Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Introducing “6-pack”: the first open hardware modular switch

code.facebook.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 97 posts

Re: Introducing “6-pack”: the first open hardware modular switch

#81

Post by jacquesm »

btoptical wrote: post #63

These big switch boxes typically end up being about thermal management and this box looks like thermal design was an afterthought. Also I'm not sure the power entry design is really all that smart. Generally speaking if you're in the market for a 640Gb/s switch (or 3.8Tb/s switch), does your data center really not have access to 48V power? The AC/DC conversion wastes power and space. The QSFP's are "spaced for optima…

This is true, however: 48V circuits are generally priced 'per-amp' just like 120V or 240V circuits. That translates into much higher cost-per-watt and with the efficiency of AC switching supplies being well over 90% you're probably better off from an economics point of view of getting the highest voltage supply that you can get and then to step down in your rack mounted devices.

Re: Introducing “6-pack”: the first open hardware modular switch

#82

Post by jacquesm »

wmf wrote: post #64
btoptical wrote: post #63

These big switch boxes typically end up being about thermal management and this box looks like thermal design was an afterthought. Also I'm not sure the power entry design is really all that smart. Generally speaking if you're in the market for a 640Gb/s switch (or 3.8Tb/s switch), does your data center really not have access to 48V power? The AC/DC conversion wastes power and space. The QSFP's are "spaced for optima…

does your data center really not have access to 48V power? No, they really don't. I've never heard of 48V outside of telco.

It's pretty common here (nl), you have to ask for it but it is usually available. I'd advise against it because you're deviating from the bulk but if you need it you can usually get it, especially at the larger colocation facilities.

Re: Introducing “6-pack”: the first open hardware modular switch

#83

Post by zymhan »

tiernano wrote: post #80
kijiki wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Basically anything on here: http://cumulusnetworks.com/support/linux-hardware-compatibil... Some easy ways to buy are: https://bm-switch.com/ http://whiteboxswitch.com/ http://ipfabrics.net/ http://www.penguincomputing.com/products/network-switches/ - nolan co-founder/CTO Cumulus

Are there any that are, say, 48 port GigE? 10G and 40G are a bit much for home use...

10G and 40G are a bit much for my office, even.

Re: Introducing “6-pack”: the first open hardware modular switch

#84

Post by gh02t »

e12e wrote: post #55
gh02t wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also wanted something in the category you're describing and after shopping around a bit I stumbled across Mikrotik's products. I bought one of their 24 port smart switches and it was exactly what I was looking for. Not a lot more expensive than some of the nicer consumer-targeted gear, but it has way more functionality. http://routerboard.com/CRS125-24G-1S-IN

Looks like a very nice product (along with most of the other products). It's a little disappointing that they seem to do only the very minimum wrt the GPL: http://www.mikrotik.com/downloadterms.html I mean, sure, asking for 45 USD for a CD with the source is technically complying with the GPL -- but it does seem a bit strange in this day and age. Not to mention that for the source code to be useful, one would hope on…

Not sure if it can run BSD proper. It should be able to in theory, there's nothing preventing you from flashing your own OS image, but I can't find that anybody has actually done it. There is a facility for virtualization as well. Not sure how desirable it'd be to run on bare metal though, as it uses dedicated hardware for routing that I think is proprietary, so it wouldn't work. If I was going to try it, I'd probably pick up one of their cheaper products first to test it out on (most of the lower end stuff is similar internally).

I'm with you about the GPL though. It's my biggest complaint about it. Apart from the proprietary hardware (which OK, I guess I can forgive it), they definitely seem to be playing it pretty loose with the terms of the GPL.

Pf is indeed nice and it'd be cool to run OpenBSD on it. That said, as I mentioned I really like their configuration tools and they make iptables actually quite easy to configure.

Your best bet for a BSD router is probably to pick up a cheapish computer and put in one of the Intel or HP quad-port ethernet cards and then plug into a dumb switch. They can be had for surprisingly reasonable prices, I saw some on Amazon for ~$80 (the quad-port cards, that is).

