Network Architecture
Data Center Network Architecture Guide
Complete guide to designing robust data center networks - Spine-leaf architecture, redundancy, bandwidth planning, security, and best practices for Indian data centers.
Network Architecture Design
Network Topologies
Three-Tier Architecture
Traditional hierarchical design with core, distribution, and access layers.
- Core → Distribution → Access
- Simple to design and manage
- Limited scalability
- Higher latency between tiers
Spine-Leaf Architecture
Modern, scalable design with full mesh connectivity between spine and leaf switches.
- Full mesh connectivity
- Predictable latency
- High scalability
- Recommended for modern DC
Fabric Architecture
Unified fabric with single management plane for compute, storage, and network.
- Single management plane
- Automated provisioning
- Reduced operational overhead
- Higher initial cost
Switching Requirements
| Switch Type | Port Speed | Port Density | Throughput | Recommended Brands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Switches | 100/400 GbE | 32-64 ports | 12.8-25.6 Tbps | Cisco Nexus 9K, Arista 7280 |
| Spine Switches | 40/100 GbE | 36-48 ports | 3.6-7.2 Tbps | Cisco Nexus 3K, Juniper QFX |
| Leaf Switches | 10/25/100 GbE | 48 ports + 6 uplinks | 1.2-2.4 Tbps | Cisco Nexus 2K, Dell S5200 |
| Top-of-Rack | 10/25 GbE | 48 ports | 480 Gbps-1 Tbps | HPE Aruba, MikroTik |
Bandwidth Planning
| Application Type | Bandwidth per Server | Redundancy Factor | Total for 100 Servers | Recommended Design |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web Hosting | 100 Mbps - 1 Gbps | 2:1 oversubscription | 5-50 Gbps | 10GbE ToR, 40GbE uplinks |
| Database | 10-40 Gbps | No oversubscription | 1-4 Tbps | 25/100GbE leaf-spine |
| Virtualization | 25-100 Gbps | 4:1 oversubscription | 0.625-2.5 Tbps | 100GbE fabric |
| Storage | 10-100 Gbps | No oversubscription | 1-10 Tbps | Separate storage network |
Redundancy Design
Network Level Redundancy
- Dual ISPs with diverse paths
- BGP routing for failover
- Multiple edge routers
- Geo-redundant connections
Device Redundancy
- Pair of core switches (VRRP/HSRP)
- Dual firewalls (active-active)
- Multiple load balancers
- Redundant power supplies
Path Redundancy
- Multiple fiber routes
- Diverse entry points
- Mesh connectivity
- ECMP (Equal Cost Multi-Path)