Chapter 3: PowerEdge MX Scalable Fabric Architecture
34
Dell EMC PowerEdge MX
Networking Architecture Guide
Figure 26. Traditional mixed blade/rack networking
Note:
Depending on where the L2/L3 boundary is at, an additional pair of leaf switches may be
added for the storage connections.
This design is inefficient and expensive. Communication between rack and blade servers
must traverse the core, increasing latency, and the storage array consumes expensive
core switch ports. All of this results in increased operations cost from the increased
number of managed switches.
Embedded ToR functionality is built into the MX9116n FSE. Configure any QSFP28-DD
port to break out into 8x10GbE or 8x25GbE and connect the appropriate cables and
optics. This enables all servers and storage connect directly to the MX9116n FSE and
communication between all devices that are kept within the switch. This provides a single
point of management and network security while reducing cost and improving
performance and latency.
In Figure 26, above, there are eight switches in total. In the following figure, using
embedded ToR, switch count is reduced to the two MX9116n FSE in the two chassis: