Virtual Server Design Requirement.

[mohammed ameen]

Hello All,

I have a requirement as below:

One of my client is using Two 3 com core switches running VRRP as next hop redundancy protocol. This is a bank so there are a lot of servers connected directly to both the core switches. The requirement is that they are virtualizing their servers as they are going to increase the number of servers. The client is planning to go for 4 Physical hosts where all the Virtual servers will be deployed. For redundancy there will be two physical uplinks (copper/Fiber) from each physical host to the each of the core switch running VRRP.

As the new applications which are going to be deployed on the virtual Machines are very critical, The client wants a Ten Gig solution for the connectivity (Physical hosts -> Core Switches ). The current 3 com core switches does not support 10G connectivity.

Please find more details below:

1. All the Vlan data base are created on the Core switches.

2. The critical traffic is mainly between the Servers (Different Vlans).

a. No of existing servers:20

b. No of existing Vlans for the servers: 12

c. No of proposed VM servers: 80

d. No of proposed Vlans for the Servers: 12.

My suggestions:

1. A cat 4500/6500 switch with respective 10G modules which will act as the core Switch.

or

2. A top of the rack switch (Cisco 4900 series switch) where all the physical Hosts will connect on 10G and then connect to the existing 3 com core switches on copper Etherchannel.

Could any one please assist me with a cost effective solution from Cisco to meet the client's requirement.

Thanks and Regards,

Mohammed Ameen

[Vincenzo Errante]

hi,

You have evaluated the solution with Nexus 5000 +  Nexus 2000 ?

now is the best solution for the switching datacenter

2 Nexus 5000 with L3 enable for the core

and Nexus 2232TM or  2232PP  for top of rack

if you need more port for the core you can consider Nexus 7000 switch

http://www.cisco.com/go/nexus

Regards

V.

[Marwan ALshawi]

Hi Mohamed

First of all you need to have a best practice design to this data center before hardware selection

Notice:

1- you need to have a hierarchal design

Where the servers connect to access switched ( could be virtual switch )

2-then distribution Switches that aggregated the access switches links and services and provide the gateway functions for l2 access vlans

3- core might be introduced if needed or the dc distribution might connect to the campus/enterprise core

Then if your using virtual switches in the virtual systems you can connect these server to the distribution switches directly

Next thing is if you are looking for 10g line rate for your DC size you can have pair of 6500 with sup2t configured as VSS

Or you may have pair nexus 5500 mixed with nexus 2232

Or pair of nexus 5596 with vpc

Hope this help

Sent from Cisco Technical Support iPhone App

[mohammed ameen]

Hello Vincenzo and  Marwanshawi,

Thank you for your valuable inputs. Really sorry for the very delayed response. Was on a long vaccation

Can I Have a pair of Nexus 5548UP with Nexus 2248TP with vPC ?

Nexus 5548UP will be the Core with L3 daughter card where all the Physical hosts along with the SAN will be connected (10G - FCOE). The Nexus 2248TP (Fabric Extenders) will be used for future expansion and also to connect (10G) to the Acess Switches (2960S) where all the users will be loacated.

Could you please comment on the above design.

Thank you in advance,

Mohammed Ameen

[Syed Moazzam Ali]

Hello Mohammad

If you go for a hierarchal design then you need core, distribution and access switch:

If you consider cisco nexus 7K for one moment with its VDC and VPC feature.

what you can do is divide nexus 7K in three or four vdc performing as access, distributon and access switch whereas VPC will give you redundancy and link consolidation.

In this scenario you would have only two nexus 7K with support of 10G cards and physical servers which would be directly connected to nexus Server VDC.

no need for extra switches.

Do let me know if you need specification of nexus 7K who will fullfill your requirement.