SDN Benefits: Using VMware vSphere with Huawei Cloud Fabric as an Example

Today we’ll talk about why in recent years, topics of cloud technology development, resource virtualization, and building software-defined networks have become popular.

And we’ll try to understand specific examples of what real benefits are hidden behind the “information noise” around cloud computing and virtualization of everything and everything, as well as what advantages you can get when you are on the crest of a wave of actively developing technologies.

Sounds interesting. And what are we talking about?

The question is reasonable. Here and now we will talk about building software-defined networks, known under the acronym SDN (from English Software Defined Networking).

In short, SDN is a form of network virtualization.

The main feature of these networks is that their control level is separated from data transmission devices and is implemented in software.

There are three things to know about software-defined networks:

• data transfer and data management processes are separated;
• network management is centralized using unified software
• virtualization of physical network resources is required.

Why is SDN being given so much attention? The question will disappear by itself, if you look at the scope of their application:

• infrastructure cloud services, especially in cases where it is necessary to quickly allocate virtual resources to consumers in automatic mode;

• Data center;

• Internet of Things (IoT).

The theory is clear. Where is the profit?

Profit - in savings.

Firstly, savings on capital expenditures, as with the use of cloud technologies: the purchase of servers and network equipment, ensuring a continuous work process, etc.

Secondly, reducing the time to deploy additional services and applications in your data center, as well as the allocation of additional virtual network resources.

Thirdly, reduction of labor costs for network maintenance (due to centralization and automation of management on the software controller) and for the same deployment of new applications.

And, finally, increasing the efficiency of using network resources due to dynamic control and an almost instantaneous reaction to an increase in demand for computing power.

Actually, these are the main aspects that are the reasons for the active growth of the SDN market in recent years.

Everything is smooth on paper. Are there any usage examples?

Where without them!

As an example, consider using the Huawei Cloud Fabric platform to build software-defined networks for data centers.

More precisely, its integration with the VMware vSphere virtualization platform. The integration of Huawei Cloud Fabric with VMware vSphere is just a vivid demonstration of the ability to drastically reduce the time and labor required to deploy new services and applications to the data center.

Huawei Cloud Fabric? What is it?

The Huawei Cloud Fabric platform for SDN data centers is built on the Huawei CloudEngine series of switches. One of the many distinguishing features of the CloudEngine family of switches is the ability to directly integrate with the VMware environment through the Network Virtualization Controller (VMware NSX) using the Open vSwitch Database (OVSDB) protocol.

Thanks to this, the processes of managing, planning and configuring the network infrastructure can be carried out using vSphere's own tools. In addition, this connection allows the network infrastructure hardware platforms to work closely with the computing infrastructure, which provides extremely simple, connected management of computing and network resources when creating, moving, or deleting virtual machines.


Integration scheme between the NSX VMware vSphere controller and Huawei CloudEngine switching platforms using OVSDB

This level of integration and automation dramatically reduces the time, resources, labor and operational costs associated with deploying new services, optimizing resources and disaster recovery in an environment that uses the VMware virtualization platform .

Huawei Cloud Fabric provides a significant reduction in time and simplification of the process of introducing new services to the market, up to the level of the “self-service” model. Thanks to this, the data center IT resources may cease to function as a “cost center” and transform their role into a “business accelerator” of the digital era.

And how to integrate? The instruction is attached?

We thought about everything.

Integration with Cloud Fabric is implemented by deploying VMware vSphere into the operating environment through the vSphere Network Virtualization API. Information about the status, profile, association of a virtual network segment with specific virtual machines and changes in them in real time are transmitted directly by the vSphere SDN controller to CloudEngine switches.

The integration between the CloudEngine and vSphere family of data center switches at the API level gives IT administrators a consistent, simple, and high-quality support for automating their work with the VMware cloud without requiring any changes to the existing VMware environment.

It looks easy ... And how useful?

The functionality resulting from the integration of Cloud Fabric with VMware vSphere provides significant benefits in the following aspects:

• Simplify the deployment of services and applications
• Reducing the time required to create and optimize the configuration of network resources;
• decrease in the level of operating, administrative and logistic overheads;
• Reduced deployment and configuration errors.

Service deployment cycle

The figure above shows typical network operation procedures that are performed when a new service or application is deployed; in a traditional non-automated network, these operations are performed mainly in manual mode. In such manual repeating procedures, the total deployment time and error rate are determined by the human factor. Automation achieved through integration with vSphere, relying on the powerful capabilities of SDN, can significantly speed up this cycle and reduce the likelihood of errors.

In addition, integration with VMware vSphere provides the following direct benefits:

• shortened “training curve” for operating personnel: when using network virtualization and the vSphere controller, all aspects of operation are consistent with each other and are part of the VMware concept;
• management of computing, network and storage resources is tied to a "single control panel": coordination and "orchestration" of all data center resources is carried out centrally on a single platform - VMware vSphere;
• maximizing the effectiveness of existing investments by providing a flexible and scalable hardware-optimized SDN solution based on existing VMware vSphere and NSX Controller infrastructure.

Let’s take a look at specific figures — a reduction in time costs that brings you real savings in data center operating costs.

The table below shows a typical example of a generally accepted work cycle (for the best case), which can occur hundreds, if not thousands of times a year. Depending on the size of the network, the size of the company, and the number of services and applications deployed during the year, real savings can be significantly greater:


Arguing in terms of the speed of introducing new services, we can say that in manual mode a typical preparation period takes from one day to two weeks.

Amid industry-average manual deployment times of three days, close to real-time performance, SDN systems such as Huawei Cloud Fabric and VMware vSphere provide previously unavailable immediate self-service capabilities.

The ability to quickly configure, deploy and provide new services and services allows corporate IT services of any industry to create competitive advantages in the areas of user experience, customer interaction, business intelligence, operations and logistics.

One ... two ... three ... sold!

The goal of integrating network infrastructure with the VMware vSphere orchestra and deploying cloud services through a single system is to implement an end-user self-service model.

This model allows the company to reduce costs and time for launching new applications or organizing disaster recovery. And a strategy to automate and simplify processes allows your IT staff to get rid of the tasks of routine configuration and make more efficient use of the time gained.

In addition, the integration of the SDN platform with VMware vSphere helps bridge the gap between network and computing functions, which is a key factor in popularizing the private cloud in the enterprise market.