Networking Consolidation
How can you most effectively consolidate your network to reduce the economic, environmental and physical footprint of your network infrastructure and simplify it at the same time?
We can deliver solutions that answer the challenge comprehensively through:
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Eliminating layers of switching to flatten and collapse the network from today’s 3-tier architecture to 2 layers and, ultimately, to just 1.
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Simplification; achieved by interconnecting multiple physical switches, creating a single, logical device that combines the performance and simplicity of a switch with the connectivity and resilience of a network.
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Reduction of complexity and acceleration of performance by the creation of a single data centre-wide fabric that provides any-to-any connection.
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Cost and emissions; you can expect to see up to a 40% reduction in power consumption, a 30% reduction in heat output and a 20% increase in mean time between failure (MTBF) of major network components.
Networking consolidation is about reducing the economic, environmental and physical footprint of network infrastructure and simplifying it.
So-called 3-tier networking (core, distribution and edge) is outdated. The development of "collapsed" topologies means that fewer physical switching devices are needed to deliver high-density high-speed networks. The convergence of fibre channel and other Storage Area Network technologies onto Ethernet also allows the physical and logical provision to be simplified and provided on a standard platform throughout the network estate.
What is the problem?
The relentless increase in the number of interconnections between networks, driven by applications without traditional boundaries, is making network administration, support and alerting more and more challenging.
As server and storage technology progresses, traditional network switching reference models do not provide adequate support for server consolidation and virtualisation.
What is the networking consolidation solution?
Advanced switching fabrics allow for the connection of many individual network switches to create a single virtual device. While proprietary backplane extension cables have been available for some time to stack switches, it is only the extension of the switching backplane over Ethernet and fibre that has allowed a breakthrough to the next level of consolidated networks.
As an example it is now possible to represent a 4000-port data centre network, comprised of over 100 physical switches, as a single logical switch, configured and managed as one entity. This technology also removes complexity at distribution and edge layers — allowing multiple switches to be managed as a single distribution or edge device.
Networking consolidation has delivered power reduction, heat reduction and increased mean time between failure (MTBF). Compared to installations just 5 years old, we would expect to be able to achieve:
- Approximately 40% reduction in power consumption
- Approximately 30% reduction in heat output
- Approximately 20% increase in life-span (MTBF) of major components
The Data Integration approach
Network audit and modelling of TCO reductions
- We assess your network and how many devices could be made redundant with a refresh. We will advise cost savings and how a refresh supports your business and technical strategy.
Network design, implementation and management
- Industry leading architects with huge experience of delivering innovative designs
- Fully accredited engineers
- Dedicated programme management to ensure smooth transition
- ITILv3 based 24x7x365 service management teams to support incident, problem and change management and reporting
Network capacity planning and enterprise management and reporting
- Enterprise NMS tools to support our customer implementations Shared dashboard approach to alerting, reporting and event monitoring
- Powerful, clear and dynamic capacity analysis — making sure you find out well before you run out of capacity, not when you do
Network troubleshooting and root cause analysis (RCA)
- Expert engineering team dedicated to troubleshooting and RCA Extensive knowledgebase and experience supporting well over a million network ports for our customers Application, server and storage expertise to allow us to identify problems with the service, not just the network
How do we deliver this?
- Initial consultation — snapshot/audit of current network topology
- Partnerships with class-leading manufacturers in networking
- Professional services-implementation/training
- DI Watch - 24/7/365 support and maintenance
For more detailed information about our services and to obtain single or multi-year contract pricing, please contact your Data Integration account manager on +44(0)20 8875 6500 or use our contact page.
