Cloud Fabric Huawei Cloud Fabric-Cloud Connect Data Center Solution HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO.,LTD.
Huawei Cloud Fabric - Cloud Connect Data Center Solution Enable Data Center Networks to Be More Agile for Cloud Services Cloud computing applications have become popular globally. As the core infrastructure for cloud services, cloud data centers are facing a series of evolutionary changes. The evolution of enterprise cloud data centers is comprised of three stages: virtualization, automation, and multiple clouds; they are currently moving from the first stage to the second. Data center enterprise servers and storage devices are highly virtualized. These devices work with virtual switches and cloud management platforms to form a virtual world. All these can be regarded as IT resources. However, there are still a large number of physical entities, including switching devices, value-added service devices, and WAN routing devices in data center networks. These physical entities constitute the real physical world and can be regarded as Communications Technology (CT), that is, network resources. Cloud Data Center Evolution Separation of the Virtual and Physical Worlds: the Primary Problem in Cloud Data Centers The separation of the virtual (IT resources) and physical data center worlds (CT/network resources) makes it difficult to implement unified resource allocation, fault association, and diagnosis, and hinders the deployment of cloud services. Virtualization and automation technologies have improved the efficiency of the IT system. However, cloud services not only require computing and storage resources, but also network resources. Without advanced network resources, the efficiency of the physical network will continue to lag behind the virtual IT network. For example, consider the problems of an aeronautical enterprise. Due to frequent service changes, the IT system management department dispatches 1,000 tasks to the network management department every month. The network management department works hard to adjust the networks of several data centers, but can only complete 70 percent of the tasks in a month. Gradually, as more and more tasks are left unfinished, service development is slowed. Correspondingly, fault detection is slowed. The IT system can detect some faults but cannot accurately locate failure points in a timely manner because it cannot associate them with information from the physical network. The problems of the network system in a cloud data center urgently need solutions: The physical network needs to be quickly and automatically deployed in the same way as IT resources. The physical network must be a part of the cloud, and physical resources must be allocated uniformly with IT resources, including computing and storage data. Physical network and virtual network resources (such as vswitch) should share a unified view to implement end-to-end unified management. The physical network should evolve stably and smoothly to meet the preceding requirements and support cloud service development. 01 02
connect to multiple mainstream cloud platforms to provide a cloud application-oriented network. Users can uniformly schedule network, computing, and storage resources on demand on the cloud platforms. Cloud Fabric - Cloud Connect Data Center Solution Because it is service-centric, the Cloud Fabric solution permits IT administrators to easily schedule network resources and implement cloud-based network migration. IT administrators can use the service language to define and adjust network requirements (application profile views) from the service perspective. Each type of service has an independent application profile view. The Agile Controller can understand three types of views, automatically convert the application profile views into logical networks, and deliver configurations to physical networks, so network resources can be migrated on demand. Huawei's Cloud Fabric - Cloud Connect Solution meets the challenges inherent in the development of cloud data centers with its industry-leading CloudEngine series data center switches and Agile Controller. With Cloud Fabric, enterprises can build a fully meshed cloud service system to connect cloud applications, cloud platforms, and various ICT resources on data center networks that function as information exchange centers. Figure 2 Application framework and logical and physical networks deployed as IT resources Figure 1 Cloud Fabric architecture Connecting Cloud Services: Service-driven Solution Enables IT Administrators to Easily Schedule Network Resources The Cloud Fabric uses a service-oriented open architecture to uniformly allocate ICT resources through the Agile Controller and cloud platforms. The Agile Controller can parse the service language and Connecting Cloud Platforms: Interconnects Mainstream Cloud Platforms, Allocates Unified ICT Resources Huawei is actively developing a cloud computing data center ecosystem that adheres to its customercentric philosophy. The Cloud Fabric has been used by globally-known IT vendors and standards organizations to connect to mainstream cloud platforms such as those developed by VMware and Microsoft. The ecosystem includes Huawei's FusionSphere and OpenStack, which centrally manage network and IT resources. 03 04