Re: Introducing “6-pack”: the first open hardware modular switch

#85

Post by spacecowboy_lon »

wmf wrote: post #64
btoptical wrote: post #63

These big switch boxes typically end up being about thermal management and this box looks like thermal design was an afterthought. Also I'm not sure the power entry design is really all that smart. Generally speaking if you're in the market for a 640Gb/s switch (or 3.8Tb/s switch), does your data center really not have access to 48V power? The AC/DC conversion wastes power and space. The QSFP's are "spaced for optima…

does your data center really not have access to 48V power? No, they really don't. I've never heard of 48V outside of telco.

All the Pro's (Cisco Juniper etc) offer 48v Kit as server makers targeting the carier grade market.

Re: Introducing “6-pack”: the first open hardware modular switch

#86

Post by mino »

kijiki wrote: post #68
rsync wrote: post #3

I very much want to transition to open hardware models for networking gear - for both my own home use and for rsync.net. However, at no single site (especially my home) do I need a 6U chassis full of switch ports. Is there a 1U version of this on the horizon ?

Basically anything on here: http://cumulusnetworks.com/support/linux-hardware-compatibil... Some easy ways to buy are: https://bm-switch.com/ http://whiteboxswitch.com/ http://ipfabrics.net/ http://www.penguincomputing.com/products/network-switches/ - nolan co-founder/CTO Cumulus

Hey Nolan, I love Cumulus' approach and I bet you guys will go very far!

I thought about adopting Cumulus for a large telco project, but for the moment it doesn't seem a good fit as we do lots of openflow, L3 and custom application development.

Actually, have a look at it. It's also blue (maybe we should sue facebook :D): http://ripe69.ripe.net/archives/video/177/

Re: Introducing “6-pack”: the first open hardware modular switch

#87

Post by pingswept »

rsync wrote: post #3

I very much want to transition to open hardware models for networking gear - for both my own home use and for rsync.net. However, at no single site (especially my home) do I need a 6U chassis full of switch ports. Is there a 1U version of this on the horizon ?

By "open hardware," do you mean open source hardware, or something else?

From the responses, it looks like "open hardware" means something like "can install any OS on it" in the network switch world.

Re: Introducing “6-pack”: the first open hardware modular switch

#88

Post by arca_vorago »

I just want a fully open source switch that's ready for enterprise, from the h/w to s/w. Linux preferred but bsd based is acceptable.

I've been a "cisco guy" since 2001 or so, but I am so tired of them. Licensing fees kill budgets that could be used on other things, and you end up surrounded by consultants that only ever touch Lozedoze systems insisting that "nobody ever got fired for buying Cisco". Smartnet is a must for some equipment, yes, but I'm so ready for a paradigm shift in networking.

I've really been watching ubiquiti and their switching/routing products, they seem very promising but not quite prod ready. I am impressed with Dells open switches too.

Edit: The Microtik stuff being linked elsewhere here is looking pretty awesome too. Not quite FOSS but still.

Re: Introducing “6-pack”: the first open hardware modular switch

#89

Post by charlesnw »

korethr wrote: post #19

This is rather cool, and I'm glad to see some work being done in the networking gear space utilizing open designs and firmware like this. Unfortunately, unless I find myself needing to network a datacenter in the near future, it's not immediately useful to me. That said, I do hope other developments in network gear that will be useful in other markets emerge from this effort. From my perspective, there's a gap in net…

Checkout the ubiquiti switch:

http://www.ubnt.com/accessories/toughswitch/

and

http://www.ubnt.com/unifi-switching-routing/unifi-switch/

That's exactly what you are looking for. SOHO friendly (fanless, cheap, supports vlans).

Re: Introducing “6-pack”: the first open hardware modular switch

#90

Post by charlesnw »

AceJohnny2 wrote: post #7
rustyconover wrote: post #4

I get the feeling this is a bit like Bugatti building the Veyron, its super cool and impressive but the vast majority of us will never be able to or have a need to drive it. It is still fun watch this switch go around the proverbial track, but I'm happy knowing that I'll never have to configure, build and test a switch of this complexity unless I really absolutely have to, with my largest caveat being AWS disappearin…

You're not the target market. You shouldn't be making an analogy with a Veyron, which remains a luxury car for an individual. You should rather be comparing it with a firetruck, a vehicle custom-built for a purpose you as an individual you will never need. I currently work in the network hardware industry (think Cisco, Juniper, etc). Our boxes sell in the 6-figure price range, each [1]. We sell to your ISP, wireless…

MRV?
Post reply on HN