HP Data Center Interconnect Solution - HP Networking

BrochureUnify datacenters. Likenever before.HP Data Center Interconnect Solution

How do you connect globally-locateddata centers?You have multiple data centers located globally. You wish to evolveyour virtualized data center environment. To do this, you need tobring all the data centers located in different parts of the worldtogether. The need to extend and deliver “Infrastructure as aservice” to bring globally-located data centers together is becomingimportant and a mission critical design tenant.Business and IT requirements driving the need for datacenter LANextension include:Datacenter expansion and/or consolidation: Migration ofapplications from one data center to another without businessdowntime caused by data center migration, maintenance, orconsolidation.Virtualized server workload mobility: Eighty percent ofx86 servers workloads will be running in virtual machines (VMs)by 2016. 1 Migrating virtual machines (VM) between datacentersprovide compute power from data centers closer to the clients(“follow-the-sun”) or to load balance across multiple sites. So, ifyou have multiple sites, you can conserve power and reduce coolingcosts by dynamically consolidating virtual machines in fewer datacenters. Long-distance live VM migration enables the movement ofa running VM from one data center location to another over WANs,with no loss of service to the application users.Business continuity and disaster avoidance: Datacenter designsneed to be able to proactively migrate mission-critical applicationsto globally-located data centers in preparation for manmade andnatural disasters. Long-distance live VM migration enables an ITorganization to move workloads in anticipation of a disaster withoutthe downtime that is typically required when performing a failoverfrom one data center to another.All your data centers work as oneHP Data Center Interconnect (DCI) is an innovativetransport-agnostic solution that extends Layer 2 networkconnectivity across globally-located data center locations. Itenables several data centers to work as one and be more responsivewhile delivering higher efficiency, availability, and businessresiliency. With HP DCI , you will be able to migrate live serverworkloads, increase applications performance with load balancing,and achieve optimum degree of HA, and disaster avoidance to enablebusiness continuity.1Source: “Virtualization Key Initiative Overview”, Gartner, 22 July 2011.Figure 1: HP DCI extends Layer 2 connectivity across DWDM, MPLS/VPLS, or IP-based transportsLong-distanceWorkload MobilityLong-distanceData MobilityDisasterRecoveryDR/BusinessContinuityVM VM VM VM VMVM VM VMVM VM VMHypervisorVirtualized Data Center 1Ethernet ExtensionAny TransportVM VM VMVM VM VMHypervisorVirtualized Data Center 2Deploy over ExistingNetworkNo RedesignRequiredFive Configuration Stepsper SiteAutomatic FaultIsolation2

What the transport options inHP Data Center Interconnect technology?Ethernet LAN extension: This option extends Ethernet natively overa dark fiber or dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM)optical transport. It extends VLANs between remote sites byleveraging multi chassis EtherChannels established between devicesdeployed in different sites. As such, this solution mostly appliesto point-to-point deployments, where the sites are connected viadedicated dark fiber links or protected DWDM optical circuits. HPNetworking products that support this Ethernet LAN Extensionoption include the HP 12500, 10500 series switches and HP 8800,6600 series routers.Multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) Point-to-Point or Multipointusing MPLS or VPLS: This option uses MPLS technologies to provideL2 connectivity services over a L3 network service. Depending onthe nature of the transport infrastructure between data center sitesand the number of data center sites to be interconnected, differenttechnologies can address the connectivity requirements. HPNetworking products that support MPLS/VPLS include the HP 12500,10500 series switches, and HP 8800, 6600 series routers.Ethernet virtual interconnect (EVI): This IP-based solution optionis extremely useful in simplifying data center interconnect.Transmission between datacenters over DWDM or MPLS can becomplex to manage and is often highly dependent upon costlydedicated and rigid service provider’s infrastructures. In contrast,EVI runs over IP infrastructure so it can be deployed withoutrequiring changes to an existing infrastructure. This characteristicsimplifies deployment by allowing Layer 2 connectivity acrossthe network without having to deal with Layer 3 networkingdependencies. EVI is currently supported by the HP 12500 seriesswitch.3

Figure 2: HP Multi-tenant Device Context can logically partition a single physical device into many virtual devices.Finance Legal Marketing R & dFinance Marketing • Complete secureR & d Legalisolation of tenants• Increased resiliency• Simplied management• Reduced conguration errors• Reduced power, cooling andspaceExtending the multi-tenant cloudAn emerging and related datacenter requirement is the ability tologically partition a single physical device, such as the HP 12500,into many virtual devices.This capability—referred to as multi-tenancy, gives anadministrator the flexibility to set-up multiple customers or lines ofbusiness on the same physical hardware while ensuring dedicatedand discrete management, security and network services separationand isolation from other “tenants”.EVI can be deployed in conjunction with the new HP innovation calledmulti-tenant device context (MDC) which allows the partitioningof a single physical HP 12500 into multiple logical devices. Eachof these “virtual devices” can be allocated its own resourcesand quality of service. Each virtual device can also be assignedits own configuration files, management interfaces, and access.Administrators can define virtual routing and forwarding instance(VRF) names and VLAN IDs independent of those used in other MDCssafely with the knowledge that MDCs maintain their own uniquesoftware processes, configuration, and data-plane forwardingtables.Each HP 12500 can logically divided into four virtual switches witheach MDC having up to 32 separate EVI sessions establishedacross up to eight data centers. This extends multi-tenancy acrossglobally-located datacenters.Enhance EVI capabilities with HP IRFEVI can also take full advantage of HP Intelligent ResilientFramework (IRF) switch virtualization technology. IRF extends thecontrol plane across multiple active switches, increasing resiliencyand reducing complexity. IRF overcomes the limitations of legacyspanning-tree based (STP) network designs by providing active/active and rapid failover for delay-sensitive, mission-criticalapplications; thus dramatically improving network utilization andperformance.In fact, recent IRF testing conducting by Network Test demonstratedthat IRF was able to double (2X) VM application performance,improve VM workload mobility transit time by 80 percent andimprove VM failover recovery times by up to 500x. 2These IRF performance and resiliency benefits provide an optimizedarchitecture that ensures your data is moving quickly and reliabilitywithin and between geographically dispersed data centers.2Source: “FlexNetwork architecture delivers higher speed, lower downtime withHP IRF technology,” Network Test, August 2011. Please seehttp://www3.networktest.com/hpirf/hpirf1.pdf.HP MDC may deliver up to 75 percent reduction in cost andcomplexity by using less physical infrastructure to supportthe customer and service requirements. For example, where adata center operator may have needed to purchase, deploy, andmanage 4 discrete L2/L3 core switches to support 4 separatecustomer requirements, HP MDC allows a single physical device to bepartitioned into many virtual devices.4

