Virtual Cluster Switching (VCS) fabric technology is a

Layer 2 The data link layer, or layer 2, is the second layer of the seven-layer OSI model of computer networking. This layer is the protocol layer that transfers data between nodes on a network segment across the physical layer. The data link layer pr ...

proprietary Ethernet technology from

Brocade Communications Systems Brocade is an American technology company specializing in storage networking products, now a subsidiary of Broadcom Inc. The company is known for its Fibre Channel storage networking products and technology. Prior to the acquisition, the comp ...

, later acquired by

Extreme Networks Extreme Networks is an American networking company based in San Jose, California. Extreme Networks designs, develops, and manufactures wired and wireless network infrastructure equipment and develops the software for network management, policy, a ...

. It is designed to improve network utilization, maximize application availability, increase scalability, and simplify the network architecture in virtualized data centers.

Ethernet Fabrics

Ethernet fabrics encompasses

Data Center Bridging Data center bridging (DCB) is a set of enhancements to the Ethernet local area network communication protocol for use in data center environments, in particular for use with clustering and storage area networks. Motivation Ethernet is the primary ...

(DCB) technologies,

IEEE 802.1aq Shortest Path Bridging (SPB), specified in the IEEE 802.1aq standard, is a computer networking technology intended to simplify the creation and configuration of Ethernet networks while enabling multipath routing. It is the replacement for the ...

and the emerging IETF standard, Transparent Interconnection of Lots of Links (

TRILL TRILL (Transparent Interconnection of Lots of Links) is an Internet Standard implemented by devices called TRILL switches. TRILL combines techniques from bridging and routing, and is the application of link-state routing to the VLAN-aware custom ...

), to provide a more efficient way of moving data throughout the network. An Ethernet fabric is promoted for

Fibre Channel over Ethernet Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) is a computer network technology that encapsulates Fibre Channel frames over Ethernet networks. This allows Fibre Channel to use 10 Gigabit Ethernet networks (or higher speeds) while preserving the Fibre Channel ...

(FCoE) and

iSCSI Internet Small Computer Systems Interface or iSCSI ( ) is an Internet Protocol-based storage networking standard for linking data storage facilities. iSCSI provides block-level access to storage devices by carrying SCSI commands over a TCP/IP ...

storage traffic. Ethernet fabrics have the following characteristics: # Flatter: Ethernet fabrics are self-aggregating, enabling a flatter network. # Intelligent: Switches in the fabric know about each other and all connected devices. # Scalable: All paths are available for high performance and high reliability. # Efficient: Traffic automatically travels along the shortest path. # Simple: The fabric is managed as a single logical entity. Brocade markets using the term "Ethernet fabric". Brocade SAN fabric technology is currently deployed in over 90 percent of the Global 1000 data centers.Brocade Corporate Fact Sheet
/ref> With VCS Fabric technology, Brocade will be bringing the same level of innovation to the data center LAN environment.

Distributed intelligence

With VCS Fabric technology, all configuration and destination information is distributed to each member switch in the fabric. For example, when a server connects to the fabric for the first time, all switches in the fabric learn about that server. Also, when two VCS-enabled switches are connected, the fabric is automatically created, and the switches discover the common fabric configuration. This fabric configuration is shared amongst all of the switches in the fabric, making it masterless, so no single switch stores configuration information or controls fabric operations. Distributed intelligence enables the automatic migration of port profiles (AMPP) which ensures that the source and destination network ports have the same configuration when virtual machines migrate.

Logical chassis

All switches in an Ethernet fabric are managed as if they were a single logical chassis. To the rest of the network, the fabric looks no different than any other single Layer 2 switch. Each physical switch in the fabric is managed as if it were a port module in a chassis. This enables fabric scalability without manual configuration. The logical chassis capability significantly reduces management of small-form-factor edge switches. Instead of managing each top-of-rack switch (or switches in blade server chassis) individually, organizations can manage them as one logical chassis, which further optimizes the network in the virtualized data center and will further enable a cloud computing model.

Dynamic services

Dynamic services extend the VCS Fabric technology to incrementally incorporate network services. A dynamic service behaves like a special service module in a modular chassis. Possible fabric services include fabric extension over distance, native Fibre Channel connectivity, Layer 4 - 7 services such as the Brocade application resource broker, and security services such as firewalls and data encryption. Switches can join an Ethernet fabric, adding a network service layer that is available across the entire fabric.

Availability

Brocade announced VCS Fabric technology on June 9, 2010 at its annual Technology Day in New York City. It is available as a licensed feature for the Brocade VDX switch family.

References

{{Reflist Network topology Fibre Channel