Dell Networking Z9500 performance validation whitepaper by Miercom

Dell Networking Z9500 Performance Validation by Miercom

Our testing of the Z9500 primarily addressed performance and energy efficiency. For performance testing, traffic was directed across the switching fabric. The results of the following performance tests are included here:
RFC 2544 Layer 2 throughput and latency operating in store-and-forward mode
RFC 2889 Layer 2 and 3 throughput and latency operating in both store-and forward mode and cut-through mode
RFC 3393 Layer 2 jitter (latency variance) operating in store-and-forward mode

Among the key test results:

-In store-and-forward mode, the Z9500 transmits Layer 2 packets of all sizes (64 to 9,216 bytes) at full line-rate on all 132 x 40GE ports, with zero loss and with low latency.
Operating in both store-and-forward and cut-through modes, the Z9500 readily transmits Layer 3 packets of all sizes (70 to 9,216 bytes) at full line-rate with zero loss and with low latency.
The Z9500 exhibits impressively low Layer 2 jitter (latency variance) while operating in store-and-forward mode.
-The switch consumes a comparatively respectful 15.65 watts per 40GE port, with all 132 x 40GE ports handling a random mix of Layer 2 packet sizes, 64 to 9,216 bytes, at 100 percent full load.
-Experienced zero loss of Layer 2 minimum-size (64-byte) packets during a 15- hour test that applied traffic across the switching fabric on all 132 x 40GE ports.

The review also verified these characteristics of the Z9500:

-The 3RU (three rack units, about 5 ¼ inches) chassis houses a switching fabric and 11 IO modules. Each IO module supports 12 x 40GE ports.
-The switching fabric includes six Broadcom Trident II chipsets while each IO module has one – a system total of 17 Trident II chipsets.
-Load balancing is achieved by dynamically directing traffic across the switching fabric.
-The switch functions perfectly with only two of its four load-balancing, hot-swappable power supplies in operation.
-Internal sensors monitor the temperature to ensure the switch stays within operating range, and dynamically vary the speed of the cooling fans to save energy.