[j-nsp] high 10GE port density in EX switch?

[JP Velders]

> Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2013 14:51:02 -0800
> From: Brent Jones <brent at brentrjones.com>
> Subject: Re: [j-nsp] high 10GE port density in EX switch?

> There is always the EX4550, 32 10Gb ports in 1U, with a module to add
> 8 more I believe

Two module slots in fact. With 10GE and VC modules released. The 40GE 
module should debute somewhere this year (so they keep telling me).

If you're going the _physical_ VC route with VCP ports it would give 
you 2.5:1 oversubscription (32 x 10Gbps vs 4 x 32Gbps). Going VCPe you 
can do a bit better with 2:1 oversubscription. If doing that look into 
the traffic patterns to figure out how far you can stretch the Virtual 
Chassis (max 10 members) before creating contention.

I haven't seen official specs for the EX9200 yet, but supposedly that 
should fill the gap between EX8200 and MX I'm told. Apart from Qfabric 
itself, the QFX3600 with MC-LAG might also be a nice consolidation 
layer with its 16 QSFP+ ports between an MX and a bunch of VC'd 
EX4550's. Don't know if the routing on there (with VRRP and filtering) 
is beefy enough for the needs.

In the end it boils down to not just the port-count, but the traffic 
and usage patterns. Unfortunately those aren't always that clear up 
front (or even in hindsight ;D).

Kind regards,
JP Velders