Brocade VDX 6730 BR-VDX6730-16-R Data Sheet
Product codes
BR-VDX6730-16-R
WHAT IS AN ETHERNET FABRIC?
Compared to classic hierarchical Ethernet
architectures, Ethernet fabrics provide
higher levels of performance, utilization,
availability, and simplicity. They are
designed to be:
architectures, Ethernet fabrics provide
higher levels of performance, utilization,
availability, and simplicity. They are
designed to be:
• Flatter:
Eliminates the need for
Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), while
being completely interoperable with
existing Ethernet networks
being completely interoperable with
existing Ethernet networks
• Flexible:
Can be architected in any
topology to best meet the needs
of any variety of workloads
of any variety of workloads
• Resilient:
Uses multiple “least cost”
paths for high performance and
high reliability
high reliability
• Elastic:
Scales easily up and down
as needed
More advanced Ethernet fabrics
borrow further from Fibre Channel
fabric constructs:
borrow further from Fibre Channel
fabric constructs:
• They are self-forming and function
as a single logical entity, in which all
switches automatically know about
each other and all connected physical
and logical devices.
switches automatically know about
each other and all connected physical
and logical devices.
• Management can then be domain-
based rather than device-based, and
defined by policy rather than repetitive
procedures.
defined by policy rather than repetitive
procedures.
• These features, along with
virtualization-specific enhancements,
make it easier to explicitly address
the challenges of VM automation
within the network, thereby facilitating
better IT automation.
make it easier to explicitly address
the challenges of VM automation
within the network, thereby facilitating
better IT automation.
• Protocol convergence, such as Fibre
Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), may also
be a feature, intended as a means of
better bridging LAN and Storage Area
Network (SAN) traffic.
be a feature, intended as a means of
better bridging LAN and Storage Area
Network (SAN) traffic.
Learn more about Ethernet fabrics at
Figure 1.
Compared to classic Ethernet architectures, Ethernet fabrics allow all paths to be active
and provide greater scalability—while reducing management complexity.
and provide greater scalability—while reducing management complexity.
Servers with 10 Gbps Connections
Classic Hierarchical Ethernet Architecture
Servers with 10 Gbps Connections
Ethernet Fabric Architecture
Scalability
Core
Edge
Core
Aggrega
tion
Access
Figure 2.
Brocade VCS Fabric technology simplifies the network architecture, enables unified storage
connectivity, improves VM mobility, and allows the seamless insertion of services.
connectivity, improves VM mobility, and allows the seamless insertion of services.
Dedicated Fibre
Channel SAN for
Tier 1 applications
VCS fabric
extension
Blade
servers
Rack-mount
servers
REMOTE
DATA CENTER
PRIMARY
DATA CENTER
VM
VM
VM
Core
routers
FCoE/iSCSI/NAS
storage
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
VM
SAN
Public
Network
VM
VCS fabric
extension
Native
Fibre Channel
Security services
(firewall, encryption)
Layer 4–7
application delivery