Huawei CloudEngine 12800 Series Data Center Core Switches

The CloudEngine 12800 (CE12800 for short) series switches are next-generation, high-performance core switches designed for data center networks and high-end campus networks. Using Huawei’s next-generation VRP8 software platform, CE12800 series switches provide stable, reliable, and secure high-performance L2/L3 switching capabilities to help build an elastic, virtualized, and high-quality network.
The CE12800 series switches use an advanced hardware architecture design and have the highest performance among all core switches in the industry. The CE12800 series provides as much as 178 Tbit/s (scalable to 1,032 Tbit/s) switching capacity and has up to 576 x 100 GE, 576 x 40 GE, 2,304 x 25 GE, or 2,304 x 10 GE line-rate ports.
The CE12800 series switches use an industry-leading Clos architecture and provide industrial-grade reliability. The switches support comprehensive virtualization capabilities along with data center service features. Their front-to-back airflow design suits data center equipment rooms, and the innovative energy conservation technologies greatly reduce power consumption.

Product appearance

The CE12800 series is available in six models: CE12816, CE12812, CE12808, CE12804, CE12808S, and CE12804S.

Product characteristics

Next-generation core engine with the highest performance

1,032 Tbit/s switching capacity

The CE12800 provides up to 178 Tbit/s (scalable to 1,032 Tbit/s) switching capacity. This high capacity can support sustainable development of cloud-computing data centers for the next 10 years.

The CE12800, together with the CE8800/CE7800/CE6800/CE5800 series Top-of-Rack (ToR) switches, can implement the largest non-blocking switching network in the industry. This network can provide access for tens of thousands of 25 GE/10 GE/GE servers.

4T high-density line cards

The forwarding capacity of a line card can reach up to 3.6 Tbit/s.

The CE12800 supports 36 x 40 GE, 36 x 100 GE, 144 x 25 GE, and 144 x 10 GE line cards, which provide line-rate forwarding.

The CE12800 provides as many as 576 x 100 GE, 576 x 40 GE, 2,304 x 25 GE, or 2,304 x 10 GE line-rate ports.

24 GB Super-large buffer size

All service ports (100 GE/40 GE/10 GE/GE) provide a super high buffer capacity (up to 200 ms).

The distributed buffer mechanism on inbound interfaces can effectively handle in-cast traffic loads in data centers.

A line card provides up to 24 GB buffer, which is dynamically shared by interfaces to improve usage efficiency.

2M FIB entries

The CE12800 series switches support up to 2M FIB entries for use in large-scale container networks.

MAC, FIB, ARP, and ACL entries can be changed flexibly to suit dynamic service requirements.

Comprehensive virtualization capabilities implement simple, efficient networking

VS implements on-demand resource sharing

Highest device virtualization capability: The CE12800 uses Virtual System (VS) technology to provide an industry-leading virtualization capability that enables one switch to be virtualized into as many as sixteen logical switches. This 1:16 ratio enables one core switch to manage services for an enterprise’s multiple service areas such as production, office, and DMZ, or for multiple tenants.

Higher security and reliability: VS technology divides a network into separate logical areas for service isolation. The failure of one virtual switch does not affect other virtual switches, enhancing network security.

Lower CAPEX: VS technology improves the use efficiency of physical devices by implementing on-demand resource allocation. This ensures network scalability and reduces investment in devices.

Lower OPEX: Using one physical device to implement multiple logical devices saves space in a data center equipment room and reduces the cost of device maintenance.

CSS simplifies network management

The CE12800 uses industry-leading Cluster Switch System (CSS) technology, which can virtualize multiple physical switches into one logical switch to facilitate network management and improve reliability.

The CE12800 provides the dedicated system inter-connect port and separates the control channel from the service channel, improving reliability.

The CE12800 provides a cluster bandwidth of 3.2 Tbit/s. This super-high bandwidth prevents traffic bottlenecks on data center networks.