Connecting ICT Resources: Physical and Virtual Network Mutual Awareness and Unified Display of Resources Cloud Fabric provides IT and network administrators a global view of data center networks that displays physical and virtual network resources. Therefore, IT and network administrators can assess global network resource distribution, resource usage, and fault status in real time. Figure 3 Cloud Fabric seamlessly connects cloud platforms Huawei's Agile Controller is part of the interconnected cloud platforms: it integrates functions, including physical and virtual network management and automatic service-chain orchestration. The controller also works with the cloud platforms to dynamically schedule network resources, facilitating quick cloud service deployment. The Cloud Fabric provides all-round openness and programmability: The Agile Controller provides northbound interfaces to connect to mainstream cloud platforms and virtualization platforms for delivery and adjustment of network policies. It also provides southbound interfaces to manage physical and virtual networks (including third-party devices) based on Open API technology and OpenFlow. In addition to the openness of the Agile Controller, Cloud Fabric also supports device-level openness to permit customers to flexibly select devices. The CloudEngine series data center switches support a large variety of open APIs plus standard OpenFlow, and can directly connect to mainstream cloud platforms. Figure 4 Separated vs. mutually-aware physical and virtual networks The Agile Controller simultaneously obtains information about the virtual and physical networks and manages them from a global perspective. When network faults occur, the Agile Controller can accurately locate failure points in a timely manner and adjust the physical and virtual networks accordingly. It can also associate applications with the logical network. In this way, upper-layer applications are aware of network faults, ensuring quick service optimization. Based on its comprehensive open architecture, Huawei has worked with mainstream IT vendors to provide multiple cloud connect solutions, including Virtual Machine (VM) network policy migration, VXLAN/NVGRE virtualized gateways, and ICT collaborative management. 05 06
Reducing TCO: Compatible with Various Physical Network Technologies for Easy Evolution The Cloud Fabric solution builds a cloud-connected world to support service development in cloud data centers, and is compatible with various physical network models to support easy evolution and protect customer investments. The Cloud Fabric solution decouples logical networks from physical networks so that IT administrators can focus on logical networks and flexibly customize logical network policies based on service requirements. Logical networks shield the differences between various physical and virtual networks and networking technologies. As a result, the Cloud Fabric solution is compatible with any physical network model, avoiding reinvestment caused by device replacement. Conclusion The Huawei Cloud Fabric solution integrates network, computing, and storage resources to unify the virtual and physical worlds for cloud data centers. The solution bridges the last gap between the network and IT in cloud computing and implements multiple cloud connection and cloud-based network migration. In an era of multiple applications and focusing on user experience, the Cloud Fabric - Cloud Connect Solution will help enterprises build a smart, converged cloud to provide service-centered, scalable, virtualized, and open data center networks, implementing efficient deployment and use of IT services. Figure 5 Decoupling logical networks from physical networks enables IT administrators to customize services 07 08
Practice of Cloud Fabric - Cloud Connect Solution Huawei Collaborates with VMware to Construct Flexible Cloud Data Centers Global leading ICT solution provider Huawei and data center virtualization solution leader VMware are collaborating to develop innovative data center solutions. The Huawei Cloud Fabric solution is integrated with the VMware cloud and virtualization platforms to provide data center networks that can change with the cloud. The Agile Controller, which controls the data center network, connects to the VMware vcenter through an open API. When vcenter starts the process of migrating virtual machines, the Agile Controller migrates the associated network policy along with the virtual machines and delivers the configuration to CloudEngine series switches. Huawei Agile Controller and VMware vcenter work together to schedule ICT resources for migrating VMs, enabling on-demand policy migration. This in-service policy migration arrangement, jointly developed by Huawei and VMware, has the following characteristics: The Agile Controller delivers network policies using high-speed