Driving 10 Gigabit Ethernet Adoption in the Data Center

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INTRODUCTION

Driving 10 Gigabit Ethernet Adoption

in the Data Center

Data volumes and network bandwidth consumed by data centers double every 18 months while devices

accessing networks double every 2.5 years. To support this thirst for data, a corresponding advance in

network bandwidth needs to occur. Given that Ethernet has become the networking infrastructure of not

only the Internet, but also information service delivery to corporations of all sizes, the logical answer is

migration to the next advance in Ethernet—10 Gigabit Ethernet.

What’s driving the evolution to 10 Gigabit Ethernet? The drive comes from advances in other information

technologies—multi-core processors, virtualized environments, advances in storage architectures, server

clustering and consolidation, new forms of information delivery using the Internet, and the next wave of

digital media content. Associated with these technological advances is the advance in networking itself

that is making 10 Gigabit Ethernet affordable across the network from the core to the edge.

Intel and Extreme Networks

are two companies leading the evolution to 10 Gigabit Ethernet

adoption. Intel

10 Gigabit Ethernet Server Adapters provide fast and reliable connections for high-

performance servers and workstations. These adapters have been designed for multi-core processors,

optimized for virtualization, and provide support for unified networking over Ethernet. Extreme

Networks provides 10 Gigabit Ethernet networking solutions for layer 2 and layer 3 switching in

both modular and fixed configurations. Extreme Networks versatile design for these configurations

offers customers a choice while providing an excellent migration path from existing Gigabit Ethernet

network infrastructures. By combining 10 Gigabit Ethernet technology from Intel and Extreme

Networks, customers can realize the advantages of 10 Gigabit Ethernet today at affordable costs in

seamless migration and coexistence with their existing Ethernet data center network.

Summary of content (8 pages)

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w h i t e p a p e r Driving 10 Gigabit Ethernet Adoption in the Data Center Introduction Data volumes and network bandwidth consumed by data centers double every 18 months while devices accessing networks double every 2.5 years. To support this thirst for data, a corresponding advance in network bandwidth needs to occur.
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D r i v i n g 1 0 G i g a b i t E t h e r n e t A d o p t i o n i n t h e D at a C e n t e r Motivation Driving 10 Gigabit Ethernet Today, most server, desktop, and laptop systems come standard with Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. It has become natural for us to just “plug into” a Gigabit Ethernet network. Although 10 Gigabit Ethernet has been around since 2002, its adoption has been limited to the core of data center networks. That is, until now.
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D r i v i n g 1 0 G i g a b i t E t h e r n e t A d o p t i o n i n t h e D at a C e n t e r Ethernet-based Storage Ethernet-based storage offerings provide huge volumes of connected data at attractive prices.
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D r i v i n g 1 0 G i g a b i t E t h e r n e t A d o p t i o n i n t h e D at a C e n t e r The Solution Optimized for multi-core processors Moving to a 10 Gigabit Ethernet environment has never been easier. With solutions available from Intel and Extreme Networks, deploying 10 Gigabit Ethernet in both copper and fiber infrastructures in the data center is both affordable and efficient.
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D r i v i n g 1 0 G i g a b i t E t h e r n e t A d o p t i o n i n t h e D at a C e n t e r Direct Assignment VM1 Emulation VM2 VM4 VM3 vSwitch VMM VM1 VM2 Port 2 Port 1 Intel® Ethernet Adapter with Intel® VT-c Figure 3: Intel® Virtualization Technology for Connectivity provides direct assignment and switch emulation modes.
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D r i v i n g 1 0 G i g a b i t E t h e r n e t A d o p t i o n i n t h e D at a C e n t e r Summit X650 is ideal as a top-of-rack switch for data center server connectivity. Correspondingly, the BlackDiamond 8800 is well suited as an end-of-row switch, aggregating edge and core connectivity in the data center.
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D r i v i n g 1 0 G i g a b i t E t h e r n e t A d o p t i o n i n t h e D at a C e n t e r ExtremeXOS Conclusion Common to both the BlackDiamond 8800 and the Summit X650 is a modular OS: ExtremeXOS. With one OS supporting Extreme Networks entire product switching portfolio, configuring and maintaining the network environment has never been simpler.
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F o r M o r e I n f o r ma t i o n Intel ® Ethernet: www.intel.com/go/ethernet Extreme Networks ®: www.extremenetworks.com Intel ® 10 Gigabit Ethernet Server adapters: www.intel.com/go/10Gbe Intel ® Virtualization Technology for Connectivity: www.intel.com/go/vtc Intel may make changes to specifications and product descriptions at any time, without notice. Designers must not rely on the absence or characteristics of any features or instructions marked “reserved” or “undefined.