Top-of-Rack Switch Configuration for Rapid Virtual Network Provisioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data centers face challenges in deploying IT infrastructure quickly due to long provisioning times and difficulty in accurately forecasting bandwidth and compute resource requirements, often leading to over-provisioning.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a switch configuration manager that automates the configuration of top-of-rack switches within a data center network fabric, allowing customers to rapidly deploy virtual networks and connect groups of racks using a user interface and API, enabling fast deployment of IT infrastructure and network connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual configuration methods are used for top-of-rack switches, then network connectivity can be established, but deployment time extends beyond 48 hours
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary configuration actions by pre-storing network configuration templates and parameters in the switch configuration manager before actual deployment. When a virtual network is created, the system rapidly applies these pre-prepared configurations to multiple top-of-rack switches simultaneously, enabling deployment within 48 hours without manual intervention for each switch.
2Loss of time
If automated configuration is implemented to speed up deployment, then provisioning time is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The switch configuration manager acts as an intermediary between the virtual network controller and the top-of-rack switches. It receives virtual network identification information, retrieves appropriate configuration parameters from stored templates, and automatically applies configurations to multiple switches. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity from users while enabling rapid automated deployment within 48 hours.
3Adaptability or versatility
If custom network configurations are allowed for each customer, then network versatility is improved, but configuration management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments network configurations into standardized templates stored in the switch configuration manager, each template representing a specific network type or customer requirement. When a customer needs a custom configuration, they select from these segmented templates rather than configuring each parameter individually. This segmentation maintains versatility while reducing management complexity through the automated switch configuration manager.
Data Source
AI summary
Top-of-rack (TOR) switches are connected to a network fabric of a data center. Each TOR switch corresponds to a respective rack of the data center, and is configured to provide access to the network fabric for computing devices mounted in the respective rack. A request is received, from a client device via a portal, to configure a first rack of the data center. Configuration data is received, from the client device, for a first virtual network to be accessed by a first computing device mounted in the first rack. In response to receiving the configuration data, a first TOR switch of the first rack is configured, which includes associating the first virtual network with the first TOR switch.