[j-nsp] QFX3500 as ToR switch?

[James Jones]

On Tue, Nov 8, 2011 at 5:29 PM, Wojciech Owczarek
<wojciech at owczarek.co.uk>wrote:

> Hi guys,
>
> My two pence here - I think they are two totally different devices...
>
> EX4500: 2U tall, will fit a shallow rack but still 2U, reversible air flow,
> PSUs with fat 16A C19/C20 plugs, 40 x 10GE (max. 48), no 40GE, much higher
> latency (store and forward only switch, 2 PFEs - around 4 x QFX3500
> latency, if you care).
> BUT supports VC and can also be stacked together in a mixed manner with
> EX4200s which is quite interesting if you want to build a mixed media
> stack.
>
> QFX3500:  1U, but damn long (70cm rack depth is the *minimum*, two mounting
> points - front and back - are a must). Server type construction. This
> device is designed to sit more in the middle of a rack than in the top.
> Non-reversible air flow: front to back cooling only, but switch ports are
> at the back, where server ports are and you can't change that. Console,
> power and management are on the other side so you have power cables
> sticking out the front of your rack, not good for server cabinets where
> server fronts are very close to the door. Requires some physical planning
> for deployment and for some people will not be an easy drop-in replacement
> for their previous TORs.Much lower latency (single PFE, cut-through but
> defaults to store & forward, I think it still qualifies as Ultra Low
> Latency these days). Supports 40GE and will serve as a QFabric node. High
> port density - 48 x 10GE out of the box, up to 64 x 10GE when using QSFP to
> SFP+ break-out cables, turning each of the 4 40GE into 4 x 10GE ports.
>
> Depends on what you want to do really, but the QFX3500 is more of a typical
> ToR, and definitely more future proof.
>
> Regards
> Wojciech
>
> On 8 November 2011 21:31, Jim Glen <jim.glen at codonis.com> wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> > I've deployed them and have been very pleased with their performance.
> >
> > The rational over choosing the QFX over the EX4500 is I intend to deploy
> > these devices at some point soon into my consolidated Q-Fabric platform
> > which the QFX is designed for the EX4500 does not have the same
> capability
> > to participate.
> >
> > JimG
> >
> > On Nov 4, 201145308, at 9:56 AM, Sargun Dhillon wrote:
> >
> > > I was wondering if anyone here has implemented the QFX3500 as a ToR
> > switch. How have your experiences been, and how has it been as compared
> to
> > other Juniper products? Additionally, I'm curious as to what made you
> > choose it over the EX4500?
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > Sargun Dhillon
> > > VoIP (US): +1-925-235-1105
> > > _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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>
>
>
> --
> -
>
> Wojciech Owczarek
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>
+1 on Wojciech's thoughts