Facebook has announced that it has constructed a new hardware component which will run networks in its data centers in a way it wants to. The new homemade modular switch by Facebook, dubbed 6-pack, is able to bring together connections to lots of Facebook-built Wedge switches. In turn these switches connect to servers which are sitting in racks inside Facebook's server farms.
With this kind of facility, Facebook's popular apps and internal services are powered furthermore and they become more necessary in Facebook's operations. Facebook has optimised servers and storage hardware in its data centers. Facebook laid out an elaborate networking architecture a few months ago and the new modular switch completely fits into the architecture. This modular switch also poses challenge to other sellers like Cisco, Juniper and Arista. Just like Facebook's servers, 6-pack is also customisable.
In a blog post, Facebook engineer Yuval Bachar detailed about the new product, “Each element [in 6-pack] runs its own operating system on the local server and is completely independent, from the switching aspects to the low-level board control and cooling system...This means we can modify any part of the system with no system-level impact, software or hardware.”
In days to come, other companies are also expected to build or purchase similar modular switches for their data centers. Facebook is supposed to submit the 6-pack design to the Open Compute Project (OCP). Bachar, who led the 6-pack project, wrote further, “We will continue working with the OCP community to develop open network technologies that are more flexible, more scalable, and more efficient.” Presently the switch is being tested for further production at Facebook.
With this kind of facility, Facebook's popular apps and internal services are powered furthermore and they become more necessary in Facebook's operations. Facebook has optimised servers and storage hardware in its data centers. Facebook laid out an elaborate networking architecture a few months ago and the new modular switch completely fits into the architecture. This modular switch also poses challenge to other sellers like Cisco, Juniper and Arista. Just like Facebook's servers, 6-pack is also customisable.
In days to come, other companies are also expected to build or purchase similar modular switches for their data centers. Facebook is supposed to submit the 6-pack design to the Open Compute Project (OCP). Bachar, who led the 6-pack project, wrote further, “We will continue working with the OCP community to develop open network technologies that are more flexible, more scalable, and more efficient.” Presently the switch is being tested for further production at Facebook.
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