwork
- Address virtualization concerns using IxVM
"Top-of-rack switching is the hottest segment of data center networking right now. The 10G Ethernet market was $1.4 billion in the second quarter, and top-of-rack switching accounted for 55% of the 1.4 million ports shipped, according to Dell'Oro Group."
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