IBM Programmable Network Controller

IBM Systems and Technology
Data Sheet
IBM Programmable
Network Controller
Harnessing Software Defined Networking and
OpenFlow to build agile data centers
Highlights
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Easily and cost-effectively deploy,
customize, control, monitor and manage
scalable and agile network infrastructures
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Support virtualized, dynamic workloads in
the data center with an OpenFlow-based
physical network infrastructure
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Centrally configure and enforce secure
multi-tenant networks
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Centralize control of the network for ease
of configuration, management and quick
response to changing network state for
improved and simplified network opera-
tions Enable rapid scale out of new and
existing applications on highly virtualized
infrastructures
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Increase overall system reliability and
availability with advanced network
awareness and automation
Enterprises, trading centers and network operators are looking for ways
to simplify, streamline and virtualize their data centers. Software Defined
Networking (SDN) with OpenFlow is emerging as a compelling way to
build fast, agile and intelligent networks. Data flow control is abstracted
from static individual switches to dynamic programmable network-level
control. Administrators can quickly create and control virtual networks
for each application environment or network service. They can scale
highly virtualized application infrastructures, multi-tenant networks on
public or private clouds.
The IBM Programmable Network Controller (IBM PNC) provides
an OpenFlow-based network fabric with centralized control of network
flows and unlimited virtual machine (VM) mobility—implemented in
enterprise-class software. The controller software automatically and
continuously discovers the OpenFlow network topology and maps
physical and virtual traffic flows across any OpenFlow-based data center
network environment. The IBM PNC helps provide a highly reliable,
edge-to-edge system network fabric that can be defined for multi-tenant
environments. Granular policy enforcements ensure secure isolation
across multiple tenants. Administrators can use the IBM PNC to attach
policies that direct overall network operations, saving management time
and helping to ensure that data center system and network deployments
are aligned with business strategy.
By implementing the network fabric’s packet forwarding control logic in
a software-defined controller, the IBM PNC centralizes the conventional
packet forwarding logic that is traditionally embedded in the control

2
Data Sheet
plane function of conventional Ethernet switches and routers.
The IBM PNC can provide end-to-end visualization and
monitoring that is not found in the conventional networks.
Operations personnel can now have complete visibility into
the network and build reliable, fast recovery and convergence in
the data centers. Unlike conventional switches that are statically
configured once and then must be configured whenever appli-
cation workloads change or traffic patterns fluctuate, adminis-
trators can use the IBM PNC to dynamically direct traffic
across multiple switches throughout one or more data centers.
Simplified, highly available networks
The IBM PNC centralizes the control and configuration of the
entire network. Global real-time visibility of the entire network
means that all the links in the network can be active at all times.
By contrast, traditional networks running Spanning Tree
Protocol (STP) render many links unusable—and have slower
network convergence time when a device goes offline.
The IBM PNC supports a feature called “Equal Cost
Multipath” (ECMP), which defines the physical path that traffic
takes across the network, using path policies and distribution of
traffic across equal cost links.
Secure multi-tenant networks
Virtual application networks allow each tenant to define and
control a customized policy-based Layer 2 or Layer 3 network.
Inter-tenant isolation effectively maintains a secured slice of the
underlying physical network.
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Network isolation allows network segments to be configured
centrally and enforced throughout the network without
switch configuration
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Virtual networking provides virtual bridge and router
functions, and virtual filters can define Access Control
Lists (ACLs) with various degrees of complexity
Automated networks supporting dynamic workloads
The IBM PNC uses the OpenFlow protocol to move the com-
plex, error-prone and vendor-specific command line interfaces
(CLIs) into an open and standardized programmable interface.
OpenFlow works with data center switches from various ven-
dors that comply with the OpenFlow standard, and provides:
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Automated topology discovery of all devices in the network
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Point and click virtual network design
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Automated movement of networking policy when a virtual
machine (VM) or endpoint moves physical locations
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Application programming interface (API) that allows third
party systems to make on-demand calls to the API to create,
edit and delete virtual networks, as well as to add and remove
policies
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Flow migration allows flows to be moved off of devices
without interrupting network sessions

