Avaya Data Centre
Solution Brief
v1
Market Overview
The Data Centre Market continues to boom, even through a global recession. The market remains buoyant
for a number of reasons, some of which are outlined by the following proof points:
The world is becoming
more IT dependent. Even
in ‘developed’ economies,
there is still considerable
room for expansion of IT
functions within businesses,
Government and society.
In 5 years the number of
Internet users has jumped
from 1.043 billion users
(16% of the world’s
population, June 2006) to
2.11 billion (30%, June 2011).
The number of
smartphones is projected
to rise from 500 million in
2011 to 2 billion by 2015.
In August 1995 there were
18,000 websites. By 2009
this had risen to 215 million.
Source: Internet World Stats
Source: International
Telecommunications Union
Source: Netcraft estimate
With the boom in users, devices and demands on data storage (FaceBook, Flickr, YouTube, DropBox) and
traffic, the need to provide more efficient, reliable and scalable Data Centre solutions is key. These demands
on the Data Centre are leading to the adoption of higher speed connectivity and a more flexible and mobile
way to storing data.
10G adoption driven by virtualisation
Server virtualisation is driving 10G adoption as the standard network interface in enterprises. Research
shows a significant increase in 10G capable hardware sales will continue as network infrastructures are
refreshed.
A recent report by Redwood City, Calif.-based Dell’Oro Group, found shipments
of 10G Ethernet controllers grew by double digits during the first quarter of 2012.
“The firm predicts this trend will continue during the next several quarters”, says
Dell’Oro analyst Sameh Boujelbene.
“The two big drivers for 10G adoption are virtualisation and big data,” says Boujelbene. “If enterprises
are to leverage the capabilities of more powerful servers, connectivity must also be improved to avoid
bottlenecks. ”
Avaya data centre Solutions guide
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Understanding the challenges of today’s Data Centre
In a recent survey carried out by IDC, 84% of data centres had issues with power, space and cooling, capacity,
assets and uptime. The consequences to the business were:
Were unable to meet the service they expected to provide
their customers
31%
30%
27%
26%
Suffered delays
to application
rollouts
Had to roll back an application
deployment
Were forced to spend
unplanned OPEX budget
Avaya technology is well positioned to help address these challenges by helping customers embrace
consolidation, enhance network resiliency and provide greater throughput.
The changing world of the Data Centre
Legacy Data Centre
Today’s Dynamic Data Centre
Device-centric architecture – each device is Standards-based Ethernet fabric – simplifying
configured when extending domains, increasing the management and provisioning of the network
management time.
Proprietary-Based Virtualisation – limiting VM orchestration - Avaya delivers the ability to
interoperability and slowing deployment in the integrate with VCenter from VMWare, providing
future.
full server mobility within and across Data Centres
End of Row aggregation - EoR (End of Rack)
aggregation is the typical Server connectivity
model due to the lack of scalability with ToR (Top
of Rack) solutions.
Top of rack aggregation - Avaya’s unique and
highly scalable “stacking” architecture provides
customers with a highly effective solution for eastwest traffic flow that can scale up to 5.1Terabits
North-South server and storage - Unless
all devices are connected to the same EoR
aggregation switch, server to storage traffic must
flow through the Core switches in the data centre.
This increases latency and is highly inefficient
Storage Convergence-ready architecture Avaya delivers a multi-hop lossless solution on its
Core VSP9000 switches which is key for customers
planning on evolving towards Fibre Channel over
Ethernet.
Virtualisation contained in data centre – Open partner ecosystem – providing an open
limited to the data centre only
ecosystem with complementary partners.
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What are the Challenges for Data Centres?
The amazing growth and demand for data centre capacity is also creating a number of challenges:
•• How to deliver a high performance network when the pattern of the
traffic is changing?
•• How to manage this mobile world where users, devices, applications
and machines are no longer static?
•• How to consolidate my data centre?
•• How to do all this while maintaining a consistent level of service?
How Avaya solves these Challenges
Virtualising
Virtualisation brings benefits in resiliency and
consolidation, but also brings the challenges of
a very mobile environment where users, devices,
applications and machines are no longer static.
