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CONTENTS What is Included in this DG Release? 1 Data Center Infrastructure Design Guide 2.1 Readme File iii
Contents iv Data Center Infrastructure Design Guide 2.1 Readme File
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 Technology/Product Description Other In this DG? Cisco Catalyst 6500 WS-X6708-10G-3C Cisco Catalyst 6500 next generation hardware Sup720 and 6700 Series line cards. 8 port 10 GigE line card for the Catalyst 6500 Series switch 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. 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/pr oducts/hw/switches/ps708/prod ucts_data_sheet09186a00801dc e34.html Native 12.2.18 SXD3 was used in the lab environment. Corporate Headquarters: Cisco Systems, Inc., 170 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134-1706 USA Copyright 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
What is Included in this DG Release? Table 1 Cisco Data Center Technologies and DG Status (Continued) 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. 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. Data center security See the data center security DG at the following URL: http://www.cisco.com/en/us/net sol/ns656/networking_solutions _design_guidances_list.html#an chor3 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. 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. Server fabric switching Infiniband Designing for HPC or database clusters using Infiniband technology 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/net sol/ns656/networking_solutions _design_guidances_list.html#an chor3 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. 2 Data Center Infrastructure Design Guide 2.1 Readme File
What is Included in this DG Release? Table 1 Cisco Data Center Technologies and DG Status (Continued) Environmental Designing for proper cabling, cooling/airflow, and power configurations Network Management Using the NAM, CVDM, CiscoWorks, Netflow, or other management/configuration tools 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 CPU protection from STP loop conditions Design best practices in limiting the impact of failures related to spanning tree loop conditions 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 Layer 2 access design Designs using L2 looped and loop-free access layer topologies Layer 3 access design Designs using L3 access layer topologies 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 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 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. 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 Table 2 lists the technologies used in the data center infrastructure design documented in the previous v1.1. te that version 2.1 builds on the v1.1 and v 2.0 design recommendations and it is not intended to be a replacement. Data Center Infrastructure Design Guide 2.1 Readme File 3
What is Included in this DG Release? Table 2 Technologies used in the Data Center Infrastructure Design Documented in DG v1.1 Technology/product Layer 3 data center design Layer 3 security Use of VTP in Layer 2 designs Choosing a spanning tree protocol Using LoopGuard and UDLD Using PortFast and TrunkFast Layer 2 security Default gateway design ARP table tuning NIC teaming design Mainframe OSA and OSPF design PortFast and BPDU Guard Port security Server port configurations Network management configuration VLAN configuration Spanning tree configuration Switch-to-switch trunk configuration Description Using OSPF and EIGRP in the data center design Using dynamic routing protocol authentication Why not to use VTP in the data center Explains the differences between 802.1w, Rapid PVST+ and MST and when to use each Explains VLAN hopping, MAC flooding, ARP spoofing, and spanning tree vulnerabilities Reviews configurations for HSRP in the data center Tuning the ARP table size to optimize traffic characteristics Covers the various NIC teaming methods and connectivity options Explains mainframe connectivity options when using the OSA interface and covers IP addressing and OSPF configurations When to use PortFast and BPDU Guard on server ports Covers server port security options Examples of server port switch configurations Configuring user names and passwords, VTY access, SNMP, and logging Configuring VTP, MAC address reduction, and other VLAN features How to configure Rapid PVST+, MST, and protection from loops with UDLD and LoopGuard EtherChannel and trunking configuration between the aggregation layer switches 4 Data Center Infrastructure Design Guide 2.1 Readme File