Figure 3: EVI and MDC use case for private cloud data centerCloudBurstingLong-distance Workload& Data MobilityDisaster Recovery &Business ContinuityVM VM VM VMVM VM VMVM VM VMHypervisorVM VM VM VMVM VM VM VMVM VM VM VM VMVM VM VMVM VM VMHypervisorEthernet ExtensionPrivate Cloud 1Any TransportPrivate Cloud 275% Reduction ofDevices Lowers CostDCI in minutes frommonths80% fastervMotion w/IRF*500X faster vMotionfailover w/IRF*Simplify data center connectivity withHP Ethernet Virtual InterconnectYou can avoid a network redesign with EVI because it is an overlaytechnology and works over any existing network transport suchas Internet, private IP network or MPLS. With just five commandsper site required, EVI can be enabled in a matter of minutes overexisting networks, compared to the disruption caused by legacy DCIsolutions that take months of redesign, deployment planning, anddevice configuration.HP EVI is the industry’s only overlay data center interconnecttechnology that enables you to connect up to eight globally-locateddata centers and supports over four thousand virtual LANs (VLANs).EVI delivers simplified connectivity across multiple data centers witha few simple clicks, enabling all resources in multiple data centersto be linked within minutes rather than months, automaticallysynchronizing the data center with all other sites.Legacy data center interconnect technologies are eithercomplicated and time consuming to implement or can be architectedfor single tenant. Complex and costly licensing schemes also makeit more expensive to implement. With HP EVI, which is offeredlicense-free, up to 56 percent cost savings can be realized versuscompetitive offerings. 3By combining HP EVI with MDC, you can benefit from simplified andfaster data center interconnectivity over any existing network andalso simultaneously deliver multitenancy needed for private cloudenvironments across multiple globally-located data centers.3Source: Based on list price comparison of base configuration HP 12508 with EVI versusour largest competitor’s similar offering.5

Table 1: Comparison of data center interconnect technologies and HP EVIDCI Feature VPLS Competitor offering HP EVIEnd-to-End Loop-free without STP √ √ √Failure Domain Isolation √ √ √Multi-pathing and Load-balancing√Independent of Infrastructure MPLS required Multicast required √Multi-DC Interconnectivity √ √ Up to 6 √ Up to 8Active/Active Physical Redundancy√Large Number of VLANs 256 √ 512 √ 4KNumber of Network Instances 10 per Nexus 7000 32 per MDCBy combining HP EVI with MDC, you can benefit from simplified andfaster data center interconnectivity over any existing network andalso simultaneously deliver multitenancy needed for private cloudenvironments across multiple globally-located data centers.HP Data Center Interconnect—Realbenefits for your businessSeamless server workload mobility: HP Data Center Interconnectestablishes reliable connections between data centers that serveas a platform for fast and reliable vMotion transport betweenremote data centers. The added speed and reliability of vMotionenhance the value of workload mobility and make applications moreavailable to users.Business resiliency: HP Data Center Interconnect provides active/active links between data centers. Along with HP IRF, DCI establishesreliable connectivity with link aggregation that doubles (2X) VMapplication performance improves VM workload mobility transittime by 80 percent and improves VM failover recovery times by upto 500x. 2Investment protection: HP DCI is a transport-agnostic solutionand works with your existing networking infrastructure withoutrequiring changes. This protects networking investments and allowseasy and seamless deployment.6

Deployment flexibility: HP DCI extends Layer 2 across networksand can accommodate your existing infrastructure and EVI canhelp reduce data center interconnectivity setup time from monthsto minutesDecreased cost, increased operational efficiency: HP DCI helpsyou get the most value of networks by providing a platform for newservices while increasing business agility, resiliency, and efficiencyacross the enterprise.With HP MDC, you can expect up to a 75 percent reduction in physicalinfrastructure elements and cost by virtualizing one physical switch,rather than having to deploy multiple devices in the datacenter.Bring all your data centers together. Seamlessly. To know more, visithp.com/networking/dciGlobal citizenship at HPAt HP, global citizenship is our commitment to hold ourselves tohigh standards of integrity, contribution, and accountability inbalancing our business goals with our impact on society and theplanet. To learn more, visit hp.com/hpinfo/globalcitizenship,and for information about HP environmental programs, go tohp.com/environmentIn summary, the HP Datacenter Interconnect solution with EVI andMDC delivers multi-tenant cloud data center interconnectivity inminutes vs. months, ensuring business reliability, security andagility, while lowering cost and simplifying operations.7

Get connectedhp.com/go/getconnectedGet the insider view on tech trends,support alerts, and HP solutions.© Copyright 2012 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products andservices. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errorsor omissions contained herein.Trademark acknowledgments, if needed.4AA4-3198ENW, Created August 2012