Jayshree Ullal: “What is Cloud Networking ?”

"To provide an effective network fabric for these clouds requires a next generation of network infrastructure, which we call Cloud Networking™. There are many attributes one needs to consider for cloud network fabrics that directly affect the choice of switch and software architecture. Some of the key considerations are:

1. Scalability. The cloud network must scale to the overall level of throughput required to ensure that it does not become the bottleneck. This means the cloud networking fabric must handle throughputs that will reach trillions of packets in the near future.
2. Low Latency. The cloud network must deliver microsecond latency across the entire network fabric since low latency improves application performance and server utilization.
3. Guaranteed Performance. The cloud network must provide predictable performance to service a large number of simultaneous applications in the network, including video, voice and web traffic.
4. Self-Healing Resilience. Cloud networks operate 24x7, so downtime is not an option. This requires a network architecture that offers self-healing and the ability for transparent in-service software updates.
5. Extensible Management. Real-time upgrades and image/patch management in a large cloud-network is a daunting challenge to network administrators. A vastly simpler approach is required to handle networks of this size, which automates provisioning, monitoring, maintenance, upgrading, and troubleshooting.

Cloud Networking™ goes beyond classical networks to redefine scalability, administration and management processes. Solving these problems requires a new design approach for the cloud network fabric, starting with software architecture."

What is Cloud Networking ?