Surprise! No amount of networking technology will make Layer-2 networks be the correct choice for everything they're being pitched for. This topic has been on my to-write list for over a year and its working title was phrased as a question, but all the horror stories you’ve shared with me over … [Read more...]
The Lure of Layer 2
July 19, 2010 by Leave a Comment
"Bridging versus routing" brings us to the perennial networking debate: Are low-level protocols better? Unless you’re “in the know”, terms like “layer 2″ can seem mysterious, making it all the more plausible when someone touts the benefits. It seems logical: “Bare-metal” … [Read more...]
FCoE and the Return of Spanning Tree
March 12, 2009 by Leave a Comment
One of the most amusing parts about Fibre Channel over Ethernet(FCoE) is that Spanning Tree is making a triumphant comeback. And I am talking a Roman style parade after the gates to the city have been built and lined with gold. The IEEE is working on a standard 802.1AQ named Shortest Path … [Read more...]