This Week: QFabric System Traffic Flows and Troubleshooting

Traditional Data Center architecture follows a layered approach that uses separate switch devices for access, aggregation, and core layers. But a completely scaled QFabric system combines all the member switches and enables them to function as a single unit. So, if your Data Center deploys a QFabric system with one hundred QFX3500 nodes, then those one hundred switches will act like a single switch.

Traffic flows differently in this super-sized Virtual Chassis that spans your entire Data Center. Knowing how traffic moves is critical to understanding and architecting Data Center operations, but it is also necessary to ensure efficient day-to-day operations and troubleshooting. This Week: QFabric System Traffic Flows and Troubleshooting is a deep dive into how the QFabric system externalizes the data plane for both user data and data plane traffic and why that’s such a massive advantage from an operations point of view.

“QFabric is an unique accomplishment – making 128 switches look and function as one. Ankit brings to this book a background of both supporting QFabric customers, and as a resident engineer, implementing complex customer migrations. This deep dive into the inner workings of the QFabric system is highly recommended for anyone looking to implement or better understand this technology.” -- John Merline, Network Architect, Northwestern Mutual

LEARN SOMETHING NEW ABOUT QFABRIC THIS WEEK:

• Understand the QFabric system technology in great detail.

• Compare the similarities of the QFabric architecture with MPLS-VPN technology.

• Verify the integrity of various protocols that ensure smooth functioning of the QFabric system.

• Understand the various active/backup Routing Engines within the QFabric system.

• Understand the various data plane and control plane flows for different kinds of traffic within the QFabric system.

• Operate and effectively troubleshoot issues that you might face with a QFabric deployment.

About the Author

Ankit Chadha is a Resident Engineer in the Advanced Services group of Juniper Networks. He has worked on QFabric system solutions in various capacities including solutions testing, engineering escalation, customer deployment, and design roles. He holds several industry recognized certifications such as JNCIP-ENT and CCIE-RnS.