Enterprises of all sizes are increasingly leveraging virtualization and hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI). This technology delivers reliable and secure compute resources for operations while reducing data center footprint. HCI clusters rely on robust, feature-rich networking fabrics to deliver on-premises solutions that can seamlessly connect to the cloud. Microsoft Azure Stack HCI is a…
]]>In part 2 of this series, we focus on solutions that optimize and modernize data center network operations. In the first installment, Optimizing Your Data Center Network, we looked at updating your networking infrastructure and protocols. NetDevOps is an ideology that has been permeating through the IT infrastructure diaspora for the past 5 years. As a theory, it can provide many areas to…
]]>Data centers can be optimized by updating key network architectures in two ways: through networking technologies or operational efficiency in NetDevOps. In this post, we identify and evaluate technologies that you can apply to your network architecture to optimize your network. We address five updates that you should consider for improving your data center: VXLAN is an overlay…
]]>Network administrators have a hard job. They are responsible for ensuring connectivity for all users, servers, and applications on their networks. They are often tasked with building a network design before getting application requirements, making a challenging project even more difficult. In these scenarios, it’s logical for networking admins to try to find an ideal network design they can use…
]]>Normally, data center networks are updated when new applications or servers are installed in the infrastructure. But independent of new server and application infrastructure forcing an update, there are other areas to consider. Three questions to ask when assessing if you need to update your network are: Network device selection typically starts with understanding how the server…
]]>We all know and love EVPN as a control plane for VXLAN tunnels over a layer 3 infrastructure. EVPN enables you to deploy VXLAN tunnels without controllers. Plus, it offers a range of other benefits, such as reduction of data center traffic through ARP suppression, quick convergence during mobility, one routing protocol for both underlay and overlay, and the inherent ability to support multitenancy.
]]>Is EVPN magic? As Arthur C Clarke said, any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. On that premise, moving from a traditional layer 2 environment to VXLAN driven by EVPN has much of that same hocus-pocus feeling. To help demystify the sorcery, I aim to help users new to EVPN understand how EVPN works and how the control plane converges. In this post…
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