The CE12800 switches establish a cluster using service ports with distances of up to 80 kilometers between cluster member switches.

The CE12800 combines CSS and VS technologies to turn a network into a resource pool, enabling network resources to be allocated on demand. This on-demand resource allocation is ideal for the cloud-computing service model.

Dual management and control planes of M-LAG guarantee high availability of services

The management and control planes on one Multi-chassis Link Aggregation Group (M-LAG) node are independent from that on the other, which substantially improves system reliability.

The two nodes of an M-LAG can be upgraded independently from each other. During the upgrade of one node, the other node takes over forwarding the services on the first node, ensuring that the services remain uninterrupted.

M-LAG is able to seamlessly collaborate with CSS, thus enabling highly reliable 4-to-1 virtualization.

Large-scale routing bridge supports flexible service deployment

The CE12800 supports the IETF Transparent Interconnection of Lots of Links (TRILL) protocol and can connect to 10G and 1G servers simultaneously. CE12800 switches can establish a large Layer 2 TRILL network with more than 500 nodes, enabling flexible service deployments and large-scale Virtual Machine (VM) migrations.

The TRILL protocol uses a routing mechanism similar to IS-IS and sets a limited Time-To-Live (TTL) value in packets to prevent Layer 2 loops. This significantly improves network stability and speeds up network convergence.

On a TRILL network, all data flows are forwarded quickly using Shortest Path First (SPF) and Equal-cost Multi-path (ECMP) routing. SPF and ECMP avoid the problem of suboptimal path selection in the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) and increase link bandwidth efficiency to 100 percent.

The CE12800 supports up to 32 TRILL-based Layer 2 equal-cost paths, greatly improving links’ load-balancing capabilities. The network’s fat-tree architecture supports easy expansion.

Virtualized gateway achieves fast service deployment

The CE12800 can work with a mainstream virtualization platform. As the high-performance, hardware gateway of an overlay network (VXLAN), a CE series switch can support more than 16 million tenants.

The CE12800 can connect to a cloud platform using open API, allowing for unified management of software and hardware networks.

This function implements fast service deployment without changing the customer network. It also protects customer investments.

VXLAN and EVPN enables flexible expansion within and across data centers

The CE12800 supports Border Gateway Protocol – Ethernet VPN (BGP-EVPN), which can run as the VXLAN control plane to simplify VXLAN deployment.

BGP-EVPN triggers automatic VXLAN tunnel setup between Virtual Tunnel Endpoints (VTEPs), removing the need for full-mesh tunnel configuration. BGP-EVPN also reduces flooding of unknown traffic by advertising MAC routes on the control plane. With this protocol, large Layer 2 networks can be established for data centers.

Because BGP-EVPN is a standard protocol, the CE12800 is interoperable with devices from other vendors, enabling long-term network evolution.

The CE12800 supports centralized and distributed VXLAN deployment and supports various VXLAN access modes, including QinQ access VXLAN and IPv6 over VXLAN. This allows for flexible customization of heterogeneous networks.

EVPN and VXLAN can be used to set up Layer 2 interconnections between data centers, enabling active-active VXLAN deployment across data centers and conserving DCI link bandwidth.

The CE12800 supports IP packet fragmentation and reassembling, enabling oversized IP packets to travel across a WAN network without being limited by the MTU. The switch can also identify fragmented packets to seamlessly interconnect with routers.

Fully programmable switches enable agile network deployment and O&M

Standard interfaces provide openness and interoperability

The CE12800 supports OpenFlow and can work with the Huawei Agile Controller. 

The CE12800 provides the standard NETCONF interface for third-party software to invoke. This enables programming of functions and integration with third-party software, providing openness and flexibility.

You can use CE modules for Ansible released on open source websites and Ansible tools to automate network deployment, simplifying device management and maintenance. Through in-depth collaboration with mainstream cloud platforms, and O&M tools, the CE12800 series switches can be integrated into SDN and cloud computing platforms flexibly and quickly.