RADIUS interfaces, which increase the speed of policy deployment to 10 to 20 times the industry average. This high-speed policy deployment capability can keep pace with the migration of a large number of virtual machines. Huawei's large Layer 2 network solutions (such as TRILL and EVN) enable VMware virtual machines to migrate freely within a data center or between data centers, making cloud service migration more flexible. Innovative "cloud connect" technology: in-service policy migration for virtual machines Huawei's Cloud Fabric - Cloud Connect Solution consists of two components - industry-leading CloudEngine series data center switches and Agile Controller. Huawei and VMware work together to promote cloud data center development In addition to the VM migration solution, Huawei and VMware cooperate in many other fields. Huawei Agile Controller is extensively integrated with the VMware vcloud and NSX network virtualization platforms to provide a more intelligent, efficient cloud network solution. 09 10
Practice of Cloud Fabric - Cloud Connect Solution Huawei and Microsoft Engage in Data Center Solution Development Innovative "cloud connect" technology: convergence of Huawei Cloud Fabric and Microsoft Cloud OS Huawei CloudEngine series data center switches and Microsoft Cloud OS (Windows Server 2012 R2 and System Center 2012 R2) are closely coupled to create uniform management of ICT resources. Huawei and Microsoft, both leading ICT vendors, formed an all-round strategic partnership to develop new technologies for cloud connect and overlay solutions. The two ICT giants will also cooperate in data center solution marketing and standardization. OMI (Open management Infrastructure) Cloud connect innovation Overlay solution cooperation Restful Agent Netconf. Agent All CloudEngine series switches and their network operating systems are interoperable with Microsoft System Center cloud plaftorm Project cooperation Huawei and Microsoft have extensive experience in carrier and enterprise markets, and work together to explore data center projects, e.g., China Mobile (Guangdong) CE12800 series high-performance gateways CE7800 & CE6800 series L2/L3/VPN gateway Standardization cooperation DMDF, IETF, OASIS, SMI-S,OMI... CloudEngine Switches VRP network OS Cooperation: Work with Microsoft to provide an automatic and programmable cloud data center solution. Open: All CloudEngine switches have passed Windows Server 2012 R2 certification, implementing the connection with application system. Comply with DMTF CIM. Third-party systems can quickly integrate with Huawei devices. 11 12
The CloudEngine series data center switches are built on Huawei's next-generation network operating system VRP8 and integrate the Open Programmable System (OPS) module that provides a variety of open API interfaces. All CloudEngine series switches (CE12800/6800/5800) have passed Open Management Infrastructure (OMI) certification for the Microsoft Cloud OS and are integrated into the operating system. and physical servers. Huawei and Microsoft can jointly build a Hybrid Fabric network that combines the high performance of hardware and the flexibility of software. This network is highly scalable and can support up to 16 million tenants. Microsoft System Center can manage Huawei CloudEngine series switches and Microsoft vswitches. Innovative overlay technology: Hybrid Fabric network virtualization solution NVGRE-based Overlay Solution, designed for cloud computing and virtualized data center VMs flexibly migrate. Bridging between the NVGRE and the non- NVGRE network No changes to existing network, smooth evolution, investment protection The Microsoft Hyper-V network virtualization platform and Huawei CloudEngine 12800 series data center switches work together to offer a high-performance, flexible Hybrid Fabric solution. The Microsoft vswitch - with the Network Virtualization using Generic Routing Encapsulation (NVGRE) protocol - can build an overlay-virtualized network. Huawei CloudEngine 12800 series core switches can be used as hardware NVGRE gateway devices on the overlay network. The NVGRE gateways implement high-speed communication between Microsoft virtual machines and campus/branch users, or between Microsoft virtual machines and other vendors' virtual machines 13 14
Solution successes: data center project of China Mobile (Guangdong) Huawei and Microsoft cooperate to explore the data center market and have provided cloud data center solutions for multiple customers, for example, China Mobile (Guangdong). The data center project of China Mobile (Guangdong) is a successful implementation of the Hybrid Fabric solution developed by Huawei and Microsoft. This solution includes two data centers in Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Huawei CE12800 switches are used as NVGRE hardware gateways and enable a large number of tenants to access Microsoft virtual machines in the NVGRE domain. The switches also implement in-service migration of Microsoft virtual machines between the two data centers. TEST REPORT Executive Summary #214118 May 2014 Commissioned by Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd Huawei Cloud Fabric 2.0 Cloud Connect Data Center Solution SDN Openness, Features and Performance Evaluation Following the information and communication technology (ICT) convergence philosophy, Huawei developed its Cloud Fabric 2.0 Cloud Connect data center solution. The solution adopts service-oriented open architecture and consists the following systems to establish a fully open SDN network: Open Agile Controller: Its northbound interfaces connect to data center cloud and virtualization platforms from major vendors (such as VMware and Microsoft) through open APIs and work with the cloud platform to dynamically deliver network policies. Its southbound interfaces support open APIs and the OpenFlow standard to manage Huawei CloudEngine series data center switches and third-party network devices. Open CloudEngine: Huawei CloudEngine series data center switches support various APIs and the OpenFlow standard. They can interoperate with major data center cloud platforms and SDN controllers. Additionally, the CloudEngine series can act as the hardware gateway in overlay network solutions (VxLAN and NVGRE). All hosts run Windows Server 2012 R2; All SCVMM servers run System Center 2012 R2 Huawei Agile Controller: Test Highlights 1 Interoperated with VMware vcenter to implement in-service policy migration 2 Interoperated with Microsoft System Center to implement automatic policy delivery and configuration 3 Supports OpenFlow 1.3 and provides centralized control and management for Huawei CloudEngine series switches Huawei CloudEngine Series Switches: 1 Support OpenFlow 1.3 and interoperate with the Huawei Agile Controller and third-party SDN controller systems 2 Can act as the hardware gateway of overlay network solutions, including VxLAN and NVGRE 3 Support numerous data center features, including TRILL, EVN, VS and FCoE 4 Support in-service software upgrade (ISSU) with CE12800 5 Support 12*100GbE ports high-performance line cards with CE12800 6 Support 1 million FIB entries with CE12800 This document is a summary of Tolly reports #214119 and #214120. The full reports will be published on http://www.tolly.com. 2014 Tolly Enterprises, LLC Tolly.com Page 1 of 2 15 16
Huawei Cloud Fabric 2.0 Solution Performance and Features #214118 Huawei Agile Controller Tolly Certified Features/Functionalities Interoperability with VMware vcenter Interoperability with Microsoft System Center OpenFlow 1.3 Huawei CloudEngine series switches OpenFlow 1.3: interoperated with the Huawei Agile Controller and third-party SDN controllers (tested Ryu) and supported L2/L3 line-rate forwarding, multi-level flow table, policy-based routing and dynamic traffic engineering (TE). Function as hardware gateway of overlay network solutions (VxLAN and NVGRE). When functioning as NVGRE gateway devices, the switches are managed by Microsoft System Center. Transparent Interconnection of Lots of Links (TRILL): support a large L2 network with up to 512 nodes Ethernet Virtual Network (EVN): provide L2 connectivity across an L3 network and build a large L2 network across multiple data centers Virtual System (VS): one CE12800 core switch can be virtualized into 16 logical switches (Virtual Systems). Ports on the same line card can be assigned to different Virtual Systems. CSS + VS networking: After multiple CE12800 switches are stacked as one cluster with the Cluster Switch System (CSS) technology, the cluster can be virtualized into multiple virtual switches using the Virtual System (VS) technology. Ports in different chassis can be assigned to the same virtual switch (Virtual System). Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE): supports Fibre Channel Forwarder (FCF), N-Port Virtualization (NPV), FIP Snooping Bridge (FSB), and Data Center Bridging (DCB) CE12800 core switches support ISSU, which can complete software upgrade without interrupting services CE12800 core switches support 12*100GbE ports line cards. The line card supports line-rate forwarding. CE12800 core switches support up to 1M FIB entries CE12800 core switches support up to 256K MAC address entries IEEE 802.1Qbg: work as a Virtual Edge Port Aggregator (VEPA) and allow automatic policy migration following the VM migration istack: stack up to 16 TOR switches to one logical switch Super Virtual Fabric (SVF) vertical virtualization: virtualizes multiple physical switches of the same or different types into one logical switch Source: Tolly, May 2014 Table 1 About Tolly The Tolly Group companies have been delivering world-class IT services for more than 25 years. Tolly is a leading global provider of third-party validation services for vendors of IT products, components and services. You can reach the company by E-mail at sales@tolly.com, or by telephone at +1 561.391.5610. Visit Tolly on the Internet at: http://www.tolly.com Huawei Technologies, Co., Ltd Cloud Fabric 2.0 Data Center Solution Performance Evaluation and Feature Validation Tested May 2014 2014 Tolly Enterprises, LLC Tolly.com Page 2 of 2 ivcofs-3 yx-wt VerF 2014-05-28 17