# Data Center Fabric Designs: Size Matters

DevFeed: [Data Center Fabric Designs: Size Matters](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/data-center-fabric-designs-size-matters-10959.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://blog.ipspace.net/2024/03/fabric-designs-size-matters/>)

Published: 2024-03-14T07:55:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [ipSpace.net blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/ipspace-net-blog.md>)

Topics: [data centers](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/data-centers.md>), [Architecture & Design](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/architecture-design.md>), [Networks](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/networks.md>), [vendor lock-in](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/vendor-lock-in.md>), [Streaming](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/streaming.md>)

Tags: [architecture-design](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/architecture-design.md>), [data-center](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/data-center.md>), [design](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/design.md>), [evpn](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/evpn.md>), [fabric](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/fabric.md>), [networks](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/networks.md>), [streaming](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/streaming.md>), [vendor-lock-in](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/vendor-lock-in.md>)

## AI overview

The article argues that the appropriate data center fabric design depends on network size and operational complexity. Mixing vendors may help large streaming services avoid vendor lock-in, reduce prices, and address supply-chain issues, but it is usually impractical for enterprise data centers because the operational costs of multiple operating systems, support centers, and tooling can outweigh acquisition savings.

## Source excerpt

The "should we use the same vendor for fabric spines and leaves?" discussion triggered the expected counterexamples. Here's one: I actually have worked with a few orgs that mix vendors at both spine and leaf layer. Can't take names but they run fairly large streaming services. To me it seems like a play to avoid vendor lock-in, drive price points down and be in front of supply chain issues. As always, one has to keep two things in mind: Read more ...