The Enterprise Network of the Future Will Be Hyperconverged
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The Enterprise Network of the Future Will Be Hyperconverged Gartner RAS Core Research Note G00208637, Bjarne Munch, David A. Willis, 18 November 2010, RA9 05012011 In the enterprise network, we are entering the era of hyperconvergence, where all services are delivered by a common Internet Protocol (IP) network — not only for voice, video and data, but also for wired and wireless, and for storage and computing. We propose a new set of design and collaboration principles. Key Findings • Application traffic has become more unpredictable and more difficult to model. • Key vendors, such as Cisco, HP and Oracle, are pursuing a fully integrated stack approach, spanning areas including networking, storage and servers. Taking advantage of these offerings requires a collaborative effort, with clear lines of decision making regarding the architecture. • Standard hierarchical network designs inhibit consistently good performance. Recommendations • Network designers should focus their designs around end-to-end solutions for (1) broad infrastructure domains, such as the data center and the WAN, and (2) the workplace environment, such as the campus or branch office. Traditional, technology-centric domains, like voice, data, WAN, etc., only serve as barriers. • Managers must also change the organization and collaborative structure by, at minimum, opening up the lines of communication between teams, led by cross-disciplinary leaders. Cost-effective support is achieved via a tightly integrated third-level planning team that is supported by teams of versatilists (that is, engineers who span multiple disciplines). • Integrate all network domains and user access control mechanisms to enable seamless user connectivity at the network access and application traffic flow within the network by removing centralized control and connectivity hubs. Apply security policy at the first touchpoint to the network, at multiple layers within it.