Consolidating – the need to do more
without extending the footprint
More than a third of data centre facilities will run out
of space, power, cooling or all the above by 2013,
according to the Uptime Institute, which surveyed 525
data centre operators and owners. Of those that will
run out of one or more data centre lifelines, 40% plan
to build a new data centre, 62% plan to consolidate
servers and 29% plan to lease collocation space.
The Avaya VSP 9000 allows deployments in the
large-scale data centre and deliver device consolidation
in the largest Campus Core networks.
Keeping Space, Heat and Energy Costs
under control
As well as the need to increase the density there is also
a need to keep cooling and energy costs under control.
Avaya’s solutions are all energy efficient by
design and provide market leading energy saving
figures versus some of the major players within the
networking market. The ability to consolidate larger
networks into fewer devices also has a major role to
play in keeping energy consumption down and cooling
costs low.
Avaya data centre Solutions guide
Avaya’s VENA architecture enables the
virtualised environment to be more mobile,
predictable and available. The VSP 9000 fully
delivers on the promise of centralising services,
all without compromising the high availability,
performance and security which is required in an
enterprise environment.
Addressing BIG DATA and the hunger
for increasing throughput
BIG DATA is another trend that is shaping the
design of data centre requirements, with 10G
becoming the norm and advanced organisations
looking at 40G. Low latency and high throughput
is a key consideration.
The Avaya VSP 9000 is ideally suited for those
organisations that require scalable, high-density
10G today and 40/100G in the future.
Building resilient networks
Data centres cannot afford any downtime and
need a resilient network that can provide peace
of mind in the event of component or link failure.
Avaya’s Switch Cluster pairs deliver alwayson fault-tolerant access to the core and scale
seamlessly.
4
COMING SOON
Avaya Collaboration Pods – simplifying the deployment of virtualised applications
Avaya Collaboration Pods are bundled solutions consisting of virtualised server, storage, networking and
management components. These are all fine-tuned to deliver maximum performance of Avaya application
solutions over the underlying data centre infrastructure.
With fully integrated management and support, the solution enables rapid deployment of complex
technologies, including virtualised applications and services, storage and networking, while simplifying the
task of operating technologies from multiple vendors.
Highlights
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•• Combines best of breed server,
storage, virtualisation and
networking components in
easy-to-order, easy-to-deploy
and ready-to-operate packages
•• Eliminates the planning,
design, integration and testing
required to deploy complex
and disparate technologies
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within the data centre
0101
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•• Avaya Collaboration Pods allow
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rapid deployment of complex
data centre technologies, including
virtualised applications and services,
storage and networking
•• Pre-tested and proven interoperability
between the network, the servers and storage
•• Delivers the infrastructure elements needed to
create private or public cloud deployments
•• Provides scalable, pay-as-you-grow options that quickly get you up to speed but also allow future
expansion
Avaya Collaboration Pods leverage best in class
components commonly found in today’s data centres,
including storage from EMC, virtualisation and Virtual
Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) software from VMware,
and networking, management, real-time Unified
Communications (UC) applications and integration
from Avaya.
Avaya data centre Solutions guide
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Avaya Virtual Enterprise Network Architecture
Avaya’s Virtual Enterprise Network Architecture (Avaya VENA) allows organisations to more easily optimise
business applications and service deployments in and between data centres and campuses.
Avaya VENA helps reduce costs and can significantly improve time to service by more efficiently optimising
the network connections between application servers and end users. It essentially provides an end-to-end
connection from the desktop all the way to the data centre. It can also reduce risks for CIOs by simplifying
provisioning and policy configurations, reducing network re-designs and providing new streamlined tools for
network management.
