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Spine Plane Architecture🔗

Spine plane architecture enables large data centers to grow by dramatically increasing available switch ports. This form of architecture is built specifically for heavy server-to-server traffic patterns found in cloud computing, AI/ML applications, and virtualized systems where most data flows horizontally between servers rather than in and out of the data center.

Spine Plane Integration🔗

In Verity, switch devices are organized according to their role in the system. Spine and leaf devices are grouped into collections called Pods, while Superspines are grouped into collections called Spine Planes. A Spine Plane integrates into the network architecture by connecting its containing Superspines to a spine switch within a POD, forming a dedicated inter-layer fabric. Each POD contains a single spine switch that establishes physical links to all Superspines in its assigned Spine Plane. This design creates a clear hierarchy, with the Spine Plane layer positioned above the POD layer to enable scalable, centralized interconnection between PODs.

Summary🔗

  • PODs are composed of Spine and Leaf switches
  • Spine Planes are composed of Superspines
  • One Spine per POD connects upward to all Superspines in its assigned Spine Plane
  • Multiple PODs can connect to the same Spine Plane, enabling inter-POD communication

Creating a Spine Plane🔗

Before creating a Spine Plane, the Superspine(s) and Spine hardware must be physically connected. The image below is a graphical representation of these physical connections.

Create a Spine Plane from Fabrics🔗

  1. Click Fabrics in the main navigation panel.
  2. Select Fabrics in the fabrics tree, then click Add Fabric.
  3. Select Multiplane from the Fabric Type menu.
  4. Enter a name for the fabric.
  5. Configure the Multiplane underlay settings.
  6. Select the newly created fabric.
  7. Under Features, enable Allow All Underlay Connections to permit Spine-Spine connections.
  8. Under Spine Planes, click Add Spine Plane.
  9. Enter a name for the Spine Plane.
  10. Under the new Spine Plane, click Add Superspine to add a Superspine.

When the configuration is complete, Verity will display virtual cables between the Spine Plane(s) and Spine(s) representing the relationship between the devices.