Definition
Leaf-spine architecture refers to a data center structure with two switching layers – spine and leaf layers. The leaf switch aggregates data traffic from end devices while the spine switch links together all leaf layers.
Advantages of Leaf-spine Architecture
- Leaf-spine architecture enhances redundancy over a three-tier platform.
- It is easy to scale since adding more spine layers solves oversubscription, while more leaf layers solve port density.
- It has lower latency because traffic travels between two areas: the data source and the destination node.
Disadvantages of Spine-leaf Architecture
- Spine-leaf requires a huge number of cables.
- The number of spine switches determines the number of hosts.