A common implementation of the cluster approach is the blade server. A blade
server is a server architecture that houses multiple server modules (“blades”) in a
single chassis. It is widely used in data centers to save space and improve system
management. Either self-standing or rack mounted, the chassis provides the power
supply, and each blade has its own processor, memory, and hard disk.
An example of the application is shown in Figure 17.12, taken from [NOWE07].
The trend at large data centers, with substantial banks of blade servers, is the deployment
of 10-Gbps ports on individual servers to handle the massive multimedia traffic
provided by these servers. Such arrangements are stressing the on-site Ethernet
switches needed to interconnect large numbers of servers. A 100-Gbps rate provides
the bandwidth required to handle the increased traffic load. The 100-Gbps Ethernet
switches are deployed in switch uplinks inside the data center as well as providing
interbuilding, intercampus, wide area connections for enterprise networks.