Bringing SWAG to Enterprise Campus Networking!

As client users, devices, and IoT continue to proliferate, the need for switching management and workload optimization across domains increases. Many sub-optimal and closed approaches have been designed in the past. Arista was founded to build the best software and hardware, equating to the highest performance and density in cloud/data centers, and now evolving to campus switches. In 2020, we introduced the smallest footprint of Arista CCS 750 and 720 series switches as a fitting example of the highest density and lowest footprint.

Yet clearly, there are times when these switches need to be managed as one entity for customers to build and operate flexible designs and topology. In the 1990s, this was done with proprietary cabling hardware and closed stackable ring or chain topologies. This is a closed and cumbersome approach as the management scope is restricted to small numbers (less than 10) of switches and relies on proprietary mechanisms.

Bringing SWAG to Switching

Arista customers recognized the limitations of this legacy stacking approach and encouraged us to help them break free from these shackles. So, we are embarking on yet another breakthrough innovation for modern enterprises. The pioneering efforts began in the early 2010s with MLAG, whereby one could aggregate multiple active-active links and enable alternate and redundant paths to switches in the data center.

Building upon that MLAG experience, Arista SWAG™ (Switch Aggregation Group) brings modern stacking to campus switches. Arista SWAG allows a set of switches to be grouped and share a centralized control plane, thus providing the ability to operate the group of switches through a single IP address and a single CLI interface for automation.  SWAG is based on Arista EOS^Ⓡ and supports multiple topologies, including Arista's universal Leaf-Spine design and the more traditional ring or chain. Importantly, it can scale up to 48 campus stacking elements.

Imagine providing all the benefits of legacy stacking without the limitations! Some of these benefits include:

• Can scale to up to 48 switches in a single group, allowing for increased IP address conservation
• Can extend the scope of the cluster beyond just ‘IDF closet’ to a larger domain in the network
• Supports the highly resilient and the high capacity Arista validated Leaf-Spine topology in addition to Ring and Chain topologies
• Minimal downtime due to key capabilities such as smart software upgrades (SSU) that are inherited since SWAG is built on the same proven EOS software 

Our customers now have the flexibility to perform network operations on a logical stack of switches in a standards-based, open, modern leaf spine architecture, as shown in the figure below.

Arista's SWAG for Modern Campus Stack

The Road Ahead - Avoid the Stackable Tax

Arista CloudVision LSS™(Leaf Spine Stack) management brings swagger to switches! CV LSS reduces complexity in configuration and maintenance by allowing multiple switches to operate under single-entity management. By linking switches together into a "virtual stack," administrators get the best of both worlds. Customers can logically organize groups of switches based on real-world constructs, such as buildings or floors within CloudVision LSS Management, and then perform network operations such as onboarding, provisioning, monitoring, upgrading, and configuring seamlessly across the entire group. Enterprises also benefit from flexible network designs, whether the grouped switches are in standalone mode, a chassis, MLAG, or SWAG-based stack mode.

Arista’s modern software is inherently designed with key availability and segmentation techniques that separate management and control planes, thus avoiding the pitfalls of proprietary stacking. This simplified stacking approach improves operations, minimizes downtime, and reduces TCO—an advancement that has been a long time coming. 

The networking industry has been operating in cumbersome silos and closed proprietary networks for too long. It is the right time to transform into a new, modern operating model. Welcome to the new world of SWAG! 

We wish our readers a happy holiday season and new year ahead!

References:

White Paper

Video

Press Release

*Note: There are many definitions of swag. Arista likes the slang definition that implies cool; cute; looking great.