Impact of Rack Server Placement on Palo Alto Networks Firewall Performance

[leoarthur]

Hi everyone,

I’m currently setting up a new data center and am wondering about the impact that rack server placement might have on the performance of our Palo Alto Networks firewalls. We’re using a mix of physical and virtual firewalls, and I want to ensure that we’re optimizing their performance as much as possible.

Specifically, I’m curious about the following:

1. Rack Placement and Performance: The placement within the rack itself (top vs. bottom) usually doesn’t have a direct impact on performance in terms of latency or throughput. However, you’ll want to consider cabling lengths and proximity to your core network equipment to minimize any potential latency.
2. Best Practices: Keep your network gear, including firewalls, as close to the core switches as possible to reduce latency. Also, ensure that your firewalls are in well-ventilated parts of the rack to prevent overheating, which can degrade performance.
3. Cooling Considerations: Make sure that your racks are arranged in a hot aisle/cold aisle configuration to optimize cooling. This will help maintain stable operating temperatures for your firewalls, reducing the risk of thermal throttling.

I’d appreciate any insights or experiences you all could share!