Data Center Automation. Merely a trend or here to stay?

Let’s not keep our heads in the clouds – computers, smartphones and IoT devices simply cannot make do without cloud storage and data centers nowadays. It is here, in the very core of the IT infrastructure (whether physically present on site or operated in the cloud), that the organization’s critical data is stored and processed. Global tech giants such as Amazon, Google or Azure use hundreds of server rooms spread across the entire world! Potential loss or corruption of data can often prove disastrous, going as far as posing a real threat to business continuity. For many companies, correct and effective functioning of data centers is practically a matter of life or death.

In the struggle for faster, more stable and effective data center we are not alone, as the virtualization technology, which allows to set up a huge amount of virtual servers, proves to be our trusted ally. Let’s keep in mind, though, that despite the fact that virtualization saves money and physical space, the ability of quick reconfiguration of the network, accordingly to the requirements of applications, remains a top priority. When faced with an overwhelming amount of data, manual reconfiguration no longer seems like an option. Process automation becomes indispensable.

When a data center grows rapidly, expanding its size from tens to hundreds of racks, it would be wise not to rely on a single solution or only one, particular provider, wouldn’t it be? Luckily, this is where scalability and standard-based solutions come in handy. The majority of currently used solutions is based on IP Fabric architecture, utilizing standard BGP, BGP-EVPN or VXLAN protocols.

In order to achieve a reliable automation and scalability for data centers, Extreme Networks launched Extreme Fabric Automation (EFA) – a module which introduces a layer of abstraction for IP Fabric. EFA automates the entire IP Fabric configuration process from scratch, in addition to allowing us to configure clients’ networks, access ports or routing from a single place, as well as conduct the whole troubleshooting process. A single command from EFA may translate into tens of changes to the switch configuration. And you can trust it – their validity is verified in real time by the automated machine!

With Extreme Fabric Automation’s help, you will be able to configure both simple and the most complex structures within data centers in mere seconds. You may adjust the parameters to fit into custom solutions, replacing manual operations with full automation. Not only will it save you precious time which can be spent on more important tasks, but it will also eliminate the risk of human error! An extensive Application Programming Interface (API) allows for a very easy integration with the systems used within data centers. For example, while automating the configuration of the servers with Ansible, we can simultaneously configure the network infrastructure accordingly to the needs of the emerging server.

Why do the data centers spring up like mushrooms? The answer is simple: due to the sheer amount of data that surrounds us on a daily basis. Just to give you an idea – in one of the car manufacturing plants which uses Extreme Networks solutions, each screw of the wheel nut during the assembly process generates information about applied torque for further analysis and optimization. More data means more work to do, although… it doesn’t necessarily have to be performed by man. And this is where the Extreme’s automated networking solutions come into play. We will cover them more in the upcoming articles!