Understanding how to optimise a network is a non-trivial activity. All too often, well-meaning implementers will create a system that simply works. This is because, there is more to networking than connecting a few boxes with cables.
It is important to ensure and that the networking system is balanced and optimised for the tasks at hand. For example, connecting to keep application servers to their databases over very fast low latency connections. While simultaneously connecting the application servers to the edge servers using had a slower but more cost effective solution. So, our database is connected to application servers at 40 gigabits per second (Gb/s) while the edge servers connect to the application servers at 10 Gb/s. It is this kind of optimisation, either at the high and as per the example or on a more modest scale, that provides the best functionality for the best price.
It should be noted, particularly for contingency purposes, the cellular network is also included.
Networking is more than data shuffling…
A Wide Area Network (WAN) will Span a large geographical area. Typically, this will be between cities, country’s or even continent’s. It is important to understand, that is the distances increase so does the latency. The practical implication, particularly for replication workloads between widely dispersed systems, is that they cannot be a guarantee that to systems will remain synchronised. That is, of course, without significantly affecting their performance.
To this end, DVANA are able to leveraged their expertise in this area and their partnership with Cisco to provide the right solution to your widely area networking needs. This is particularly useful, when considering a hybrid cloud solution. There is a need to connect the on premises systems with the remote cloud. There are also application level considerations that must be made when considering a cloud solution. Geo-replication, particularly if used for a highly availability system requires special consideration. That expertise is readily available to you.
A Metro Area Network (MAN) are typically used to connect the networks from office to office, particularly when they are located in different parts of the same geographic area, often within a city.
In most cases, this has no bearing on cloud services or applications. It is however important to optimise the flow of information over the network, as these connections tend to be expensive.
When talking about the Local Area Network (LAN), it always encompasses a wired and a wireless system. This means, that where Wi-Fi is the most suitable technology, that is used. Where a fixed wired infrastructure is required then that is used.
It is becoming increasingly common in medium sized offices, to connect a local segment with 10 gigabit Ethernet and then from the switch off an account with one gigabit Ethernet to each WorkStation or other connector device. This enables each user to benefit from their full available transfer capability or close to it. In situations, such as a video editing or other forms of content creation, it is often necessary to provide the very high speed connections directly to the desk.
It is all too easy to forget that the scaling factor. This is where one person needs X amount of capability and 10 people therefore need 10 X capability. This effect can very quickly put a strain on an infrastructure. Careful design and consideration of future needs can for very little cost significantly improve people’s morale, which will have a direct bearing on their productivity. A onetime designed effort can reap the rewards for years. If this is done correctly and any new cabling that is required is installed with an eye on the future, further upgrades in due course become quick and cheap.
Throughput more than speed…
An Ultra Short Network (USN) is a system pioneered by DVANA to enable systems to operate at their most effective and efficient. In general, an USN will connect at very high speed the data processing portions of a system. This means, the database will be connected to a SAN storage system, which is also connected to its application servers. This triple way connection is common and therefore standard solutions can be used to optimize the networking, the redundancy and the failover paths.
In short, by architecting a system to use USN, a system can perform faster, with better failover protection, as the potential loss window can be significantly reduced, while at the same time, providing significantly lower latency. All those this is possible with 40 Gb/s Ethernet, with QDR and EDR Infiniband or the latest 100 Gb/s Omni Path technology.
All of these techniques can be applied at lower speeds, such as 2.5 or 5 Gb/s Ethernet, to offer all the architecture advantages, along with a noticeable cost saving.
The quickest and simplest way to determine your networking needs, for now and into the future, is to contact DVANA now.