Key Benefits
•• Improves Network Uptime
•• Reduces Time to Service
•• Improves Data Centre Efficiency and
Reliability
•• Built on a Virtual Services Fabric
which is standards-based (SPB) and
already running in live customer
networks
•• Initial deployment in & between data
centres realises the full potential of
compute virtualisation
•• Increases the flexibility and scalability
of the network
•• Delivers an infrastructure for the
Private Cloud
Compute
Storage
Disruptive
Technologies
Next-Generation
Collaboration
Business
Applications
Unified
Communications
The new architecture features a ‘Virtual Services Fabric’ which spans the entire network and enables onetouch provisioning for the full range of capabilities provided by Virtual Services Networks. This architecture
increases flexibility and scalability by delivering an infrastructure which creates a ‘private cloud’ to deliver
always-on content and access to applications in a dramatically simplified model. This approach also protects
enterprises’ core networks from costly failures and human-error issues often experienced by the traditional
complicated process for provisioning, adding, deleting or changing applications in a virtualised environment.
Avaya VENA’s Virtual Services Fabric is built on enhanced IEEE Shortest Path Bridging to provide resiliency,
simplicity and a consistent interconnect which transparently supports co-existing services. Avaya VENA
is implemented on new data centre modular and fixed platforms in addition to being a simple upgrade
option for existing products. It also includes comprehensive tools for effective management of a virtualised
environment.
Avaya VENA expands Avaya’s proven data centre solutions which have been deployed by customers for
almost a decade. The new technologies leverage existing data network infrastructures and investments and
are scalable to provide a path for future growth.
Avaya data centre Solutions guide
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Introduction to Shortest Path Bridging
Chartered to develop standards and recommended best practices in local area networking architectures and
internetworking, the IEEE has developed an innovative, next-generation Ethernet control protocol classified as
802.1aq, more commonly known as Shortest Path Bridging (SPB).
Based on a proven link state routing protocol, SPB combines decades of experience with IS-IS and Ethernet
to deliver more power and scalability than its predecessors. Using the IEEE’s next generation VLAN, called
an “I-SID”, SPB supports 16-million unique Services (compared to 4,000 with VLAN). Because SPB’s I-SID is a
true Service ID, the network core automatically interconnects like I-SID endpoints once it is provisioned at the
edge. This create a contiguous “Service” that leverages all links and equal cost connections using an enhanced
shortest path algorithm.
Making Ethernet networks easier to use, SPB preserves the plug-and-play nature that established Ethernet
as the de facto protocol at Layer 2, just as IP dominates at Layer 3. Because it enhances IP management by
improving Ethernet, SPB enables more dynamic deployments that are easier to maintain than attempts which
use other technologies.
Empowering the Cloud
•• Empowering Cloud Computing:
•• Applications can be turned on anywhere on demand
•• Application delivery location is transparent to end-users
•• Inter-Cloud Connectivity – Private/Private, Private/Public
•• Realising the Full Potential of Virtualisation:
•• Creating a closer tie between application virtualisation
and network virtualisation
•• Moving to full north/south, east/west virtualisation
•• Shifting the Focus to Visibility and Manageability
Simple, error-free
provisioning at
the edge (no
re-configuration
of the core)
Reliable, optimised
end-to-end, anyto-any connectivity
What does Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) do?
SPB eliminates the need to manage IP subnet overlays
and/or to provision complex topologies of tagged trunks
between switches. With SPB, new network services are provisioned at the edge of the network, decreasing
the configuration burden and reducing errors. No longer bound by physical topology, time-to-service is
dramatically enhanced.
Imagine a network in the next building or the next city, where adding
new ports to an existing application or community of interest, is as
easy as configuring the access port of local switches and having the
network automatically interconnect all as part of a common service.
SPB’s real value is its ability to enable
unparalleled flexibility when building, deploying
and managing Ethernet networks. A natural,
sympathetic evolution of Ethernet, SPB is all about
efficiency, virtualisation and ease-of use.
This is the model that Avaya and the IEEE are delivering: any service, anywhere in the network, available
exactly when it is needed. In addition, thanks to its IEEE heritage, SPB can co-exist with the existing Ethernet
infrastructure without disrupting an organisation’s operational model.
