Evaluating the advantages of Cisco ACI over traditional Three-Tier Architecture

Abstract

Between 2005 to 2013, network infrastructure mainly in the data centers faced issues like scalability, automation, and segmentation. On the other hand, software developers need more bandwidth these days for their applications which are improving every day. Traditional data centers cannot provide the needs of today’s software developers and handle their applications traffic. Even by using technologies like EtherChannel or link aggregation, it cannot provide the best solution for the data centers. Traditionally, data centers and networks have been designed based on hierarchical designs that are named three-tier model (three layers). The recommended three-tier design data center by Cisco consists of a core layer, aggregation layer and an access layer. Network management, maintenance, correlating information between different vendors and devices, different levels of expertise, human errors and differences in protocols used to implement a network are the most challenges in front of companies. The aim of this research is to compare traditional data centers with Software-Defined Network based solutions for the data center with a thought in mind to help anybody who wants to be more familiar with Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI). During some parts of this thesis, it will moreover be learned how data centers can take advantage of the latest AI technology like Deep Learning (DL). The research takes a practical approach and focuses on a real-world solution. First, concepts about network, data center challenges, Software-Defined Networking are explained. After that, the project described how to configure Cisco ACI and how to use automation tools in order to decrease boring tasks and configuration in an enterprise network solution. This practical thesis was created based on the ATBIT company’s customer data center and it is not only a configuration approach, but also a reference for migration to any data center. This thesis tried to provide a good practical reason to choose SDN base technologies over traditional ones, and it shows us the different ways of automation and automation tools in network infrastructures.