High-Performance Network Aggregation and Efficiency
Nokia has introduced the 7220 Interconnect Router (7220 IXR) as an integral component of its Data Center Fabric solution. Specifically designed for data center fabric, it offers fixed-configuration and high-performance platforms that empower organizations to introduce unparalleled scale, flexibility, and operational simplicity to their data center networks and cloud environments.
The increasing demand for higher port speeds and density in data center architectures, driven by high-bandwidth servers, necessitates the evolution of network aggregation and interconnectivity with more power-efficient and modern hardware designs. Specifically designed for data center leaf-spine deployments, the 7220 IXR-D series routers are fixed-configuration platforms delivering high performance.
Within the 7220 IXR-D series, there are multiple models available:
- 7220 IXR-D1
- 7220 IXR-D2L
- 7220 IXR-D3L
- 7220 IXR-D4
- 7220 IXR-D5
The entire 7220 IXR-D series – in addition to its Nokia Data Center counterpart, the 7250 series – implements the Nokia Service Router Linux (SR Linux) network operating system (NOS).
Features and Benefits of the Nokia 7220 IXR
The 7220 IXR offers an integration of high-scale interconnectivity with an open, extensible, and resilient NOS and an operations toolkit, allowing automation throughout every phase of data center fabric operations.
High-Capacity Fixed-Configuration Platforms
The 7220 IXR delivers high-performance, high-density, fixed-configuration platforms specifically designed for data center leaf-spine deployments. These platforms provide:
- Multiple chassis variants with system capacities up to 6.4 Tb/s
- Support for port speeds including 400GE, 100GE, 50GE, 40GE, 25GE, 10GE, or 1GE
- Hot-swappable and redundant power supplies
- Hot-swappable and redundant fans
Modern, Open NOS
The 7220 IXR implements the SR Linux NOS, featuring a unique, ground-up architecture centered around model-driven management and modern interfaces. With SR Linux, you can:
- Bring simplified operations, integrations, ultimate visibility, and unmatched flexibility to your data centers
- Evolve your data center networks with enhanced IP routing features like MP-BGP, EVPN, and VXLAN
- Provide NetOps teams and application developers with the confidence to fine-tune and customize data center platforms and NOS to meet their specific needs
Intent-Based Automation and Operations
The 7220 IXR enables the use of the Fabric Services System toolkit, supporting automation at scale for all phases of data center fabric operations, including Day 0 design, Day 1 deployment, and Day 2+ operations. With the Fabric Services System, you can:
- Expedite the onboarding of application workloads by automating fabric designs and configurations, including EVPN
- Manage change risks by utilizing the Fabric Services System digital sandbox tool to emulate data center fabrics, application workloads, and external Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) speakers
What Is Nokia Fabric Services?
The Nokia Fabric Services System is an advanced declarative, intent-based automation and operations toolkit designed to facilitate agile and scalable network operations within data center and cloud environments. With a focus on simplifying all aspects of data center fabric operations, including Day 0 design, Day 1 deployment, and ongoing Day 2+ activities, this system employs intent-based approaches to ensure efficiency and flexibility.
Some of the key features and capabilities include:
Intent-Based Automation Across Phases
The Fabric Services System adopts intent-based methodologies throughout the data center fabric lifecycle. This includes Day 0 design, Day 1 deployment, and ongoing Day 2+ configuration, operation, measurement, and analysis. Intent-based approaches enhance agility and streamline network operations.
Kubernetes Framework Integration
Leveraging the Kubernetes framework, the system benefits from an established open platform, avoiding the need to reinvent essential platform components. This integration ensures scalability and aligns with cloud-native principles.
Distributed Microservices Architecture
The system employs a distributed microservices approach for all fabric services, providing a cloud-native automation and operations platform. This architecture enhances scalability, flexibility, and adaptability to changing operational needs.
Digital Sandbox
The Fabric Services System introduces a cloud-native Digital Sandbox, offering a genuine emulation of a single data center router as an SR Linux container instance. This sandbox also emulates a fabric of multiple SR Linux container instances, serving as an operational tool capable of emulating a data center fabric, application workloads, and external BGP speakers.
Intent-Based Design and Validation
Operators can represent the design and configuration of the data center fabric in an intent-based, declarative manner. This approach aligns with NetOps principles, leveraging DevOps and infrastructure as code (IaC) practices. Intent validation on the Digital Sandbox allows for confident and rapid risk management of changes before applying them to the production network.
Flexible Fabric Integrations
The Fabric Services System offers a flexible, cloud-native approach for external integrations. This allows for faster and customized integration with compute virtualization, storage solutions, in-house operational tools, and various cloud environments. The cloud-native integration model supports loosely coupled development within a standard Kubernetes framework.
What Is The Nokia Service Router Linux?
The Nokia 7220 IXR-D series is one of the implementations of Nokia Service Router Linux (Nokia SR Linux), which – as its name suggests – is a Linux-based, open, extensible, and resilient NOS. Engineered to enhance scalability, flexibility, and efficiency, SR Linux finds applications in data center and cloud environments.
Some of the features and benefits of Nokia SR Linux include:
Ground-Up, Model-Driven Architecture
SR Linux is designed with a ground-up, model-driven architecture to address the challenges of scalability and operational ease in cloud-scale data center networks. This architecture prioritizes visibility, scalability, and granularity of visibility.
Extensibility and Open Infrastructure
The NOS provides an extensible and open infrastructure, allowing applications to define and declare their own schemas. This enables the retrieval of fine-grained system state and the setting of configurations.
Modular, State-Sharing Architecture
Utilizing an unmodified Linux kernel, SR Linux employs a publish/subscribe architecture for applications to share state. The Nokia architecture relies on Generalized Remote Procedure Call (gRPC), protocol buffers, and the Nokia Impart Database (IDB), a lightweight database optimized for high message volume.
Field-Proven Protocol Stacks
SR Linux leverages field-proven protocol stacks from the Nokia Service Router Operating System (SR OS), renowned for its strong pedigree in IP routing. This includes support for Multiprotocol-Border Gateway Protocol (MP-BGP), EVPN, Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN), MPLS, and segment routing protocols.
Superior CLI Programmability and Third-Party Integration
Operations teams benefit from superior Command Line Interface (CLI) programmability, enabling customization through CLI plugins. SR Linux supports seamless integration of third-party applications, providing consistent configuration via YANG, telemetry support, life cycle management, and visibility of system resources.
NetOps Development Kit (NDK)
SR Linux offers data center teams a NetOps Development Kit (NDK). This kit facilitates the development of new applications and operational tools in the language of choice, providing deep programmatic access and control over the entire system.
About Infinity Technology Solutions
Infinity Technology Solutions specializes in broadband and critical communications infrastructure development. We help our channel partners create and deploy private wireless, microwave backhaul, IP/MPLS, and optical networking technologies.
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