Configuring Mdcs; Overview; Mdc Benefits; Mdc Applications - HP 10500 Series Configuration Manual

Configuring MDCs

Overview

The Multitenant Device Context (MDC) technology can partition a physical device or an IRF fabric into
multiple logical switches called "MDCs." Each MDC uses its own hardware and software resources, runs
independently of other MDCs, and provides services for its own customer. Creating, starting, rebooting,
or deleting an MDC does not affect any other MDC. From the user's perspective, an MDC is a
standalone device.
Using MDC together with the IRF technology, you can improve network resource utilization while
integrating network resources.

MDC benefits

Higher utilization of existing network resources and reduced hardware upgrade cost—Instead of
•
purchasing new devices, you can configure more MDCs on existing network devices to expand the
network. For example, when there are more user groups, you can configure more MDCs and assign
them to the user groups. When there are more users in a group, you can assign more interfaces and
other resources to the group.
• Lower management and maintenance cost—Management and maintenance of multiple MDCs
occur on a single physical device.
Independence and high security—Each MDC operates like a standalone physical device. It is
•
isolated from other MDCs on the same physical device and cannot directly communicate with them.
To allow two MDCs on the same physical device to communicate, you must physically connect a
port allocated to one MDC to a port allocated to the other MDC.

MDC applications

The MDC technology can be widely used for such applications as device renting, service hosting, and
student labs.
As shown in
for the three companies, you can deploy a single physical device and configure an MDC for each
company. Then, the administrators of each company can log in to only their own MDC to maintain their
own network, without affecting any other MDC or network. The effect equals deploying a separate
gateway for each company.
Figure 49, LAN 1, LAN 2, and LAN 3 are three companies' LANs. To provide access service
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