OPS implements programmability at the control plane

The CE12800 uses the Open Programmability System (OPS) embedded in the VRP8 software platform to provide programmability at the control plane.

The OPS provides open APIs. APIs can be integrated with mainstream cloud platforms (including commercial and open cloud platforms). The OPS enables services to be flexibly customized and provides automatic management.

Users or third-party developers can use open APIs to develop and deploy specialized network management policies to implement extension of fast service functions, automatic deployment, and intelligent management. The OPS also implements automatic operation and maintenance, and reduces management costs.

The OPS provides seamless integration of data center service and network in addition to a service-oriented, Software-Defined Network (SDN).

Zero-touch provisioning, agile network deployment

The CE12800 supports Zero-Touch Provisioning (ZTP). ZTP enables the CE12800 to automatically obtain and load version files from a USB flash drive or file server, freeing network engineers from on-site configuration or deployment. ZTP reduces labor costs and improves device deployment efficiency.

ZTP provides built-in scripts for users through open APIs. Data center personnel can use the programming language they are familiar with, such as Python, to provide unified configuration of network devices.

ZTP decouples configuration time of new devices from device quantity and area distribution, which improves service provisioning efficiency.

Intelligent O&M with the FabricInsight solution

The CE12800 provides proactive path detection on the entire network. It periodically checks sample flows to determine connectivity of all paths on the network and locates failure points, enabling you to know the network health in real time.

The Segment Routing (SR) capability of the CE12800 implements label-based packet forwarding, regardless of service types. This feature enables automatic optimization and switching of end-to-end links.

Advanced architecture ensures industry-leading network quality

High-performance, non-blocking switching architecture

The CE12800 has a non-blocking switching architecture that is characterized by its orthogonal switch fabric design, Clos architecture, cell switching, Virtual Output Queuing (VoQ), and super-large buffer size.

Orthogonal switch fabric design: CE12800 service line cards and Switch Fabric Units (SFUs) use an orthogonal design in which service traffic between line cards is directly sent to the SFUs through orthogonal connectors. This approach reduces backplane cabling and minimizes signal attenuation. The orthogonal design can support signal rates as high as 25 Gbit/s per Serdes, which is 2.5 times the industry average. This design greatly improves system bandwidth and evolution capabilities, enabling the system switching capacity to scale to more than 100 Tbit/s.

Clos architecture: The CE12800’s three-level Clos architecture permits flexible expansion of switch fabric capacity. The architecture uses Variable Size Cell (VSC) and provides dynamic routing. Load balancing among multiple switch fabrics prevents the switching matrix from being blocked and easily copes with complex, volatile traffic in data centers.

VoQ: The CE12800 supports 96,000 VoQ queues that implement fine-grained Quality of Service (QoS) based on the switch fabrics. With the VoQ mechanism and super-large buffer on inbound interfaces, the CE12800 creates independent VoQ queues on inbound interfaces to perform end-to-end flow control on traffic destined for different outbound interfaces. This method ensures unified service scheduling and sequenced forwarding and implements non-blocking switching.

Highly reliable industry-grade hardware architecture

Hot backup of five key components: Main Processing Units (MPUs) and Centralized Monitoring Unit (CMUs) work in 1+1 hot backup mode. SFUs work in N+M hot backup mode. Power supplies support dual inputs and N+N backup and have their own fans. Both fan trays work in 1+1 backup mode; each fan tray has two counter-rotating fans working in 1+1 backup mode, ensuring efficient heat dissipation.

Redundancy of three types of major buses: Monitoring, management, and data buses all work in 1+1 backup mode. Bus redundancy ensures reliable signal transmission.

Independent triple-plane design: The independent control, data, and monitoring planes of the CE12800 improve system reliability and ensure service continuity.

