Table Of Contents
Data Center Infrastructure Design Guide 2.1—
Readme FileWhat is Included in this DG Release?
Data Center Infrastructure Design Guide 2.1—
Readme File
What is Included in this DG Release?
This design guide (DG) provides guidelines for designing and building the data center switching infrastructure.
Table 1 lists the technologies used in the data center infrastructure design documented in version 2 of this design guide. This table provides a quick glance of the topics and lists the timeframe (current or future) of documentation availability for each technology.
Table 1 Cisco Data Center Technologies and DG Status
Cisco Catalyst 6500 WS-X6708-10G-3C
8 port 10 GigE line card for the Catalyst 6500 Series switch
6708 notations have been added to reflect the increased port density. Testing is scheduled for a future DG release. The data sheet is available at: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps708/products_data_sheet09186a00801dce34.html
No
Cisco Catalyst 6500 next generation hardware—Sup720 and 6700 Series line cards.
This DG is based on lab testing using the Sup720 and 6700 Series line cards in the Cisco Catalyst 6500 platform in core, aggregation, and access layer switches.
Native 12.2.18 SXD3 was used in the lab environment.
Yes
Application Control Engine (ACE)
The ACE module introduces a next generation load balancer and security services module that permits higher performance and active-active designs. The ACE module is not an available product at the time of this writing.
No
Firewall Services Module (FWSM) Release 3.1
Release 3.1 of the FWSM software introduces several new capabilities including Private VLAN support and active-standby context groups, which permit load balancing of contexts across an FWSM redundant pair.
Release 3.1 is not available at the time of this writing.
No
Data center security
See the data center security DG at the following URL: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns743/networking_solutions_program_home.html.
No
Cisco CatOS-IOS hybrid
Hybrid CatOS-IOS software in the Cisco Catalyst 6500 platform
This DG is based on the Cisco Native IOS solutions only in the Cisco Catalyst 6500 and 4948-10GE-based products.
No
Pervasive 10GE
This design guide focuses on the use of 10GE technology as a primary technology used in access layer uplinks, aggregation, and core connections.
Yes
Server fabric switching— Infiniband
Designing for HPC or database clusters using Infiniband technology
No
Service module integration (for example, FWSM, IDS, CSM, NAM, and SSLSM)
Integration of service modules and appliances into the data center infrastructure
Service modules are examined for interoperability and placement guidelines. Detailed design and configuration guides can be found at the following URL: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns743/networking_solutions_program_home.html.
No
1RU access layer design
Using 1RU switches in the access layer design best practices
Testing is focused on the Cisco Catalyst 4948-10GE 1RU switch.
Yes
Environmental
Designing for proper cabling, cooling/airflow, and power configurations
No
Network Management
Using the NAM, CVDM, CiscoWorks, Netflow, or other management/configuration tools
No
Geographically dispersed clustering (also known as stretch clusters)
Designing in support of extending Layer 2 domains to support HA clustering across metro or wide area networks
No
CPU protection from STP loop conditions
Design best practices in limiting the impact of failures related to spanning tree loop conditions
Yes
Spanning tree—Using 802.1w Rapid PVST+ and 802.1s MST
Designing scalable spanning tree domains using 802.1w and 802.1s and related features
Yes
Layer 2 access design
Designs using L2 looped and loop-free access layer topologies
Yes
Layer 3 access design
Designs using L3 access layer topologies
No
Service layer switch design
How to move service modules out of the aggregation layer and into a separate service switch chassis for CSM and SSL modules
Yes
Distributed Forwarding Card placement and benefits
Where to use DFC3 daughter cards to improve distributed switching performance in the data center
Covered in multi-tier and server cluster architecture chapters
Yes
Enterprise campus segmentation
The need to isolate/segment multiple logical network environments on the same physical network for administration, security, or other purposes.
This is covered outside of this DG document.
No
Use of NSF/SSO for high availability in the data center
Where to use redundant supervisors in the data center architecture, and designing to support required failover times
Yes
Table 2 lists the technologies used in the data center infrastructure design documented in the previous v1.1. Note that version 2.1 builds on the v1.1 and v 2.0 design recommendations and it is not intended to be a replacement.