[c-nsp] Nexus equipment in corporate networks

[Jeremy Bresley]

On 3/12/2011 6:22 AM, chris stand wrote:
> Hello,
>
>     Is anyone here using Nexus 7Ks in their corporate networks ?
> Other than the management vDC are you breaking up your networks into
> multiple vDCs ?
Current employer uses 4 VDCs:  Core (default VDC), Server Farm 
Distribution, User Distribution, and an Edge VDC for Internet/Extranet 
connectivity.

Former employer had a customer using the default as a core VDC, a Server 
Farm Distribution VDC, and a separate VDC for their backup network.

Best way to consider VDCs is in a 4500/6500 world, would you have those 
functions either in a separate VRF, or on a separate set of chassis.  If 
so, that's where VDCs are a good fit.  When you want to have isolation 
between different BUs, different large customers, or different functions 
within the DC, VDCs are perfect for that.

The only drawback to VDCs is that to connect two VDCs together, you have 
to do a physical cable between them, which takes up 2 ports on the 
switch.  Make sure you take this into account when you're buying line 
cards and SFPs/X2s.  It's easy to burn through a lot of ports quickly 
just getting the switches up, and getting them talking to each other 
across the different VDCs.  Add a handful of N5Ks with VPCs into the 
mix, and the port counts add up quickly, especially if you're trying to 
control over-subscription.

That being said, once you get them configured, they've been very stable 
for us, and the capacity for expansion and throughput is remarkable.

Jeremy