3
Data Sheet
Flow routing
With the IBM PNC, the administrator can control complex
conditions and make workload-optimized routing decisions for
applications—including service composition, appliance pooling
and traffic steering. For example:
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Quality of service rules allow network traffic to be policed
and prioritized across the network, eliminating bottlenecks
and preventing congestion
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Traffic lanes let the path policy be customized dynamically,
based on traffic type
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vRedirect allows complex conditions to be defined over
a combination of multiple packet header fields, enabling
intelligent routing decisions
End-to-end visualization
With end-to-end network visualization, traffic patterns and
bottlenecks can be visualized in real time using features such as:
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SFlow
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SNMP Monitoring
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REST Alerts
Reliable and available operation is ensured with true end-to-end
reliable connectivity and fast recovery and convergence.
IBM Programmable Network Controller at a glance
OpenFlow standard ●
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OpenFlow 1.0 compliant
Verified OpenFlow Switches ●
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Aggregation Switch: IBM RackSwitch G8264, NEC PF5240
Edge Switch (Edge of OpenFlow domain): IBM RackSwitch G8264, NEC PF5240
OpenFlow Vendor Extensions ●
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Bit masking
In band Broadcast/Multicast for wire speed forwarding
Virtual Tenant Network (VTN) ●
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vRouter (L3)
vBridge (L2)
vFilter
North bound API ●
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Web API
Number of VTN ●
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1,000 (Extended VLAN mode: 10,000 VLANs)
Number of Flows ●
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300,000
Redundancy Features ●
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IBM PNC Active/Standby
Switch and Link Discovery ●
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Topology discovery
IP ●
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IPv4
IPv6 (L2 forwarding)
ARP ●
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ProxyARP
Routing options ●
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Shortest Hop
ECMP (L2/L3)
Avoid switch routing

4
Data Sheet
IBM Programmable Network Controller at a glance
QoS ●
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ToS/CoS marking
Policing
LAG features ●
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MCLAG
Policy Setting ●
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ACL(Pass, Drop)
Redirect
Path-Policy
NET-WATCH
Monitoring ●
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Failure Status
Link traffic monitoring
Visualization ●
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Topology
Station (Host, VM)
Path information
Flow statistics
sFlow
OS ●
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Red Hat Enterprise Linux RHEL 6.1 (x86_64)
Minimum server hardware requirements
for test environments
One server with the following specifications:
CPU ●
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1 x Intel Xeon E5-2600 series processors with at least 8 cores
Memory ●
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4 GB DDR3 memory
HDD ●
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1 x 40 GB HDD
NIC ●
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2 x 1000Base-T Ethernet ports
Power ●
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Redundant power supply
DVD-ROM ●
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DVD-ROM optical drive
Recommended server hardware requirements
with redundancy in a production environment
Two servers each with:
CPU ●
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1 x Intel Xeon E5-2600 series processors with at least 8 cores
Memory ●
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64 GB DDR3 memory
HDD ●
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2 x 300 GB, 10000rpm, HDD, RAID-1
NIC ●
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6 x 1000Base-T Ethernet ports
Power ●
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Redundant power supplies
DVD-ROM ●
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DVD-ROM optical drive

5
Data Sheet
Software Ordering Information
Countries Description Ordering Number
US, Canada, Asia-Pacific and Japan IBM Programmable Network Ctrlr, Per Install w/1Yr SW S&S 44X2765
IBM Programmable Network Ctrlr, Per Install w/3Yr SW S&S 44X2769
Latin America and EMEA IBM Programmable Network Ctrlr, Per Install w/1Yr SW S&S 44X2773
IBM Programmable Network Ctrlr, Per Install w/3Yr SW S&S 44X2777
Licensing
Licensing for the number of switches supported and the
length of the service and support contract must be ordered
separately.
US, Canada, Asia-Pacific and Japan
Number of
Switches
1 Year service and
support
3 year service and
support
1 44X2766 44X2770
10 44X2767 44X2771
50 44X2768 44X2772
Latin America and EMEA
Number of
Switches
1 Year service and
support
3 year service and
support
1 44X2774 44X2778
10 44X2775 44X2779
50 44X2776 44X2780
Why IBM?
The addition of the IBM Programmable Network Controller
provides a key element of IBM’s standards-based system
network fabric—now extended to enable Software Defined
Networking. The IBM approach to Software Defined
Networking enables highly virtualized agile data centers,
multi-tenant networks and public/private clouds.
For more information
To learn more about the IBM Programmable
Network Controller please contact your
IBM representative or IBM Business Partner, or visit:
http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/networking/software/pnc.html
Additionally, IBM Global Financing can help you acquire the
IT solutions that your business needs in the most cost-effective
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forward. For more information, visit: ibm.com/financing

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IBM Programmable Network Controller

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