Thursday, November 19, 2015

Facebook Targets 32x100G Wedge Data Center Switch

Facebook confirmed that work is already underway on Wedge 100, a 32x100G switch for its hyperscale data centers.

Facebook is also adapting Wedge to a much bigger aggregation switch called 6-pack, which uses Wedge as its foundation and stacks 12 of these Wedges in a modular and nonblocking aggregation switch. FBOSS will be used as a software stack across the growing platform of network switches: Wedge, 6-pack, and now Wedge 100.

In an engineering blog post, Facebook said thousands of its initial Wedge top-of-rack network switch have already been deployed.  Teh design has been contributed to the Open Compute Project and is now commercially available from various vendors.

Facebook also revealed that its FBOSS software undergoes a weekly cadence of new features and bug fixes. Facebook is able to update thousands of switches seamlessly, without any traffic loss, to keep up with this pace.  Some new capabilities include detailed monitoring, non-stop forwarding, warm boot, etc.

https://code.facebook.com/posts/145488969140934/open-networking-advances-with-wedge-and-fboss/

Facebook Debuts "6-Pack" Open Hardware Modular Switch


Facebook is taking the wraps off of its "6-Pack" open modular switch platform designed for the flexibility, efficiency, and scale required in its massive data centers. The architecture allows Facebook to build different size switches using common line card and fabric card building blocks. Last year, Facebook disclosed the specification of its top-of-rack network switch (code-named “Wedge”) and a Linux-based operating system for that switch (code-named...






Facebook Unveils "Wedge" Top-of-Rack Programmable Switch


Facebook introduced a new top-of-rack network switch, code-named “Wedge,” and a new Linux-based operating system for that switch, code-named “FBOSS.”  Both products are part of Facebook's efforts to "disaggregate" the network from traditional product categories so as to create more flexible, more scalable and more efficient data centers.  The Wedge switch features a modular design that brings capabilities of a micro-server using a range...

Facebook's Latest Open Compute Project Data Center


Facebook has kicked off construction of its fifth mega data center in Fort Worth, Texas. The new site will join the other major Facebook data centers located in Prineville (Oregon), Forest City (North Carolina), Lulea (Sweden), and Altoona (Iowa). The new Fort Worth data center will feature the latest Open Compute Project hardware designs — including Yosemite, Wedge, and 6-pack — making it one of the most advanced data centers in the world. Notably,...

Facebook Releases FBOSS Open Switching System


Facebook released its open switching system (code-named “FBOSS”) on GitHub. The initial release consists primarily of the FBOSS agent, a daemon that runs on each switch and manages the hardware forwarding ASIC. It receives information via configuration files and thrift APIs and then programs the correct forwarding and routing entries into the chip. It also processes packets from the ASIC that are destined to the switch itself, such as control plane...