"Server-centric" automation approach instead of "network-centric"
Force10 is pitching an alternative to Cisco’s data center automation approach that the company says builds on the principle’s of Ockham’s Razor — that “entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity.” Force10 prefers to automate data center operations through easily accessible scripting languages and partnerships that tie its network to the existing data center operations — not the other way around.
The company this week unveiled its “Open Automation Intitiative” which uses elements of Force10’s FTOS operating system to provide policy-driven, dynamic workload allocation. Specifically, it is designed to allow Force10 customers to orchestrate network management and configuration tasks throughout the existing data center operations to allocate resources and increase network response time.
This is in contrast to Cisco’s “network centric” approach to automating data center tasks, Force10 says. Instead of the network doing the orchestrating, the server-resident application or middleware orchestrates network operations.
Open Automation relies on using common scripting languages and standards-based protocols as the means for exchanging updates and status between FTOS and hypervisors, virtual switches, middleware or orchestration tools and database applications. It exploits two new software features of FTOS, hyperlink and switchlink.
Hyperlink provides real-time communication between the Force10 network fabric and hypervisors or virtual switches to enable, for example, the automatic reprovisioning of one or many VLANs across multiple switches simultaneously. The switchlink feature provides real-time communication with middleware orchestration tools to enable automatic provisioning and management of virtual devices.
The Open Automation Initiative includes more than 25 data center-related technology partners, according to Force10.
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