Share this
In-Depth Exploration of the Cloud-Native Design of Aruba CX Switches
by PivIT Global on Sep 29, 2022 7:01:00 AM
Today’s enterprise networks have significantly evolved into complex systems with the need for requirements such as automation, scalability, high availability, and ultra-low latency. These requirements were not imperative for legacy networks.
Moreover, there is a growing use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Statistics predict the deployment of billions of IoT devices by 2023. However, the nature of IoT connections increases the vulnerability of networks.
The Aruba CX switch portfolio, powered by AOS-CX, is a next-generation switching solution with a cloud-native design that can meet the security, scalability, automation, performance, and reliability requirements of these modern networks.
In this article, we will provide:
- the main features of Aruba CX switches with a focus on their cloud-native design,
- and a specification comparison of the available models.
View some of our other switches articles:
- Must-Have Port Security: Simple but Efficient Layer 2 Protection
- Arista 7800R3 Series Battle It Out With Juniper QFX Series Switches
Aruba CX Switches Overview
Due to digitization, business networks are quickly transforming from on-premises storage to cloud and from manual operations to automation. Conventional networks limit digital transformation due to disadvantages such as fragmented operations and restricted visibility and control.
This transformation makes it essential for modern networks to be highly scalable, offer high visibility into the entire network, and provide real-time automated insights to help monitor and manage the network.
The Aruba CX series of switches can meet all these requirements. Using these devices, you can leverage Aruba’s integrated analytics and central management tools to configure, control, and continuously scale your network.
Also, they will allow network operators to spend less time diagnosing network issues and focus on critical tasks. They also provide automated network configurations and enhanced network security.
Finally, Aruba CX switches deliver exceptional efficiency and reliability that meet modern network IoT, mobile, and cloud demands.
_________________
Get help choosing the best switch for your network by speaking with our specialists.
_________________
Cloud-Native Design Principles
Cloud-native design is a technique that utilizes cloud services from major providers such as AWS to enable agile and modular application and services development for the cloud environment. Cloud-native technologies not only enhance productivity but also support the deployment of scalable applications.
Aruba’s switches were built on Gartner’s cloud-native principles, which include modularity, programmability, resiliency, and elasticity:
- Modularity: Modularity is a modern software development technique that involves breaking down applications into microservices and other smaller processes that can be deployed, controlled, and updated easily. Modularity empowers faster innovation since each application developer can work on an independent process or feature set without affecting other processes.
- Resiliency: While high reliability and network resiliency have been requirements for a long time, even in legacy networks, the age of digitization makes it more crucial. Aruba CX’s powerful network operating system, AOS-CX, helps to ensure high availability by separating communication between different components. Hence, should a process crash, the others remain unaffected.
- Programmability: The third principle is programmability, and Gartner describes it as enabling “provisioning and management via declarative APIs and policies.” While other network equipment can limit programmability and make the process a struggle, AOS-CX and Aruba CX switches were designed to be as user-friendly as possible. RESTful APIs overlay the state database in AOS-CX, empowering the integration of third-party platforms with the network infrastructure and state information. This integration is essential because it helps streamline workflows performed by different team members.
- Elasticity: Modern networks experience varying bandwidths. Therefore, it is critical for network resources to have the flexibility of scaling up and down automatically when needed and in a policy-driven manner to meet the varying bandwidth demands. Orchestrators such as Red Hat Ansible can perform resource scaling automatically. Aruba Networks supports using these orchestration frameworks to automate workflows by providing fully tested Ansible modules. In addition, AOS-CX can support any use case at the edge, the core, and the data center.
Other Features of Aruba CX Switches
Aruba CX switches have other significant functionalities that benefit modern organizations. Their features and benefits are as follows:
Analytics |
Integrated into select Aruba CX switches is the Aruba Network Analytics Engine (NAE) that monitors the entire network and provides real-time actionable insights to detect, prioritize, and troubleshoot issues. Aruba NAE’s monitoring and real-time notifications enable network operators to make configuration changes that fasten the diagnosis of network issues and resolve them before they affect business operations. Moreover, a Time Series Database (TSDB) is also incorporated into the Aruba Network architecture. The TSDB stores state data that network operators can retrieve to help them diagnose and resolve network issues quickly. |
High Availability |
High availability is imperative for modern networks. Aruba Virtual Switching Extension (VSX) technology was developed to meet the availability demands of a consistent carrier-grade network. VSX, enabled by AOS-CX, is a robust network resiliency solution with redundant software and hardware architecture. VSX enables switch software live upgrades that ensure consistent network connections even during maintenance. |
Aruba Secure Access and Dynamic Segmentation |
Network segmentation helps to protect sensitive network traffic. The Aruba Dynamic Segmentation solution supports consistent network-wide policy enforcement and seamless mobility. Dynamic Segmentation secures the network by restricting access to IT resources based on user roles and policies. It offers centralized policy definition and dedicated enforcement points that limit users and devices so that they only communicate with destinations that match their assigned roles. |
Unified AI-Powered Management |
You can centrally manage your Aruba CX switches using the cloud-based or on-premises Aruba Central solution. It is a cost-effective AI-powered network management solution that centralizes IT operations and enhances agility. This solution possesses excellent switch-management abilities, including deployment, monitoring, and troubleshooting. Aruba Central provides enhanced visibility into the entire network. It can access a unified view of all wireless and wired devices and users on the network. The network-wide visibility makes it easier for operators to control the network. In addition, Aruba Central was designed to provide robust security and enterprise-grade resiliency. |
Aruba CX Switch Models and Specifications
The following are the main series of Aruba CX switches:
- Aruba CX 6400 Series
- Aruba CX 6300 Series
- Aruba CX 6200 Series
- Aruba CX 6100 Series
- Aruba CX 6000 Series
Don't let unreasonable lead times stop you from getting the switches you need. PivIT gives you the freedom to choose from an extensive network of OEM partnerships, maximize your budget, and create a strategy to keep your network scalable.