Avaya data centre Solutions guide
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Avaya Networking Switches
ERS 8800
Find out more about the ERS 8800
The ERS 8800 Series is the flagship of the ERS family, enabling the creation of high
performance, resilient terabit clusters based on Avaya’s unique reliability technologies. The
ERS 8800 is the premium always-on core switch offering for the large-scale enterprise
campus core or mid-sized data centre. With hot-swappable modules, fans
and N+1 power supplies, the 8000 Series provides a robust platform to
create the always-on network core and to deliver high-density Ethernet
connectivity.
Key Features and Benefits
•• Flexibility for investment protection
•• Programmable Data Path
•• Flexible 10Gbps architecture for ingress and egress
packet manipulation
•• Packet filtering for ingress & egress traffic
•• 10-, 6- & 3-Slot Chassis options
•• Scalability for high-performance Campus Core and
Data Centre
•• Up to 96 10G Ethernet or 384 Gigabit ports
•• Thousands of ACLs
•• Scalable Multicast
•• Wire speed IP routing
•• Application optimisation and Routing
VSP 7000
The Avaya Virtual Services Platform 7000 provides a costeffective 10 Gigabit Ethernet fan-out capability for existing
core switch deployments. Addressing the pressing need
for flexible, high-speed Ethernet connectivity, VSP 7000
offers a high-performance switch targeted at the data
centre top-of-rack.
Target:
•• Top-of-Rack - single or dual switch/dual-attach server
•• Fibre aggregation – distribution switch or data centre
10G fan-out
•• ATA-over-Ethernet storage transport
Avaya data centre Solutions guide
•• Advanced policy-enabled networking with Quality
of Service support
•• IPv4 and IPv6 full hardware based forwarding
•• Network Security
•• Comprehensive security with wire speed filtering
•• IEEE 802.1X, Radius-based Authentication
•• SNMPv3, SSH Management
•• IP Spoofing prevention
•• Performance for demanding applications
•• Flexible Terabit-scale Switch Cluster configurations
•• Hardware-based Multicast replication, designed for
video surveillance and TV distribution applications
•• Minimum jitter
Find out more about the VSP 7000
Key features
•• Versatile cooling options conforming to
established data centre hot/cold aisle
arrangements
•• Hot-swappable power supplies, fan and
pluggable expansion
•• Wire-speed hardware guaranteeing high
throughput and low latency
•• Contiguous multi-element fabric spanning
numerous racks is enabled by a unique MultiTerabit Fabric Interconnect Stack
•• Future-ready support for sophisticated
virtualisation technologies and high-speed
interfaces
•• Ready for 40G and 100G high speed interfaces
•• Support for virtualisation technology (SPB)
8
VSP 9000
Find out more about the VSP 9000
The Virtual Services Platform 9000 is Avaya’s next-generation
solution for mission-critical core networks and data centres. VSP
9000 is built upon proven Ethernet Routing Switch 8800 software,
with a fully programmable network processor unit for flexible data
forwarding and Avaya’s carrier-grade Linux. VSP 9000 is designed to
deliver a future-proof, ultra-reliable network that provides services
integration, higher 10 Gigabit Ethernet density and simplified and
agile virtual network infrastructures.
Key Features and Benefits
•• Ultra-Resiliency
•• Patented Switch Clustering (SMLT/RSMLT)
•• Patent-pending Data & Control Plane
protection
•• Future-proof Platform
•• Up to 27Tbps architecture
•• 240 10GbE ports/chassis
•• 40/100Gbps ready
•• Services Integration
•• WLAN 802.11n unifies the wired and wireless
infrastructure in conjunction with Avaya WLAN
8100
•• Application VPNs
•• VM MAC (Move, Add, Change) automation
within and between Data Centres in ms
•• Converged Platform
•• Lossless Fabric architecture
•• Unified fabric ready
Avaya VENA and Next-Generation Applications
Avaya data centre Solutions guide
9
Virtualization Provisioning Service
The Avaya Virtualization Provisioning Service is a management tool which automatically synchronises the
network to react to changes in the compute environment - increasing IT efficiency, reducing time to service
and ensuring consistent application performance - in a highly dynamic, virtualised data centre environment.
