Introduction
Cisco Systems is the world's largest supplier of enterprise-level networking solutions. As such, the company is continuously innovating and introducing new technologies to improve data center infrastructure performance. This article describes some of the technologies, such as Cisco's Nexus 9000 family of switches, UCS Manager, Cisco DNA Center, and Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI), that are being implemented by companies to enhance their data center operations.
Background
As technology evolves and digital transformation accelerates, data centers are becoming increasingly complex and essential to the functioning of businesses. Cisco Systems is committed to offering solutions to ensure superior performance and reliability of data center operations. With the introduction of new technologies, businesses can benefit from increased speed, scalability, security, and visibility into data centers.
Cisco's Nexus 9000 Family of Switches
Cisco's Nexus 9000 family of switches offers high-performance, high-density 10/40/100-gigabit switching for data centers. These switches provide a scalable and unified platform that supports both traditional and next-generation applications. They feature extensive hardware resources, as well as advanced features that enable enterprises to deploy applications quickly and securely. These switches are designed to be highly resilient with features such as redundant power systems, and virtual Port Channel (vPC) technology that allows two or more switches to be connected via a single Ethernet link. Additionally, the 9000 family switches support Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) technology, which allows for the deployment of virtual service appliances such as firewalls and load balancers to improve the performance of networked applications.
Cisco UCS Manager
Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) Manager is a software tool that enables businesses to streamline data center operations. UCS Manager provides a web-based graphical user interface that makes it easy to manage, monitor, and provision UCS systems from a single interface. This software also allows administrators to manage and set up UCS in minutes, as well as track and control who has access to the system. UCS Manager also features dynamic data protection, which automatically generates snapshots of unchanged data across all UCS systems. In addition, the software can monitor, field replace, and repair components remotely, all while keeping the system running.
Cisco DNA Center
Cisco DNA Center is an advanced analytics platform designed to help businesses better manage and gain insights into data center networks. Cisco DNA Center provides real-time insights on security, performance, and availability of the network, providing businesses with the analytics they need to optimize their data center operations. The platform also simplifies network operations with its Software Defined Networking (SDN) capabilities and automated management functions, allowing for faster response times and reduced downtime. Additionally, Cisco DNA Center works with other Cisco solutions, such as Cognitive Threat Analytics and Cognitive Network analytics, providing businesses with complete visibility and control over their data center networks.
Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI)
Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) is a highly automated software-defined networking (SDN) service that enables businesses to better manage and optimize their data centers. It is based on Cisco's Application-Aware Networking (AAN) technology, which provides dynamic scaling, controlled segmentation, and automated provisioning of applications and services on the network. ACI simplifies network operations and improves policy enforcement, allowing businesses to deploy new applications and services with greater agility and reliability. Additionally, ACI provides better performance, scalability, security, and visibility into data center operations.
For enterprises today, the need for reliable and high-performing data center operations is of paramount importance. Cisco Systems has responded to the challenge of meeting these requirements by introducing the Nexus 9000 Family of switches, the UCS Manager, Cisco DNA Center, and ACI solutions. These technologies enable businesses to have a unified platform that supports both traditional and next-generation applications, while providing enhanced performance, scalability, security, and visibility into their data center operations. This article has examined these solutions and how companies can benefit from their implementation.
