Ethernet Fabrics 101

Ethernet Fabric is a term used by several networking vendors to describe large, relatively flat layer 2 networks, with an aim to providing higher reliability and performance than is possible with a more traditional layer 2 hierarchical architecture. It also goes by the names, "Data Centre Ethernet" and "Data Centre Bridging."
In practice, it is made up of several proposed and ratified standards, including TRILL, Priority Flow Control, and Enhanced Transmission Selection to name three.
This presentation is intended to provide participants with the following:

• theoretical and practical overviews of the various standards and proposed standards that make up an 'Ethernet Fabric,' the purpose of each, and how they fit together;
• creation and configuration of an Ethernet Fabric, utilising Brocade VDX switches; and

demonstration of the various standards in operation, including in various failure modes.