High-performance VRP8 software architecture

The CE12800 takes advantage of Huawei’s next-generation VRP8, a high-performance, highly reliable modular software platform that provides continuous services.

Fine-grained distributed architecture: VRP8, the industry’s high-end software platform, uses a fine-grained, fully distributed architecture that can process network protocols and services concurrently using multiple instances. This architecture takes full advantage of multi-core/multi-CPU processes to maximize performance and reliability.

Highly reliable In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU): VRP8 supports ISSU.

Pioneering energy-saving technology

Strict front-to-back airflow design

The CE12800 uses a patented front-to-back airflow design that isolates cold air channels from hot air channels. This design meets heat dissipation requirements in data center equipment rooms.

Line cards and SFUs use independent airflow channels, which solve the problems of mixing hot and cold air and cascade heating, and effectively reduce energy consumption in equipment rooms.

Each fan tray has two counter-rotating fans, ensuring efficient heat dissipation.

The fan speed in each area can be dynamically adjusted based on the workload of line cards in the area. This on-demand cooling design lowers power consumption and reduces noise.

Low power consumption

The CE12800 uses innovative energy saving technologies. The port power consumption is merely half of the industry average. It greatly reduces power consumption in the data center equipment room.

Miercom has performed a series of strict tests for the CE12800, proving its low power consumption.

Efficient, intelligent power supply system

The CE12800 incorporates the industry’s most efficient digital power modules, which provide power efficiency of 96 percent.

The power supply system measures power consumption in real time and puts one or more power modules into sleep mode when system power demands are low.

The CE12800 can save energy dynamically by adjusting the power consumption of components to adapt to changes in service traffic volume.

