An IP fabric is a network architecture commonly used in data centers to provide scalable, high-throughput connectivity using a spine-leaf topology.
Step-by-Step Breakdown:
Layer 3 Routing Protocol:
An IP fabric relies on a Layer 3 routing protocol, typically BGP or OSPF, to provide routing between the leaf and spine switches. This ensures efficient traffic forwarding across the network.
Single Connection Between Spine and Leaf:
In an IP fabric, each leaf switch connects to every spine switch with a single connection. This ensures that traffic between any two leaf switches can travel through the spine layer in just two hops.
Juniper Reference:
Spine-Leaf Design: Juniper's IP fabric implementations are designed for scalability and low-latency routing, often using protocols like BGP for Layer 3 control.