Connectivity inside and outside the data centre

An infallible network begins at the data centre but ensuring robust end-to-end network connectivity certainly does not end there.

“No man is an island”, goes the popular quote, and the same could be said about a modern data centre. Despite an extremely high level of redundancy and ability to continue functioning even when power is disrupted, the primary purpose of data centres is really about keeping colocation equipment connected to the outside world.

Lee Kwang Yong, Head, Domestic services and data centres from Singtel, observed that increasing digitalisation among enterprises is also having an impact on the data centre connectivity. “According to IDC’s Cloud View Research, 70% of enterprises are using one or more clouds which represents a 20-30% jump from the previous year. Yet, only 24% are satisfied their networks and connectivity can cope with the transition to the cloud,” he noted.

Ensuring that this connectivity is never threatened takes a lot of work however, and typically necessitates the use of advanced communications equipment, good planning and redundant network routes to achieve always-on connectivity.

For instance, modern data centres incorporate multiple network paths into their design so that any break in connectivity will not keep data from flowing. This starts at the rack level, where servers are wired to independent networks. From there, distinct cable runs or a redundant ring network sends data across data centre halls to separate communication risers at different ends of the facility.

The use of redundant communication risers within a data centre ensures that even the complete failure of one riser – be it from misconfiguration or a localised disaster such as a small fire, will not disrupt the connection.

Importantly, modern data centres have two or more fibre pathways leading out of them. This ensures that an accidental fibre cut, typically by third-party vendors digging up a road nearby or working on a shared cable duct, will not disrupt communications to the data centre.

On this front, it is worth noting that some older data centres may be constrained to just two pathways due to obstructions such as adjacent buildings. New data centres such as Singtel’s DC West data centre however, are designed and constructed with three distinct fibre paths leading out of the building for maximum network reliability.

While the establishment of an infallible network begins at the data centre, ensuring robust end-to-end network connectivity certainly does not end there. These days, enterprises need to put some thought into the network connectivity between multiple locations, which could include a colocation environment containing servers and networking equipment, a home working environment, and corporate offices around the region.

Notably, delivery models have also evolved with the widespread adoption of cloud services, even as core services are often kept on-premise as mandated by law or compliance regulations. More companies are adopting software-defined networking (SDN) and exploring capabilities such as traffic steering. This has resulted in a need for organisations to build complex hybrid networks that span multiple networks and physical locations, while staying robust and secure.

These new capabilities could be classified into three outcomes, namely: reducing cost, greater network visibility and flexibility. Specifically, organisations are requesting for greater visibility and flexibility to achieve better control of network traffic flow across their sprawling network infrastructure by adjusting the bandwidth to match changing workloads and help scale capacity.

An easier alternative would be to sign up with a data centre provider offering varied network options such as direct links to key Internet exchanges and points of presence to their most important locations in different parts of the country or around the world. Data centres with direct connectivity to the top cloud platforms are also preferable.

An interesting development in recent times is the wide-reaching adoption of Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) for reliable connectivity to the cloud. Where security and performance is crucial, the use of high performance MPLS links to bridge disparate networks is proving essential as enterprises migrate mission critical workloads to the cloud. Additionally, SDN is proving to be a viable option for its flexibility and security.

Ultimately, enterprises can no longer think of their network needs as an optional or unimportant add-on to their data centre requirements. “A better and more cost-effective way is to give businesses the ability to see how their networks are performing in real-time. This would allow immediate tweaks to be made, as opposed to waiting for a report at the end of the month. Billing would also have to change to meet requests for a more flexible charging mechanism – paying a monthly recurring price with one-year contractual commitment is no longer something that businesses are interested in,” said Lee.

Indeed, the WAN has evolved into an indispensable part in the delivery of ICT services, and should hence be viewed as a major strategic investment with deeper questions that need to be asked.

To learn how you can help your organisation build robust network connectivity to future-proof your cloud deployments, contact us here.