Page 30 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2025

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Cisco Redefines Data Center Architecture with New Smart Switches,
Embedding Services Directly into the Network

Cisco announced a family of data center
Smart Switches, disrupting traditional
data center network design by enabling
networking and security services in a
compact all-in-one solution. Utilizing
programmable AMD Pensando™
data processing units (DPUs), the
switch functions as a high-capacity,
multifunctional service-hosting device,
architecturally transforming data centers to
simplify their design and make them more
efficient. Cisco’s first integrated offering,
the Smart Switch with Cisco Hypershield,
introduces a new approach to securing
AI data centers by fusing security directly
into the network fabric. As AI workloads
multiply, building and managing data
centers has become much more complex.
Data center operators require a simpler way
to design, build, and deploy infrastructure
to fully benefit from AI. AI applications
must sit where they are needed, whether
a massive large language model sitting
in centralized hyperscale facilities or a transforming enterprise infrastructure to a simpler, more efficient and extensible
network drone monitoring crop irrigation at address the evolving security demands of architecture by integrating services directly
the very edge of the network. This shift in data center networks while dealing with with the data center fabric, rather than
where data is created, accessed, and stored the fast paced AI deployments,” said Soni bolting them on top. By combining Cisco
requires a new type of simplified data Jiandani, senior vice president and general data center networking, Silicon One, and
center infrastructure–one that integrates manager, Networking Technology and AMD DPUs, customers can scale services
compute, storage, networking, and security Solutions Group, AMD. “Our collaboration and adapt quickly to evolving business
in new ways, and allows for automated with Cisco enables enterprises to achieve needs, all without the need for any additional
and predictive operations via simplified high-capacity throughput and impressive hardware. The switches feature two
management platforms. "Data center network security without compromising processing engines: a high-performance
infrastructure needs be reimagined for on workload performance on Cisco UCS network processor for stable data transfer
both AI training and inferencing workloads servers or Hypershield enabled platforms. and a network services sidecar for agile
that dwarf even the largest enterprise Together, we are paving the way for security processing. Traffic is intelligently
jobs of the past,” said Jeetu Patel, EVP a new era of intelligent, adaptive, and steered between the two engines for
and Chief Product Officer, Cisco. “Simply secure data centers." As AI drives rapid optimal performance. This architectural
upgrading data center infrastructure with growth, organizations must manage shift drives cost savings through hardware
higher ‘speeds and feeds’ switches does significantly increased power, compute consolidation, reduced power consumption,
not address the requirements of modern and networking demands. In traditional and operational simplicity. Cisco Smart
data centers, which require acceleration data center architectures, when each new Switches embrace all the capabilities of a
of security and network services natively service required a specific device, growth NX-OS switch and management through
within the data center fabric.” "Cisco's led to complexity. It also required adding, Nexus Dashboard, and will unlock a diverse
innovative approach to data center design, changing, or upgrading the enforcement set of use cases like stateful segmentation,
leveraging leadership AMD Pensando of security policies with each new service IPSec encryption, enhanced telemetry,
DPUs, marks a significant milestone in or workload. Cisco Smart Switches offer DDoS protection and more.

30 JAN-FEB 2025