Microsoft’s objective for the enterprise engineering center (EEC) was to deploy a network that provides internal and external customers access to resources located within the EEC and labs connected to its new 10 Gb campus area network (CAN). The center’s operators demanded a solution that would scale to meet escalating performance requirements, but would be flexible enough to allow staff to reconfigure the network regularly to meet customer needs, said Foundry Networks.
With this at top of mind, Microsoft selected Foundry’s NetIron MLX-16 routers for its core and the NetIron MLX-4 routers in additional labs to allow for Virtual Private LAN Services (VPLS) across a 10 Gb connection. Today, the EEC can create a VPLS instance for each customer offering customers improved traffic separation. With the new Foundry Networks solution installed, the EEC also implemented Q-in-Q in conjunction with VPLS to achieve a hierarchical design to meet its goals, added Foundry Networks.
John Cressey, program manager for EEC of Microsoft, said: We needed a network infrastructure that would allow us to utilize the same network for multiple customers without compromising the security or performance of the network. However, we also wanted a solution that would let us better realize the potential for Microsoft products. Scalability and capacity were also critical criteria. Ultimately, we needed the ability to expand as EEC customer needs require.
Benjamin Taft, vice president of corporate marketing and alliances at Foundry Networks, said: The Microsoft EEC is known worldwide as the networking test-bed for Microsoft’s enterprise software solutions. Microsoft’s selection of Foundry’s NetIron MLX Series routers for the EEC allows customers to ensure their network infrastructure interoperates with our routing platform and Microsoft’s solutions.