Retool Your Network With Aruba CX Switches
Network-wide visibility, unified operations, automation, high availability, and scalability are critical features that modern networks should possess as they undergo digital transformation. Legacy networks fall short of these features. You should, therefore, consider retooling your network to offer modern network services.
Aruba CX switches are high-performance next-generation switches with numerous functionalities that can meet the needs of modern networks. They were built on Gartner’s cloud-native principles, including modularity, resiliency, programmability, and elasticity.
Other significant benefits you will reap from building your network using these switches include automated analytics, high availability, dynamic segmentation, and unified AI-powered management.
With these features, you can conduct all your network operations centrally, gain helpful network insights automatically, and have your network services running seamlessly 24/7.
If you need to stretch out your team resources to implement and configure these switches in your network, chances are you're going to need some help.
PivIT's EXTEND offering can step in to augment your team and remote in to configure your gear with expert-level engineers (check out EXTEND's Smart Hands). If you need someone on-site, we have field services ready at a moment's notice.
Share this
- Configuration Guides (47)
- Cisco Routers (29)
- Switches (27)
- Network Security (23)
- Cisco Switches (21)
- Routing Protocols (21)
- Routers (20)
- Cisco (19)
- Product Comparisons (19)
- Firewall (18)
- Cisco Security (17)
- Cisco Technical Information (17)
- IT Hardware Solutions (17)
- Network Protocols (17)
- Wireless (17)
- Security (15)
- OneCall (13)
- Servers (12)
- cisco asa (12)
- Cisco Wireless (11)
- Router Protocols (11)
- Cisco Catalyst (9)
- Cisco UCS (9)
- Upgrading Network (9)
- Cisco Servers (8)
- Product Highlight (8)
- Access Control Lists (7)
- Fortinet (7)
- Server Comparisons (7)
- Access Points (6)
- Arista Networks (6)
- OSPF (6)
- Wireless APs (6)
- Cisco ASR (5)
- Cloud Solutions (5)
- HPE-Aruba Wireless (5)
- Juniper Mist (5)
- Network Management (5)
- SD-WAN (5)
- Storage (5)
- Switch Comparison (5)
- Back To Basics (4)
- Cybersecurity (4)
- EIGRP (4)
- Firewall Architecture (4)
- HSRP (4)
- Juniper Networks (4)
- Network Automation (4)
- Network Servers (4)
- OEM Comparison (4)
- Aruba Central (3)
- Cisco Telephony (3)
- DHCP (3)
- DHCP Snooping (3)
- Dell EMC PowerEdge (3)
- Internet (3)
- Maintenance (3)
- Maintenance Renewal (3)
- Network Accessories (3)
- TPM (3)
- Telephony (3)
- aruba (3)
- Cisco NX-OS (2)
- Cisco Nexus (2)
- Dell Servers (2)
- Fortinet NGFWs (2)
- IT Trends (2)
- LAN Networks (2)
- Network Time Protocol (2)
- Palo Alto NGFWs (2)
- Rapid PVST+ (2)
- Remote Configuration (2)
- Software Defined Networking (2)
- WLAN (2)
- Ways to Save (2)
- fortigate (2)
- Asset Management (1)
- CPU Usage (1)
- Cisco AIR-CT (1)
- Cisco Aironet (1)
- Cisco DNA (1)
- Cisco ISR (1)
- Cisco Supervisor Engines (1)
- Cisco UCS Manager (1)
- Cognitive Campus (1)
- Cost of Downtime (1)
- Dell EMC Data Domain (1)
- Edge Switches (1)
- Fabric Extenders (1)
- GRE Tunnel (1)
- HPE BL (1)
- Juniper SRX (1)
- Nexus Switches (1)
- Nutanix (1)
- Optics (1)
- PowerEdge R740xd (1)
- STP Extension (1)
- Sparing Integrity Program (1)
- Switched Virtual Interface (1)
- TCP (1)
- UCS Fabric Interconnects (1)
- hyperconverge (1)
- April 2024 (2)
- March 2024 (1)
- February 2024 (2)
- January 2024 (1)
- December 2023 (1)
- November 2023 (2)
- October 2023 (1)
- September 2023 (3)
- August 2023 (5)
- July 2023 (2)
- June 2023 (4)
- May 2023 (5)
- April 2023 (8)
- March 2023 (7)
- February 2023 (5)
- January 2023 (2)
- December 2022 (3)
- November 2022 (3)
- October 2022 (8)
- September 2022 (9)
- August 2022 (9)
- July 2022 (8)
- June 2022 (9)
- May 2022 (5)
- April 2022 (3)
- March 2022 (1)
- February 2022 (2)
- November 2021 (2)
- October 2021 (1)
- September 2021 (2)
- August 2021 (2)
- July 2021 (3)
- June 2021 (2)
- May 2021 (4)
- April 2021 (4)
- March 2021 (2)
- February 2021 (1)
- January 2021 (2)
- December 2020 (2)
- November 2020 (2)
- October 2020 (2)
- September 2020 (2)
- August 2020 (4)
- July 2020 (5)
- June 2020 (4)
- May 2020 (6)
- April 2020 (2)
- March 2020 (1)
- February 2020 (2)
- January 2020 (2)
- December 2019 (1)
- May 2019 (2)
- April 2019 (5)
- February 2019 (1)
- January 2019 (3)
- December 2018 (1)
No Comments Yet
Let us know what you think