Ordering information

• CE-RACK-A01, CE12800 Series Data Center Core Switch FR42812 Assembly Rack (800 mm x 1,200 mm x 2,000 mm)
• CE12804-AC, CE12800 Series Data Center Core Switch CE12804-AC Assembly Chassis (with CMUs and Fans)
• CE12804-AC1, CE12804 AC/HVDC Assembly Chassis(with CMUs and Fans) CE12804-AC1
• CE12804A-B00, CE12804 AC Bundle0 CE12804A-B00 (AC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,3*SFU04A,3*PAC-2700WA)
• CE12804A-B01, CE12804 AC Bundle1 CE12804A-B01 (AC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,5*SFU04A,3*PAC-2700WA)
• CE12804A-B02, CE12804 AC Bundle2 CE12804A-B02 (AC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,5*SFU04B,3*PAC-2700WA)
• CE12804A-B09, CE12804 AC Bundle9 CE12804A-B09 (AC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,3*SFU04B,3*PAC-2700WA)
• CE12804-DC, CE12800 Series Data Center Core Switch CE12804-DC Assembly Chassis (with CMUs and Fans)
• CE12804D-B00, CE12804 DC Bundle0 CE12804D-B00 (DC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,3*SFU04A,3*PDC-2200WA)
• CE12804D-B01, CE12804 DC Bundle1 CE12804D-B01 (DC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,5*SFU04A,3*PDC-2200WA)
• CE12804D-B02, CE12804 DC Bundle2 CE12804D-B02 (DC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,5*SFU04B,3*PDC-2200WA)
• CE12804S-AC1, CE12800 Series Data Center Core Switch CE12804S Assembly Chassis (with Fans)
• CE12804SA-B0, CE12804S Bundle0 CE12804SA-B0 (Assembly Chassis,1*MPUA-S,1*SFUB-S,2*PHD-3000WA)
• CE12804SA-B1, CE12804S Bundle1 CE12804SA-B1 (Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA-S,2*SFUB-S,2*PHD-3000WA)
• CE12804SA-B2, CE12804S Bundle2 CE12804SA-B2 (Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA-S,2*SFUC-S,2*PHD-3000WA)
• CE12804SA-BA, CE12804S Bundle A CE12804SA-BA (Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA-S,2*SFUB-S,2*PHD-3000WA,2*CE-L48XS-EC,OS)
• CE12804SA-BB, CE12804S Bundle B CE12804SA-BB (Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA-S,2*SFUC-S,2*PHD-3000WA,2*CE-L24LQ-EC1,OS)
• CE12804S-DC, CE12800 Series Data Center Core Switch CE12804S-DC Assembly Chassis (with Fans)
• CE12804SD-B0, CE12804S DC Bundle0 CE12804SD-B0 (DC Assembly Chassis,1*MPUA-S,1*SFUB-S,2*PDC-2200WA)
• CE12804SD-B1, CE12804S DC Bundle1 CE12804SD-B1 (DC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA-S,2*SFUB-S,2*PDC-2200WA)
• CE12804SD-B2, CE12804S DC Bundle2 CE12804SD-B2 (DC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA-S,2*SFUC-S,2*PDC-2200WA)
• CE12808-AC, CE12800 Series Data Center Core Switch CE12808-AC Assembly Chassis (with CMUs and Fans)
• CE12808-AC1, CE12808 AC/HVDC Assembly Chassis CE12808-AC1 (with CMUs and Fans)
• CE12808A-B00, CE12808 AC Bundle0 CE12808A-B00 (AC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,3*SFU08A,4*PAC-2700WA)
• CE12808A-B01, CE12808 AC Bundle1 CE12808A-B01 (AC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,5*SFU08A,4*PAC-2700WA)
• CE12808A-B02, CE12808 AC Bundle2 CE12808A-B02 (AC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,5*SFU08B,4*PAC-2700WA)
• CE12808A-B09, CE12808 AC Bundle9 CE12808A-B09 (AC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,3*SFU08B,4*PAC-2700WA)
• CE12808-DC, CE12800 Series Data Center Core Switch CE12808-DC Assembly Chassis (with CMUs and Fans)
• CE12808D-B00, CE12808 DC Bundle0 CE12808D-B00 (DC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,3*SFU08A,4*PDC-2200WA)
• CE12808D-B01, CE12808 DC Bundle1 CE12808D-B01 (DC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,5*SFU08A,4*PDC-2200WA)
• CE12808D-B02, CE12808 DC Bundle2 CE12808D-B02 (DC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,5*SFU08B,4*PDC-2200WA)
• CE12808S-AC, CE12800 Series Data Center Core Switch CE12808S Assembly Chassis (with Fans)
• CE12808S-AC1, CE12808S AC/HVDC Assembly Chassis CE12808S-AC1 (with Fans)
• CE12808SA-B0, CE12808S Bundle0 CE12808SA-B0 (Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA-S,2*SFUB-S,2*PHD-3000WA)
• CE12808SA-B1, CE12808S AC Bundle1 CE12808SA-B1 (Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA-S,4*SFUB-S,2*PHD-3000WA)
