ausadmin
asked on
Cabling out a new floor for power and data
Hi All
Got a meeting with the client next week want to check out the practical considerations from the trenches.
Client is a 24/7 business.
Server room is downstairs. Have one main APC UPS backed up by a generator. It powers the servers and the most important workstations in the place which are on the next floor up. The existing switches are unmanaged dlink gear with gig links to the servers. There are also small personal UPS'es on most of the other workstations.
The administration area including payroll is moving/expanding into a new floor. They're looking at being there for the next 5 years minimum. So I guess for a starter I have to look at:
- Getting UPS power to the new area
- wall points do I go for doubles or triples
- what size cabinet and type of switch
- gig copper or fibre links to the switch
- do I go with a managed switch/recommendations
- how do I figure out where the existing switches are if any (might be cabled straight back)
Lot of Qs more than happy to split into separate areas and more points.
Haven't done this before - really appreciate input and war stories.
Got a meeting with the client next week want to check out the practical considerations from the trenches.
Client is a 24/7 business.
Server room is downstairs. Have one main APC UPS backed up by a generator. It powers the servers and the most important workstations in the place which are on the next floor up. The existing switches are unmanaged dlink gear with gig links to the servers. There are also small personal UPS'es on most of the other workstations.
The administration area including payroll is moving/expanding into a new floor. They're looking at being there for the next 5 years minimum. So I guess for a starter I have to look at:
- Getting UPS power to the new area
- wall points do I go for doubles or triples
- what size cabinet and type of switch
- gig copper or fibre links to the switch
- do I go with a managed switch/recommendations
- how do I figure out where the existing switches are if any (might be cabled straight back)
Lot of Qs more than happy to split into separate areas and more points.
Haven't done this before - really appreciate input and war stories.
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ASKER
Thanks guys that's a great help. I'll up the points.
Business is transport industry - its 24/7 but not that big. 50 users in this building. Roughly 30 more at 3 other sites. The issue is I'm trying to future proof them at the lowest cost. I'll talk to the building supervisor and the electrician for a start and get back to you. I'll also measure out the cable runs. Thanks again.
Business is transport industry - its 24/7 but not that big. 50 users in this building. Roughly 30 more at 3 other sites. The issue is I'm trying to future proof them at the lowest cost. I'll talk to the building supervisor and the electrician for a start and get back to you. I'll also measure out the cable runs. Thanks again.
Good start!
ASKER
Well having talked to those gents on the switching side
I've decided to put two small cabinets on the 1st story
- front area has their main dispatch area so I want high speed uplinks there. Rear area has the bulk of the users. At the moment the main two servers have 2 gig feeds into a 100 mbps switch. I can leave them there and speed up access by moving users over to another switch. Probably drop a small gig switch into the main rack for the servers. Since I've decided on the cabinet locations I can let the cabling guys quote and sort out my switching options later. Thanks all.
I've decided to put two small cabinets on the 1st story
- front area has their main dispatch area so I want high speed uplinks there. Rear area has the bulk of the users. At the moment the main two servers have 2 gig feeds into a 100 mbps switch. I can leave them there and speed up access by moving users over to another switch. Probably drop a small gig switch into the main rack for the servers. Since I've decided on the cabinet locations I can let the cabling guys quote and sort out my switching options later. Thanks all.
Very professional job ausadmin, good work.
If the budget can support it, I would get Cisco Catalyst switches. Copper gig runs if they're close together and fibre if you're running a long distance. Are they running through the trench? I thought you said it's a downstairs/upstairs config.
Run at least 2 ethernet runs to each box (if not 3 or 4).
UPS power should not be an issue. Have smaller UPSes in the IDFs and since the users already have personal UPSes on their workstations, they're covered.
Answer the questions I asked above and I can give you more options.