Virtualization and performance

[claudejalbert01]

Hello,

I have a general question about the performance of supervisors Blade 6500.

Example:

I have 10 servers each connected with gigabit port.

I am migrating my 10 servers to a solution like ESX server and connect it to a TenGigabits port.

As information is sent 10 times faster to the SUPP720 3B, what are the impact CPU performance or the supervisor?

I consider that the servers use the same network load.

Thanks,

[nsheridan]

I'd expect CPU impact to be felt only if packets are punted to the route processor. Traffic such as registration packets in sparse mode pim, or ttl expiry in multicast steams are examples I can think of. Otherwise it's standard control plane traffic that will affect CPU, I would think. Everything elseshould be handled by ASICs.

Probably none is the answer.  Depends on your traffic patterns and how complex it is for the flow to form through the switch. As your question relates mainly to load I would think there is minimal to no risk given what you have said, assuming that no additional complex traffic flows are being formed, just higher rates of existing flows, albeit through a single interface.

Be aware of marketing on 10 gig line cards. make sure the line card providing the 10 gig connection has adequate subscription to your switching fabric, and the path your frames will take to get distributed to your up and down links. I'd be more concerned about that personally.

Hope that helps.

[Joseph W. Doherty]

Disclaimer

The  Author of this posting offers the information contained within this  posting without consideration and with the reader's understanding that  there's no implied or expressed suitability or fitness for any purpose.  Information provided is for informational purposes only and should not  be construed as rendering professional advice of any kind. Usage of this  posting's information is solely at reader's own risk.

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Posting

Which 6500 10 gig card?  If 6504, with our w/o DFC?  What other cards are in chassis?  If others, and if they support DFCs, DFCs installed or not?  Using sup ports?

PS:

Just reread your posting, and realized 10 x gig vs. 1 x 10 gig (not 10 x 10 gig).  All the 10 gig cards are, I believe, (d)cef720, and if you only use a single 10 gig port, sup hit might depend on DFC on prior vs. no DFC on 10 gig LC, i.e. could be worst/same/better.  Bandwidth to other cards shouldn't be worse, could be better.

[claudejalbert01]

Thanks for your answer.

My SUP si 720 3b with WS-X6704-10GE (DFC3) All the cards in our 6513 (FWSM and ACE module) are in DFC3 except 2 cards 6148-GE-TX.

Yes, I take 10 servers each connected to a port gigabits to send in a virtualization server connected to a single port TenGigs. All this are connected in two chassis 6513 for the redondancy without VSS mode.

This porjet will continu after. We plan to migrate all our servers. To start the project, I have to evaluate if we have to change de non E Chassis to a new Chassis with Supp 2T. We will have to change in the future certainly but today, my evaluation concerning the IMPACT on our CPU if the informations are achieve 10 times faster to the CPU for a similar load.

Thanks

[Joseph W. Doherty]

Disclaimer

The   Author of this posting offers the information contained within this   posting without consideration and with the reader's understanding that   there's no implied or expressed suitability or fitness for any purpose.   Information provided is for informational purposes only and should not   be construed as rendering professional advice of any kind. Usage of  this  posting's information is solely at reader's own risk.

Liability Disclaimer

In   no event shall Author be liable for any damages whatsoever (including,   without limitation, damages for loss of use, data or profit) arising  out  of the use or inability to use the posting's information even if  Author  has been advised of the possibility of such damage.

Posting

As you're not really adding to the load of the chassis, i.e. the single 10 gig will take the place of 10 x gig, and the fact you'll be using a 6704 (which has 40 Gbps to fabric, for the 4 x 10 gig), you shouldn't have any additional performance concerns.