1.0 Network+ Certification Cram Notes : Networking Fundamentals

1.7 Explain basic corporate and datacenter network architecture

Traffic flows

In networking, the terms "North-South" and "East-West" are used to describe the direction of traffic flow within a network.

North-South traffic refers to the flow of traffic from the network's perimeter to its core and back, typically from a user or an external network to an internal network. This type of traffic is also referred to as "ingress" and "egress" traffic.

East-West traffic refers to the flow of traffic between different parts of the internal network, such as between servers or between different parts of the datacenter. This type of traffic is also referred to as "inter-dc" or "intra-dc" traffic.

In a well-designed network, North-South traffic is typically routed through a dedicated network perimeter, such as a firewall, while East-West traffic is routed through the core of the network. By separating these two types of traffic, the network can be designed to be more secure, scalable, and efficient.

Branch office vs. on-premises datacenter vs. colocation

Branch office, on-premises datacenter, and colocation are different types of network architecture environments.

Branch office refers to a location that is geographically separate from the main office but is connected to the main network through a WAN link. Branch offices typically have their own local network infrastructure and are connected to the main office for centralized management and resource sharing.

An on-premises datacenter is a physical location within an organization where the IT infrastructure is housed and managed. It is usually a dedicated room or building that houses servers, storage, and network equipment, providing a centralized location for the organization's IT operations.

A colocation (colocation center, colo) is a type of data center where multiple organizations can rent space to house their IT equipment, such as servers, storage, and network equipment. Colocation facilities provide the physical infrastructure, including power, cooling, and bandwidth, and the customer provides the equipment and management. The benefit of a colocation is that organizations can take advantage of shared resources, reducing costs and increasing efficiency.

Explain the following Connection types with reference to Storage area networks

A Storage Area Network (SAN) is a high-speed network that provides block-level access to data storage. It is designed to separate the storage resources from the data servers and manage the storage devices as a centralized resource pool. There are several connection types used in SANs, including Fibre Channel, Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), and Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI).

1. Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE): FCoE is a network protocol that allows Fibre Channel traffic to be carried over Ethernet networks. It provides a simple and cost-effective way to transport Fibre Channel traffic over Ethernet networks, eliminating the need for specialized Fibre Channel switches.

2. Fibre Channel: Fibre Channel is a high-speed network protocol that provides fast, reliable and secure data transfer between servers and storage devices. It operates at the physical and data link layers of the OSI model, providing a full-duplex point-to-point connection between servers and storage devices.

3. Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI): iSCSI is a network protocol that enables the transfer of SCSI commands over IP networks. It allows SCSI-based storage devices to be accessed over a standard Ethernet network, making it a cost-effective solution for small and medium-sized businesses.