The network is the foundation of the Cisco Data Center 3.0 strategy. Next-generation data centers need a network infrastructure that can deliver the full potential of features such as resource virtualization or a unified fabric. The broad portfolio of Cisco data center switches provides the flexibility to choose the optimal switch for a particular purpose while still maintaining consistent implementation, management, and operations.
The Cisco data center switching portfolio is founded on:
Continuous operations: A combination of hardware redundancy and features such as in-service software upgrades and Smart Call Home can maximize network availability.
Operational manageability: Integrated management tools simplify operations and accelerate problem resolution.
Transport flexibility: Cisco switches give customers a granular migration path to easily take advantage of new technologies.
Delivers unified fabric and virtual-machine-optimized networking; can reduce costs and simplify data center infrastructure; and provides agility, resiliency, and preservation of existing design and operational best practices.
Provides infrastructure scalability, continuous systems operations, and transport flexibility with a platform designed for unified fabric and 10, 40, and 100 Gigabit Ethernet.
As IT becomes central to core business processes, data centers must be able to address the differing needs for performance, availability, and cost-efficiency of the various systems they support. A successful architecture can address the current mix of technical, functional, and cost requirements and adapt as this mix inevitably changes.
Additionally, the network design should be architecturally driven to consistently meet the numerous operational and functional requirements of the data center. Cisco supports this network design with:
Industry-leading switching capabilities: The market-leading Layer 2 and layer 3 functionality can help build stable, secure, scalable data centers.
Investment protection: Forward investment protection in the Cisco Nexus and Catalyst families can simplify capacity and capability upgrades. For example, the Catalyst 4900M rack switch uses a semi-modular design for easy migration from Gigabit Ethernet to 10 Gigabit Ethernet. Similarly, the Cisco Nexus 7000 is ready from day one to support 40Gb Ethernet, 100Gb Ethernet, and Data Center Ethernet.
Design flexibility: Modular, rack, and integrated blade switches are optimized for both Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet environments.
Operational consistency: A consistent interface and tools simplify management, operations, and trouble resolution.
Virtualization: Cisco data center switches facilitate data center virtualization, including virtual machine mobility support, management. and operations tools for a virtualized environment. For example, the Catalyst 6500 offers virtual switching system (VSS) and the Nexus 7000 offers "hypervisor-like" virtual switch capabilities.
Next-generation unified fabric switches meet the business, service, application, and operational requirements of tomorrows data center.
Cisco Blade Switches
Cisco Blade Server Switches (Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and InfiniBand) can simplify data center operations and reduce time to deployment for new application infrastructure, without compromising availability, security, and performance.
> Cisco Catalyst Blade Switches
> Cisco MDS Fibre Channel Blade Switch
These switches deliver optimized rack switching, and the Cisco 4900M semimodular switch provides a cost-effective migration path from Gigabit Ethernet to 10 Gigabit Ethernet for attached servers.
Built for the Next Generation Data Center(Video - 7:47 min)
Learn about the Cisco Nexus 7000 platforms capabilities and the tremendous advantages it offers in the data center.
The Evolution of Data Center Architecture
Learn how the Cisco Nexus 7000 Series and Cisco Catalyst together provide a network platform for data center transformation. Registration required.
Data Center Services
Find out how Cisco professional services can help optimize current data centers and plan and implement the next generation.
(Video - 8:28 min)
(PDF - 2 MB)