pzozulka
asked on
Networking & Switches: L2 vs L3
We have a Cisco Small Business SG300 28 port switch (layer 3).
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/Cisco-Small-Business-SG300-28P-switch-28-ports-managed-desktop-rac/2198241.aspx
We're adding several servers (VMware ESXi) to this environment, and this switch does not have enough ports to support both servers, so we are looking to buy an additional switch.
My questions:
1. What kind of switch should we buy: Layer 2 vs Layer 3?
2. If we went with a layer 3 switch, would the physical switch connectivity to one another be the same as if we bought a layer 2, switch -- Cisco EtherChannel?
3. In terms of the switch config, what major config differences would there be if we went with a layer 3 switch?
My thoughts:
1. Since we already have a layer 3 switch, we don't need to buy another because a layer 2 switch would forward all traffic that needs to be "routed" to the existing layer 3 switch -- using "CiscoEtherchannel" -- I believe. I primarily work with ProCurve switches, so in HP terms I would use a Trunk.
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/Cisco-Small-Business-SG300-28P-switch-28-ports-managed-desktop-rac/2198241.aspx
We're adding several servers (VMware ESXi) to this environment, and this switch does not have enough ports to support both servers, so we are looking to buy an additional switch.
My questions:
1. What kind of switch should we buy: Layer 2 vs Layer 3?
2. If we went with a layer 3 switch, would the physical switch connectivity to one another be the same as if we bought a layer 2, switch -- Cisco EtherChannel?
3. In terms of the switch config, what major config differences would there be if we went with a layer 3 switch?
My thoughts:
1. Since we already have a layer 3 switch, we don't need to buy another because a layer 2 switch would forward all traffic that needs to be "routed" to the existing layer 3 switch -- using "CiscoEtherchannel" -- I believe. I primarily work with ProCurve switches, so in HP terms I would use a Trunk.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Yeah, that's what I meant. If you won't be using the layer 3 functions on the new switches than you are fine getting layer 2 only switches.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
giltjr: We need about 24 new ports.
http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=1001938&sliceId=1&docTypeID=DT_KB_1_1&dialogID=69836556&stateId=1 0 69844573
ESXi Server should have at least one connection to each switchESXi host only supports NIC teaming on a single physical switch or stacked switches.
http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=1001938&sliceId=1&docTypeID=DT_KB_1_1&dialogID=69836556&stateId=1 0 69844573
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
Thanks. Do you know if there is a major difference between the Small Business SG300 switches and the catalyst switches?
The SG300 is a layer 3 switch, yet a catalyst layer 2 switch (2900 series) costs like 3 - 5 times more. Why?
Sorry, I don't work with Cisco much.
The SG300 is a layer 3 switch, yet a catalyst layer 2 switch (2900 series) costs like 3 - 5 times more. Why?
Sorry, I don't work with Cisco much.
I'll have to check how we do it, but we do NIC teaming to different switches.
Are you getting the new Cisco 2900 ISR's confused with the old Catalyst 2900 switches?
The Catalyst 2900 switches are out of support and you can pick them up for under $100.
The 2900 ISR's are L3 routers and they are like $2,000.
Are you getting the new Cisco 2900 ISR's confused with the old Catalyst 2900 switches?
The Catalyst 2900 switches are out of support and you can pick them up for under $100.
The 2900 ISR's are L3 routers and they are like $2,000.
ASKER
Yea it would be great to find out if you're doing link aggregation to different switches. I know you can connect a NIC team to different switches to get redundancy, but then you're not getting link aggregation.
Here are the switches I was referring to: http://www.cisco.com/cisco/web/solutions/small_business/products/routers_switches/catalyst_2960_series_switches/index.html
I looked up a few and 2960-24TC-L is right under $1000 fro 24 port and even more expensive for 48 port.
Do you have any model numbers or links you can suggest for a relatively new Cisco L2 Catalyst switch for under $100?
Here are the switches I was referring to: http://www.cisco.com/cisco/web/solutions/small_business/products/routers_switches/catalyst_2960_series_switches/index.html
I looked up a few and 2960-24TC-L is right under $1000 fro 24 port and even more expensive for 48 port.
Do you have any model numbers or links you can suggest for a relatively new Cisco L2 Catalyst switch for under $100?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Although they both start with "29" a 2900 series (Catalyst 2900) is different from a 2960. The 2960's are still supported and are in the $1,000 plus range. The 2900's I was referring to were used.
I would have to look at the details, but my initial guess is the 2960's are geared towards larger networks and can support more VLAN's that the SG300's.
We are not doing link aggregation, we want redundancy and availability.
Do you really have enough traffic to/from your servers that you need link aggregation?
I would have to look at the details, but my initial guess is the 2960's are geared towards larger networks and can support more VLAN's that the SG300's.
We are not doing link aggregation, we want redundancy and availability.
Do you really have enough traffic to/from your servers that you need link aggregation?
ASKER
But, since we already have a layer 3 switch, do we really need another L3 switch since a L2 switch can use the existing L3 switch's L3 abilities.