leaf
A leaf is a network switch that serves as an access or edge device within a network fabric, especially in a leaf-spine topology, providing connectivity for end devices in data centers and cloud environments.
In modern data center and cloud network architectures, a leaf switch operates at the access layer, connecting servers, storage, and other devices to the network fabric. Leaf switches aggregate traffic from end devices and forward it to spine switches, forming the foundation of scalable, non-blocking network topologies.
Key benefits include high port density, low latency, and support for redundancy and resilience. Leaf switches are critical for enabling east-west traffic, supporting virtualization, and ensuring efficient data flows in large-scale environments.
Best practices include planning for scalability, implementing redundant links, and leveraging automation for management and monitoring.