Figuring out the Data Center fabric maze – Computerworld

Despite vendor pledges to support existing or developing industry standards, users are expected to deploy single-vendor data center and cloud switching fabrics from their primary suppliers.

Standards such as Transparent Interconnect of Lots of Links (TRILL), Shortest Path Bridging and Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation will be embraced by those vendors looking to dent Cisco’s dominance in data center switching. The standards support will soothe customers looking to avoid vendor lock-in, but it’s unlikely IT shops will mix and match multivendor switches within and between data centers.

“In the data center, customers do look for that path with the least bumps in the road just because of the critical need of the data center,” says Zeus Kerravala, principal at ZK Research.

Figuring out the data center fabric maze – Computerworld

Alex Carroll

Managing Member at Lifeline Data Centers

Alex, co-owner, is responsible for all real estate, construction and mission critical facilities: hardened buildings, power systems, cooling systems, fire suppression, and environmentals. Alex also manages relationships with the telecommunications providers and has an extensive background in IT infrastructure support, database administration and software design and development. Alex architected Lifeline’s proprietary GRCA system and is hands-on every day in the data center.