Dell Active Fabric Manager Active Fabric Manager Deployment Guide 1.5 - Page 7

Introduction, Problem: Challenges to Build a Fabric in the Data Center - active data center fabric manager

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1 Introduction Active Fabric Manager (AFM) is a graphical user interface (GUI) based network automation and orchestration tool that allows you to design, build, deploy, and optimize a Layer 3 distributed core and Layer 2 Virtual Link Trunking (VLT) fabric for your current and future capacity requirements. This tool helps you simplify network operations, automate tasks, and improve efficiency in the data center. AFM supports Dell Networking S4810, S4820T, S55, S60, MXL blade, and Z9000 switches. Problem: Challenges to Build a Fabric in the Data Center • How do you design the fabric? • What kind of switch do you buy? • Who is going to use Visio to manually document the fabric (which switch ports connect to another switch). • Who is going to draw the cables? • How will I ensure that this fabric design is accurate? • Who is going to update the fabric design as I change it or expand it? • Who is going to configure every switch in the fabric and what kind of errors can happen because this is manually performed? • How do I keep track of software versions on each switch? • Who is going to validate every switch in the fabric to verify that they have the correct version of software and configuration and are physically connected to the right switch. Solution: Active Fabric Manager 7

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1
Introduction
Active Fabric Manager (AFM) is a graphical user interface (GUI) based network automation and orchestration tool that
allows you to design, build, deploy, and optimize a Layer 3 distributed core and Layer 2 Virtual Link Trunking (VLT) fabric
for your current and future capacity requirements. This tool helps you simplify network operations, automate tasks, and
improve efficiency in the data center. AFM supports Dell Networking S4810, S4820T, S55, S60, MXL blade, and Z9000
switches.
Problem: Challenges to Build a Fabric in the Data Center
•
How do you design the fabric?
•
What kind of switch do you buy?
•
Who is going to use Visio to manually document the fabric (which switch ports connect to another switch).
•
Who is going to draw the cables?
•
How will I ensure that this fabric design is accurate?
•
Who is going to update the fabric design as I change it or expand it?
•
Who is going to configure every switch in the fabric and what kind of errors can happen because this is
manually performed?
•
How do I keep track of software versions on each switch?
•
Who is going to validate every switch in the fabric to verify that they have the correct version of software and
configuration and are physically connected to the right switch.
Solution: Active Fabric Manager
7