VSP 7200 Series

The VSP 7200 is an integral component of our Fabric Connect strategy for end-to-end Shortest Path Bridging-based virtualized networks. We are able to leverage the Fabric Connect technology to flexibly mesh multiple VSP 7200s to deliver multi-hop, low-latency for deployment scenarios that call for massive scale-out.

Extreme has architected the Distributed ToR solution to scale up to many hundreds of switches within a single domain, with the current implementation supporting up to 512 switches networked as a single logical fabric. This capability delivers scale of up to 24,576 wire-speed 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports, and up to 3,072 ports of 40 Gigabit, equating to a virtual backplane capacity of 122.88 Tbps. An agile building-block approach delivers extreme flexibility, with no hard-and-fast topology constraints; blocks can be small or large, and individual switches easily interconnected with extended-reach copper or fiber cabling.

Extreme has developed Fabric Attach, a standards-based capability that facilitates the automatic attachment of endpoint devices. Businesses can leverage Fabric Attach to dynamically deploy endpoints.

Fabric Attach streamlines the deployment of networking devices, compute resources and Internet of Things (IoT) endpoint devices delivering substantial operational benefits. Endpoint devices can be deployed in real time, without the need for IT intervention and manual configuration.

Replacing static network device configuration with dynamic programming reduces overall complexity in the network and has a corresponding benefit in reducing the risk of outage.

Traditionally, to provision new services or to change existing ones, engineers are required to touch every device in the service path, configuring every device to enable both the active and redundant links. The bigger the network, the more complex and risky this becomes.

The Extreme Fabric Connect technology is based on an extended implementation of the Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) standards of IEEE 802.1aq and IETF RFC 6329, augmented with custom enhancements that deliver enterprise-specific optimization. It offers the ability to create a simplified network that can dynamically virtualize elements to empower efficient provisioning and utilization of resources. This can reduce the strain on the network and IT personnel.

Fabric Connect has garnered a well-earned reputation for simplifying how networks are built and improving how they are run. Independent research* reports that Fabric Connect deployments feature up to 91% less implementation time, up to 66% less change wait time, and an 85% reduction in both configuration and troubleshooting times. Similarly, Fabric Connect delivers enhanced resiliency, with failover times more than 2,500x better, and outages caused by human error virtually eliminated.

* Dr. Cherry Taylor, Fabric Connect Customer Experience Research Report, Dynamic Markets, 2015. This report details quantitative and qualitative research with IT professionals in companies that have implemented this Extreme Networks technology.

With Extreme’s Fabric Extend technology, businesses can fully integrate remote locations with the Fabric Connect cloud. Fabric Extend enables Fabric Connect connectivity across IP-based topologies such as MPLS and Optical Ethernet. Fabric Extend is a versatile technology that can deliver VLAN and VRF extension, Layer 2, and Layer 3 Hub-and-Spoke networking, and site interconnect for dispersed Campus and Data Center locations.

Fabric Extend is supported natively on VSP 7200, 8200 and 8400 Series products, as well as on the VSP 4000 Series when deployed in combination with the Extreme Open Networking Adapter. It provides flexible and scalable Fabric Connect extension over both private and provider IP infrastructures.

Extreme Networks' Switch Cluster is a pioneering high-availability technology. Creating a single, unified, logical core from two physically independent switches—clustering them — ensures that no one single point of failure can disrupt dual/multi-homed connectivity.

The Switch Cluster technology is built using the Split Multi-LinkTrunking protocol that is unique to our products, yet is fully interoperable with third party switches, servers, appliances, and routers.

Extreme’s Switch Cluster technology delivers a level of network resiliency that also facilitates in-service maintenance. The deterministic nature of Switch Cluster empowers network operators to compartmentalize the network, making essential services even more resilient, and allowing for individual failures to be repaired in real time, without service restoration work impacting on collateral components or applications.

The Extreme Networks VSP 7200 Series can be managed in a variety of ways. Simple on-box management functions are delivered by a web-based GUI. A generic CLI is also available for manual configuration. For centralized management of multiple devices, the ExtremeCloud IQ - Site Engine delivers a comprehensive unified management capability.

This powerful appliance-based solution offers the following functionality:

• Single Pane-of-Glass – A fully integrated suite of tools working together to provide a comprehensive, unified view of the network, streamlining workflows and reducing operational costs.
• Discovery and Visualization – Providing rich network and device discovery and visualization capabilities. Includes the ability to discover network-attached devices including servers, storage servers, switches, routers, phones, virtual machines, and their hosts.
• Fault and Diagnostics – Leverages information collected from the network to determine the most likely cause of network outages, and correlates events to determine affected devices and services.
• Configuration and Orchestration – Facilitates even the most complex of network configurations through simplified, intuitive wizards and easy-to-use templates. Configuration templates are created once, stored, and then conveniently applied in order to accelerate time-to-service and reduce the risk of human error.
• Virtualization Management – Provides insight into the complete lifecycle of virtual machines – activation, migration, and retirement – including the automatic provisioning of those companion networking services needed to parallel VM migrations.
• Performance Management – Delivers tools to monitor, analyze, and report application behaviors and their bandwidth utilization trends. Collected data gives valuable insight into traffic patterns, application behaviors, and top talkers. Performance management tools enable capacity planning and change monitoring.

The Extreme Virtual Services Platform 7200 Series is purpose-built to support the dynamic Data Center and high-density 10 Gigabit Ethernet top-of-rack deployments of today. It helps alleviates infrastructure complexity and can reduce power consumption with a truly scalable and strategic architecture; it is designed to be the high-performance top-of-rack platform for the future.

Supporting mission-critical applications requires 24/365, always-on infrastructure, and the VSP 7200 delivers against this challenge. It is a highly strategic product that is fit-for-purpose for today’s connectivity requirements and future-ready for the evolving and emerging application-driven needs of tomorrow.

Extreme brings unique differentiation to the ToR role with a flexible, non-blocking architecture, including wire-speed Server access connections and high-speed distributed top-of-rack connections. The VSP 7200 is purpose-built to support today’s dynamic Data Center operations and high-density, low-latency 10 Gigabit Ethernet top-of- rack deployments. It can alleviate infrastructure complexity and reduce power consumption with a truly scalable and strategic architecture; it is designed to deliver a high- performance distributed top-of-rack solution that fully optimizes next-generation application virtualization investments.

From a software perspective, the VSP 7200 Series was introduced with the VOSS 4.2 software release; this is, therefore, the minimum level of software available to operate the switch. The recent VOSS 7.1 release delivers the following enhancements:

• Application telemetry
• VXLAN hardware VTEP configuration and management using OVSDB

Application Telemetry is a unique feature of ExtremeAnalytics that enables the switching infrastructure to participate in the forwarding and analysis of network application flows. By combining packet flow information from the VSP switch along with deep packet inspection abilities of ExtremeAnalytics, it provides actionable insights into network and application performance. This all without the need for expensive sensors or collectors. With this release, an Application Telemetry agent on the VSP can now work in tandem with ExtremeAnalytics to deliver this granular visibility into application performance, users, locations, and devices.