Highlights
Avaya Virtualization Provisioning Service Dashboard
•• Automates service provisioning within the data
centre
•• Provides insight into the entire Virtual Machine
(VM) lifecycle from activation to mobility to
deletion
•• Gives an end-to-end view of the virtualised
data centre including applications, servers
and network devices across both physical and
virtual environments
•• Provisions network devices to “follow” VMs as
they migrate between servers
•• Applies connectivity services and port profiles
(QoS, ACLs) to edge devices at an individual
VM level
•• Provides historical reporting and tracking on
VM moves and network provisioning
•• Enables network and server teams to work
more efficiently and smarter together
Addressing the challenges of virtualisation
Avaya VPS addresses a key business challenge of coordinating the physical network with the dynamic
virtual server environment. With 70% of enterprises having already virtualised their servers, few tools exist
to synchronise changes in the virtual server environment with the underlying network. This problem is
compounded by the frequency in which most data centres move applications (or virtual machines) across and
between virtual servers. The lack of coordination between the “compute” and “network” environments can
lead to network configuration errors and poor application performance across the network.
Avaya data centre Solutions guide
10
Complementary Data Centre Vendors
Radware is a global leader of application delivery and application security solutions for virtual and cloud data
centres. Its award-winning solutions portfolio delivers full resilience for business-critical applications, maximum
IT efficiency and complete business agility. Radware’s solutions empower more than 10,000 enterprise and
carrier customers worldwide to adapt to market challenges quickly, maintain business continuity and achieve
maximum productivity while keeping costs down.
Why is application delivery so important?
Poor application performance and slow response times to employees, partners or customers can create as much
of a negative business impact as complete downtime. The average cost of downtime per year is estimated to be
1% of the annual revenue of mid-size enterprises and 3.6% for large enterprises. It is therefore essential to ensure
the highest application availability in one or multiple data centres while maintaining complete transparency.
For more information, please visit www.radware.com.
American Power Conversion provides protection against many of the primary causes of data loss, hardware
damage and downtime. Founded in 1981, APC is a leading provider of global, end-to-end AC and DC-based
back-up power products and services, which include surge suppressors, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS),
power conditioning equipment, power management software and DC power systems as well as precision
cooling equipment and professional and consulting services for Nonstop Networking™.
APC, known for Legendary Reliability™, sets the standard for quality, innovation and support for power
protection solutions from desktop systems to data centre operations to entire facilities. Its comprehensive
solutions, which are designed for both home and corporate environments, improve the manageability,
availability and performance of sensitive electronic, network, communication and industrial equipment of all
sizes.
APC has the broadest portfolio of products, solutions and services from a one stop shop for Network Critical
Physical Infrastructure.
For more information, please visit www.apc.com.
Avaya data centre Solutions guide
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Glossary
•• VIRTUALISATION: Virtualisation is bringing together multiple network storage devices into what appears
to be a single storage device that is managed centrally.
•• STORAGE VIRTUALISATION: Storage virtualisation simplifies tasks such as backup, archiving and
recovery by disguising the actual complexity of the multiple storage devices.
•• IS-IS: IS-IS stands for Intermediate System To Intermediate System, and determines the best route for data
being passed through a network.
•• AUTHENTICATION: Authentication is a method of verifying the identity of a person or process.
•• MULTICAST: Multicast is the ability to send a message to multiple recipients.
•• TOP-OF-RACK SWITCHES: Top-of-rack switches aggregate traffic from application servers in a rack.
They are one rack unit (RU) high and due to their mounting location, simplify a data centre’s cabling
plan. Typically, there is just one switch domain per rack, which improves fault containment and isolation.
Top-of-rack switches also simplify network planning by minimising oversubscription and support port-toport switching for in-rack application interaction. They typically uplink to end-of-row fixed configuration
or high-density chassis core switches.
•• VENA UNIFIED ACCESS: Splitting the Control and Data planes into two separate planes results in
improved performance and scalability when deploying Avaya 8100 WLAN solutions.
•• ACL: ACL stands for Access Control List, which applies access rules to a set of port numbers or network
names that are available on the network.
Avaya data centre Solutions guide
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