Network switch prices have risen significantly in recent years, and for many small to medium sized businesses (SMBs), the cost of a pair of switches can cut deeply into their budget. Two- and three-node switchless solutions for Azure Local have been available for some time, but Microsoft recently extended switchless support to up to four nodes. This is a game changer for customers looking for a more robust switchless solution.
Also known as “direct attach,” switchless solutions reduce cabling, simplify network configurations, and eliminate layers of additional hardware, while delivering improved performance over traditional switched solutions.
For 2-node switchless, each node connects via two dual-port network adapters supporting RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE), forming a full-mesh topology with redundant direct links to the other node. For 3- and 4-node switchless each node connects via quad-port RoCE networking adapters. By removing the switch as the middleman, this direct communication enables link redundancy, dedicated low-latency, high bandwidth, and high throughput.
Switchless solutions also save tens of thousands of dollars in switch costs, eliminate switch power draw, and simplify network management overhead. However, Azure Local does not support scaling beyond 4-node switchless. To add nodes, you will have to redeploy or create additional clusters.
All DataON’s Premier Solutions+ for Azure Local can be configured in 2-, 3-, and 4-node switchless configurations.
The Premier Solutions tier represents the highest Microsoft tier for Azure Local solutions. Built through deep collaboration with Microsoft, Premier Solutions deliver the highest level of hardware and software integration and validation with Azure Local. This ensures higher reliability, minimal downtime, and streamlined end-to-end deployment workflows that make it easy to deploy one cluster or a thousand.
DataON Premier Solutions+ for Azure Local are DataON’s exclusive premium offering that goes beyond Microsoft’s Premier Solution tier requirements for a more complete experience with:
- DataON servers with Azure Local
- Deployment, migration, and training services
- DataON’s renowned white glove service & support
It’s a premium Azure Local experience that provides the fastest time-to-value. Our goal is to not only get you up and running quickly but also make sure you’re confident in managing Azure Local.
Learn more about Azure Local storage switchless architecture
Learn more about DataON Premier Solutions+ for Azure Local