CommScope® Enterprise Data Center Design Guide - Public ...

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Data Center Network Architectures
Today, there are three primary approaches in Data Centers for server networking:
• Direct Connect (Centralized)
• Zone Distribution (including End-of-Row, Middle-of-Row, etc)
• Top-of-Rack (Distributed Electronics)
Which approach you choose is largely determined by the server being deployed and
operational objectives. Each design has its advantages and trade-offs and frequently larger
data centers will house at least two, if not all three approaches to network architecture.
Centralized Direct Connect
The approach requires each server to be cabled back to the core switches. This provides a
very efficient utilization of port switches and is easy to manage and add FOR SMALL SIZE data
centers.
Figure 2: Centralized Direct Connect Architecture
LAN
access
Potential congestion here
LAN
access
LAN
access
LAN Access/Dist/Core
MDA/HDA
LAN
access
SAN
Director
SAN Core/Access
EDA
Storage Devices
SAN
Director Disk
Disk
Disk
Disk
array
array
array
array
Cat 6/6A 50 micron LOMMF / Single Mode
A drawback for larger size data centers is that the high number of extended length cable runs
could fill up the pathways and increase the solution cost. The centralized direct connect works
well and the best for small sized data centers.
Zone Distribution
This solution can be implemented as end-of-row or middle-of-row, where a single large chassisbased
switch is used to support one or more racks containing the servers. This approach is
usually the most cost-effective, as it provides the highest level of switch and port utilization,
especially when coupled with the rich set of network virtualization services available. This can
be a significant advantage from a compliance and security perspective.
The distributed solution is the recommended cable architecture of TIA-942 Data Center
Standards and is very scalable, repeatable and predictable. A common approach is to create
a single bill of materials for each “zone” or “pod” design that contains the requirements for
electronics, cabling and apparatus required to add capacity in set increments.