• CE12808SA-B2, CE12808S AC Bundle2 CE12808SA-B2 (Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA-S,3*SFUC-S,2*PHD-3000WA)
• CE12808SA-BA, CE12808S AC Bundle A CE12808SA-BA (Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA-S,4*SFUB-S,2*PHD-3000WA,3*CE-L48XS-EC,OS)
• CE12808SA-BB, CE12808S AC Bundle B CE12808SA-BB (Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA-S,4*SFUC-S,2*PHD-3000WA,2*CE-L24LQ-EC1,OS)
• CE12808S-DC, CE12800 Series Data Center Core Switch CE12808S-DC Assembly Chassis (with Fans)
• CE12808SD-B0, CE12808S DC Bundle0 CE12808SD-B0 (DC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA-S,2*SFUB-S,4*PDC-2200WA)
• CE12808SD-B1, CE12808S DC Bundle1 CE12808SD-B1 (DC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA-S,4*SFUB-S,4*PDC-2200WA)
• CE12808SD-B2, CE12808S DC Bundle2 CE12808SD-B2 (DC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA-S,3*SFUC-S,4*PDC-2200WA)
• CE12812-AC, CE12800 Series Data Center Core Switch CE12812-AC Assembly Chassis (with CMUs and Fans)
• CE12812-AC1, CE12812 AC/HVDC Assembly Chassis CE12812-AC1 (with CMUs and Fans)
• CE12812A-B00, CE12812 AC Bundle0 CE12812A-B00 (AC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,3*SFU12A,6*PAC-2700WA)
• CE12812A-B01, CE12812 AC Bundle1 CE12812A-B01 (AC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,5*SFU12A,6*PAC-2700WA)
• CE12812A-B02, CE12812 AC Bundle2 CE12812A-B02 (AC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,5*SFU12B,6*PAC-2700WA)
• CE12812A-B09, CE12812 AC Bundle9 CE12812A-B09 (AC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,3*SFU12B,6*PAC-2700WA)
• CE12812-DC, CE12800 Series Data Center Core Switch CE12812-DC Assembly Chassis (with CMUs and Fans)
• CE12812D-B00, CE12812 DC Bundle0 CE12812D-B00 (DC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,3*SFU12A,6*PDC-2200WA)
• CE12812D-B01, CE12812 DC Bundle1 CE12812D-B01 (DC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,5*SFU12A,6*PDC-2200WA)
• CE12812D-B02, CE12812 DC Bundle2 CE12812D-B02 (DC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,5*SFU12B,6*PDC-2200WA)
• CE12816-AC, CE12800 Series Data Center Core Switch CE12816-AC Assembly Chassis (with CMUs and Fans)
• CE12816-AC1, CE12816 AC/HVDC Assembly Chassis CE12816-AC1 (with CMUs and Fans)
• CE12816A-B00, CE12816 AC Bundle0 CE12816A-B00 (AC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,3*SFU16A,8*PAC-2700WA)
• CE12816A-B01, CE12816 AC Bundle1 CE12816A-B01 (AC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,5*SFU16A,8*PAC-2700WA)
• CE12816A-B02, CE12816 AC Bundle2 CE12816A-B02 (AC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,5*SFU16B,8*PAC-2700WA)
• CE12816A-B09, CE12816 AC Bundle9 CE12816A-B09 (AC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,3*SFU16B,8*PAC-2700WA)
• CE12816-DC, CE12800 Series Data Center Core Switch CE12816-DC Assembly Chassis (with CMUs and Fans)
• CE12816D-B00, CE12816 DC Bundle0 CE12816D-B00 (DC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,3*SFU16A,8*PDC-2200WA)
• CE12816D-B01, CE12816 DC Bundle1CE12816D-B01 (DC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,5*SFU16A,8*PDC-2200WA)
• CE12816D-B02, CE12816 DC Bundle2 CE12816D-B02 (DC Assembly Chassis,2*MPUA,5*SFU16B,8*PDC-2200WA)
• CE12804E-AC, CE12800 Series Data Center Core Switch CE12804E-AC Assembly Chassis (with Fans)
• CE12804E-DC, CE12800 Series Data Center Core Switch CE12804E-DC Assembly Chassis (with Fans)
• CE12808E-AC, CE12800 Series Data Center Core Switch CE12808E-AC Assembly Chassis (with Fans)
• CE12808E-DC, CE12800 Series Data Center Core Switch CE12808E-DC Assembly Chassis (with Fans)
• CE12812E-AC, CE12800 Series Data Center Core Switch CE12812E-AC Assembly Chassis (with Fans)
• CE12812E-DC, CE12800 Series Data Center Core Switch CE12812E-DC Assembly Chassis (with Fans)
• CE12816E-AC, CE12800 Series Data Center Core Switch CE12816E-AC Assembly Chassis (with Fans)
• CE12816E-DC, CE12800 Series Data Center Core Switch CE12816E-DC Assembly Chassis (with Fans)

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