T r o d u c t i o n, Keys to a Better Network

The Keys to a Better Network:

•High availability— Users always have access to resources

•Removing bottlenecks— To ensure that servers, firewalls, and other key components are not overloaded and limit network performance.

I n t r o d u c t i o n

Today, businesses rely on the ability to conduct transactions and support customer relationships over the Internet. Delay-free access to information is the key to businesses running smoothly.

Traditional network equipment and design is not suitable to respond to the increasing demand on availability and performance. The two key factors in ensuring you can keep up with your customers’ demands are:

High Availability —Your clients should not be con- cerned with your network problems. All they want is 24/7 access without excuses. Load Balancing provides transparent reliability— once configured the P333R-LB gives worry-free, availability.

Removing Bottlenecks—High Availability is only half the story; some network element along the way may slow everything down. Any software-based entity in your network, such as a firewall or server can become a bottleneck. By adding more elements in parallel and Load Balancing, you dramatically boost bandwidth.

Load balancing allows you to simply divide demand among multiple resources to ensure that information flows freely.

The applications in this document show how to deploy Load balancing using the P333R-LB to maximize network performance by increasing availability and removing bottlenecks.

W h a t i s d r i v i n g t h e n e e d f o r I n t e r n e t T r a f f i c E n g i n e e r i n g ?

The Growth of eBusiness Applications: The explosive growth in critical eBusiness applications has created the need to distribute application services over multiple servers for scalability and enhanced availability. The problem with traditional network devices is that many eBusiness applications, such as eCommerce transactions (e.g., shopping carts), search engine sessions, and individualized services (e.g., changing your bank account information online) require that the client communicate with the same server for the entire session. This requires content-aware switching, the ability to examine the packet, and intelligently bind clients to a server using a variety of criteria that may span multiple TCP connections. This goes beyond the capability of traditional L3-4 switches.

Security: Along with increased connectivity and access to the corporate network from extranets and eBusiness applications, comes greater risk to network security. Traditionally, routers and firewalls have been used to protect critical corporate server resources, but as traffic demands grow, their software-based filter processing capabilities hamper access and response. This has created a need for switches that can process an Access Control List (ACL) at hardware-based speeds, while at the same time mitigating external threats from Denial of Service and spoofing attacks.

Communication without boundaries

P333R-LB specifications

The Avaya P333R-LB is a robust and versatile switch that is part of Avaya's portfolio aimed at enterprise networking solutions. This switch is designed to enhance the performance and scalability of network infrastructure while ensuring high availability and reliability.

One of the main features of the P333R-LB is its Layer 3 switching capability, which allows for efficient routing within an organization's network. This capability is particularly beneficial for organizations with multiple VLANs, as it simplifies the routing process and ensures that data packets are transmitted in the most efficient manner possible.

The P333R-LB is equipped with advanced Quality of Service (QoS) features to prioritize traffic based on the type of application being used. This ensures that critical applications, such as VoIP and video conferencing, receive the necessary bandwidth and low latency required for optimal performance. Additionally, it supports both IPv4 and IPv6 protocols, making it adaptable to a variety of networking environments.

Another important feature of the Avaya P333R-LB is its stackable design. This allows multiple switches to be interconnected, creating a single logical unit. This stacking capability not only simplifies management but also increases overall network capacity and redundancy. In case of a hardware failure, the stack can continue operating without interruption, maintaining network integrity and service continuity.

The switch also integrates advanced security features, including support for MAC filtering, access control lists, and port security. These features help to safeguard network resources from unauthorized access and potential threats. Moreover, the P333R-LB supports 802.1X port-based authentication, which adds an additional layer of security during user access to the network.

The Avaya P333R-LB comes with multiple Gigabit Ethernet ports, allowing for high-speed connectivity to devices such as servers, workstations, and IP phones. This ensures that all devices on the network can communicate effectively, supporting the demands of modern enterprise environments.

For management and monitoring, the P333R-LB offers a user-friendly web interface along with SNMP support, enabling network administrators to easily configure settings and monitor network performance. This simplicity in management is crucial for IT teams that need to ensure optimal network performance while minimizing downtime.

In summary, the Avaya P333R-LB is a feature-rich, scalable, and reliable switch that meets the needs of demanding enterprise networks. With its advanced technologies, QoS support, stackable design, robust security features, and high-speed connectivity options, the P333R-LB is positioned to support a wide range of applications and enhance overall network performance.