DCnet: a data centre network architecture that supports live VM migration. Issue 2 (1st March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Comer, Douglas; Karandikar, Rajas H.
• Is Part Of: IET networks. Volume 8:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 114
• Page End: 125
• Publication Date: 2019-03-01
• Subjects: cloud computing -- operating systems (computers) -- computer centres -- virtual machines -- virtualisation -- storage management; data centre network architecture -- live VM migration -- online Internet services -- cloud paradigm -- server virtualisation -- cloud providers -- computational resources -- enterprise applications -- network communication -- east‐west communication -- east‐west traffic -- future data centre networks -- efficient VM migration -- DCnet changes -- multiple data centres -- Internet protocol -- IP; Computer network architectures -- Periodicals; Computer network protocols -- Periodicals; Information networks -- Periodicals; Telecommunication systems -- Periodicals; 004.605
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-net.2018.5094
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2047-4954

Abstract

Abstract : Cloud computing and storage have become an integral part of online Internet services. Over the past decade, enterprises have steadily moved their applications and storage to the cloud paradigm. Server virtualisation enables cloud providers to utilise computational resources efficiently by employing virtual machines (VMs) and containers. As more enterprise applications are hosted by VMs in the cloud, a significant amount of network communication occurs among servers within a data centre, increasing so‐called ' east‐west communication' . In addition to scaling to accommodate more east‐west traffic, future data centre networks must support efficient VM migration, which is used to optimise power consumption. This article proposes a new data centre network architecture called DCnet . DCnet changes addressing and routing at layers 2 and 3 completely to increase throughput and support live VM migration throughout an organisation, including across multiple data centres owned by an organisation that spans large geographic areas. DCnet retains compatibility with existing hardware by using the same frame format as standard protocols, specifically Ethernet and Internet protocol (IP). Furthermore, DCnet does not require any changes to applications and host operating systems or libraries. In addition to presenting the architecture, the article describes a test bed used to assess DCnet and reports experimental measurements.