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Configuring VCF fabric
Overview
IT infrastructure which contains clouds, networks, and terminal devices is undergoing a deep
transform. The IT infrastructure is migrating to the cloud with the aims of implementing the elastic
expansion of computing resources and providing IT services on demand. In this context, Hewlett
Packard Enterprise developed the Virtual Converged Framework (VCF) solution. This solution
breaks the boundaries between the network, cloud management, and terminal platforms and
transforms the IT infrastructure to a converged framework to accommodate all applications. It also
implements automatic network provisioning and deployment.
VCF fabric topology
In a VCF fabric, a device has one of the following roles:
•
Spine node
—Connects to leaf nodes.
•
Leaf node
—As shown in
, a leaf node connects to a server in a typical data center
network. A shown in
, a leaf node connects to an access node in a typical campus
network.
•
Access node
—As shown in
, an access node connects to an upstream leaf node and
downstream terminal devices in a typical campus network. Cascading of access nodes is
supported.
•
Border node
—Located at the border of a VCF fabric to provide access to the external network.
Spine nodes and leaf nodes form a large Layer 2 network, which can be a VLAN, a VXLAN with
centralized IP gateways, or a VXLAN with distributed IP gateways. For more information about
centralized IP gateways and distributed IP gateways, see
VXLAN Configuration Guide.
Figure 91 VCF fabric topology for a data center network
VXLAN/VLAN
vSwitch
VM
VM
vSwitch
VM
VM
Spine
Leaf
Leaf
Leaf
Border
Spine
Spine