The Data Center Melting Pot

By Ron Martin, ADVA

Current data center infrastructures are composed of a complex mix of heterogeneous Layer 2 protocols and standards, including Ethernet, fiber channel (FC), InfiniBand and iSCSI. Each technology addresses specific networking demands and has its own detailed software and hardware needs. Managing multiple technology platforms across a range of applications is not only labor intensive but also increasingly expensive. In today’s difficult economic environment, enterprises are challenged to continue absorbing these rising costs and are starting to explore ways of converging platforms onto one homogonous network.

Converging LAN, SAN and other data center networks onto a single underlying infrastructure would result in profound cost savings and a far more productive network environment. However, data center convergence is not a new topic and has been heavily discussed for a number of years. One need only recall the much-vaunted launch of iSCSI in 2001. Many analysts and vendors at that time predicted that iSCSI would revolutionize the storage environment and solve all data center issues. Some even suggested that it would replace protocols such as FC. Needless to say that didn’t happen, yet iSCSI is still in operation and has a definite place in today’s data centers.

However, in 2009, Ethernet is being championed as the unifying technology of choice and already has strong support from industry heavyweights such as Cisco and IBM. In order for Ethernet to become the high-performance transport of storage traffic, several protocol extensions are currently being developed. Collectively, these extensions have created a new and enhanced Ethernet referred to as data center bridging (DCB) and, together with fiber channel over Ethernet (FCoE), offer what is called converged enhanced Ethernet (CEE), also referred to as data center Ethernet (DCE).

Within the storage industry, opinions appear to be split as to how soon or how widely CEE will be implemented. The standardization process is far from complete and, if vendors cannot align behind a clear and precise road map, there is a very real risk that each solution will remain a vendor-specific niche technology and a further element to be considered in the data center protocol mix. Indeed, it is important to realize that just because FC and Ethernet are the two highest-volume interfaces in today’s data centers, merely merging them is not the end of the story. There will always be other protocols that serve very important purposes and the enabling equipment is not going to disappear.

If vendors wish to achieve convergence on this scale, the common underlying technology of choice, whether Ethernet or another fabric, would have to subsume all of the requirements of all the competing protocols. However, the various protocols used today are highly specialized and designed for specific networking purposes. It is to be expected that one or more of the protocols’ strengths would suffer during any substitution with Ethernet.

As of now, most data centers will need to continue to mix services and protocols for some time to come, and most believe that the data center of the future will be a strategic mix of legacy and next-generation protocols. However, as the standardization process continues, the situation may unfold in ways unexpected. What is sure, for the time being, is that the debate will be a contentious topic for some time to come.

Ron Martin is president, North America, chief marketing and strategy officer for ADVA Optical Networking. An experienced industry veteran, he joined ADVA in November 2007 to solidify and further expand the company’s position in the global and North American marketplaces. Martin came to ADVA Optical Networking from Cisco Systems, where he spent five years in numerous roles, including vice president and general manager of the worldwide optical business and vice president of service provider development.

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