Avaya adds new top-of-rack switch to VENA range
VSP 7000 aimed at virtual data centre networking
By Jim Duffy | Network World US | Published: 12:43, 04 May 2011
Avaya this week will extend it data centre networking line and architecture with a new top-of-rack switch.
The Avaya Virtual Services Platform (VSP) 7000 switch features 24 ports of 10Gbps SPF+ Ethernet with an option for dual 40G Ethernet uplinks, and dual 100G uplinks in the future. Up to eight VSP 7000s can be stacked together via an integrated multi-terabit fabric interconnect for scale.
The switch includes hot-swappable redundant power supplies and fan trays, and supports multiple airflow configurations optimised for the data centre, Avaya says. It will support IEEE data centre standards such as Shortest Path Bridging for low-latency, multi-hop transmissions, Edge Virtual Bridging for interaction between physical and virtual switches, and Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) through a software upgrade.
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In addition to dual-port 40G and 100G uplinks, expansion modules for the switch include eight-port copper 10G, eight-port SFP+ 10G, and native Fibre Channel for storage connectivity.
The VSP 7000 allows Avaya to extend its Virtual Enterprise Networking Architecture (VENA) data centre scheme to the server rack and access switch. Rolled out last year, VENA is designed to allow users to configure a "Virtual Services Fabric" that enables one touch provisioning of network services. This is intended to create a "private cloud" that simplifies access to content and applications.
Along with the switch, Avaya will roll out the Virtual Provisioning Service (VPS) management application. VPS is designed to allow users to manage, troubleshoot, provision and secure virtual machines (VMs) across the network.
VPS is intended to ensure that the network is synchronised to VM activations, deactivations and changes. It is also intended to streamline and automate data centre network provisioning.
Avaya will also roll out enhanced professional services offerings to help customers and business partners enable VENA in the data centre and campus. These services will provide expertise in the design and deployment of virtualised networks, and include migration strategies and financial models to help customers identify return on investment and total cost of ownership.
