3D Networks delivers high-performance, high-availability Local Area Network for iGate

Solution Overview 

3D Networks India, a leading systems integrator, has designed and deployed a range of innovative Local Area Network (LAN) solutions to address the growing challenges of iGate, a leading BPO & Contact Center and software developer. A high-performance, high availability network was designed and deployed for iGate to enable high-speed network connectivity, support high bandwidth applications and deliver a scalable network architecture.

Client Overview

iGate is the world’s first integrated technology and operations company with a global services model. The company offers the full range of business solutions including consulting, technology, operations and process outsourcing value chain.  IGate Global Solutions has its service delivery centres in US, UK, Canada, China, Singapore, Malaysia and India.

Client Requirement / Brief:

For its corporate headquarters spread across 14 acres in Bangalore, iGate required a Local Area Network that was not only reliable, secure, scalable, flexible and fully redundant, but one that would ensure high integrity of data.

Solution proposed by 3D Networks

3D Networks found that the type of traffic on LAN applications at iGate would be media-rich with designs, graphics, images and animated files, including real-time multi-media applications being shared on the corporate network. Considering the type of traffic and also iGate’s growth and expansion plans, 3D Networks designed a LAN solution that would prime for expansion on performance, bandwidth and scalability.  The choice of a high-capacity LAN therefore was a Gigabit Ethernet for the core network. 3D Networks deployed Nortel Networks Passport 8600 Layer 3 switches with multiple Gigabit uplinks from edge to core. The layer 3 switches were designed for interVLAN routing. A split multi-trunking network was designed to give iGate a highly redundant network providing 99.999% uptime.

iGate servers were connected on a 1000-base T network to provide faster access. In addition, Nortel Networks SMLT was deployed to support high availability with split second failover on all possible touch points for iGate.

Benefits of technology proposed

High-speed, high-availability network
Gigabit Ethernet provides a large bandwidth at the backbone without wasting it at the edges. It is scalable and seamlessly fits in with 10mbps and 100 mbps Ethernet LANS. Users at iGate enjoy throughput to their desktops over 100mps bandwidth. Nortel Networks Passport 8600 delivers 1 Gigabit to 10 Gigabit Ethernet performance with hardware based Quality of Service (QoS) for business-critical applications and services. It delivers premium performance and availability, QoS-based traffic prioritisation and support for a range of interfaces. 

Reliability
The Passport 8600 architecture is designed to provide reliability at the device as well as the trunk level. At the device level it is equipped with redundant, hot-swappable components. 8600 uses a true distributed architecture thus reducing the load on the switch fabrics and in the process achieving the fastest switching speeds. At the trunk level, the Distributed Multi-Link Trunking (DMLT) feature provides redundancy by enabling trunk groups to be configured across different slots in the same chassis. In the event of a network outage, the links would still remain active because other modules in the trunk group will take over. 

Scalability
Scalability to keep pace with iGate’s growth plans has been taken care with Nortel Networks innovative Split Multi-Link Trunking (developed by Nortel Networks and later standardized) on the Passport 8600 that removes tree convergence issues and improves scalability and reliability of Layer 2 networks. 

Interoperability
The client enjoys a network that enables usage of third-party NMS products, thereby eliminating need for new investments and loss of time, while also greatly reducing the learning curve. 

Security
Security was an important consideration in the network design. Nortel Networks Passport 8600 is an industry leading technology. In addition to complying with standards based protocol, it makes security upgrades easy and flexible. 

Low cost of ownership
Low cost of ownership is built into the Passport 8600. System components are common to six- and ten-slot chassis, so sparing and maintenance costs are minimized and several of the interface modules are shared with other Nortel Networks switching systems, “evergreen” interfaces being Nortel’s philosophy.

CONCLUSION

The Nortel Networks Passport 8600 is a complete LAN solution that has delivered premium performance and availability to support iGate’s bandwidth intensive applications.  It combines the benefits of high availability on all levels, well-defined QoS, scalability, low TCO, security, while promising unparalleled flexibility with a range of module options. These will help the client’s network to grow by accommodating evolving Ethernet standards while protecting the client’s network investment.

3D Networks deployed the 1700-node LAN solution swiftly and smoothly wherein the project suffered virtually a zero-hitch scenario during implementation. With the successful deployment of Phase I, iGate is now on a comprehensive SLA with 3D Networks to provide the required support and services to iGate.

Issued September 2004

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