new data center and offices -> which choice of CISCO models ?
Hi Experts,
I have some questions regarding Cisco switches and models.
Next year we get new offices and a new data center.
It is not that big as you think now :-)
In total we have 5 new floors. For each floor it is enough to have 50 ports.
So I calculated two 48 port switches in each floor.
Now in the old data center we use HP switches as modules in a chassis.
I am thinking to do the same with Cisco, I have seen they also have modules and chassis.
What would you like to recommend, when you need two 48 port switches per floor ?
The goal should be also redundancy and scale-able for the future.
I also have seen the prices for the chassis, linecards and modules.
Please can you also explain the big difference between 48 port modules and 48 port linecards ?
I don´t know why its ten times more expensive.
I have some questions regarding Cisco switches and models.
Next year we get new offices and a new data center.
It is not that big as you think now :-)
In total we have 5 new floors. For each floor it is enough to have 50 ports.
So I calculated two 48 port switches in each floor.
Now in the old data center we use HP switches as modules in a chassis.
I am thinking to do the same with Cisco, I have seen they also have modules and chassis.
What would you like to recommend, when you need two 48 port switches per floor ?
The goal should be also redundancy and scale-able for the future.
I also have seen the prices for the chassis, linecards and modules.
Please can you also explain the big difference between 48 port modules and 48 port linecards ?
I don´t know why its ten times more expensive.
SOLUTION
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Yes,
they have many sizes.
7000 4-slot 7000 9-slot 7000 10-slot 7000 18-slot 7700 6-slot 7700 10-slot 7700 18-slot
You can check from below link. Cisco - Data Center Products - Nexus
Supervisor Engines - M modules ( For routing ) - F modules ( for switching ) - Chassis types.
http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/switches/nexus-7000-series-switches/models-comparison.html#~tab-d
they have many sizes.
7000 4-slot 7000 9-slot 7000 10-slot 7000 18-slot 7700 6-slot 7700 10-slot 7700 18-slot
You can check from below link. Cisco - Data Center Products - Nexus
Supervisor Engines - M modules ( For routing ) - F modules ( for switching ) - Chassis types.
http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/switches/nexus-7000-series-switches/models-comparison.html#~tab-d
ASKER
ok I also checked N5K models.
Am I right, this switches just have 10G ports or higher ?
Am I right, this switches just have 10G ports or higher ?
If you want 1g modules you can use N2K switches.
But they are not working as stand alone. There are technology called FEX ( Fabric Extender).
You have to connect N2K switches to N5K or N7K and configure them from there.
Anyway,
These N2K switches have models which have 1g port density.
Br,
But they are not working as stand alone. There are technology called FEX ( Fabric Extender).
You have to connect N2K switches to N5K or N7K and configure them from there.
Anyway,
These N2K switches have models which have 1g port density.
Br,
ASKER
ok I see for the N2K I always need a parent model like N5K or N7K.
Is there also a small chassis, where I can put in 48 port modules just with 1GE ?
And maybe later I will change to another model.
Is there also a small chassis, where I can put in 48 port modules just with 1GE ?
And maybe later I will change to another model.
Nexus devices ports are supporting 1G and 10G. Depends on your sfp.
Do you want only 1G support ?
Do you want only 1G support ?
ASKER
I am a little bit confused, so many different modules.
What do I really need when I want to buy a chassis and 96 ports ?
Do I need the supervisor models ? one or two ? for what ?
I think first it is enough to have just 1G support. Later on I can swap the modules right ?
When I go for SFP´s then I also have to buy the SFP Copper connectors right ?
Because now we just have 1G support.
What do I really need when I want to buy a chassis and 96 ports ?
Do I need the supervisor models ? one or two ? for what ?
I think first it is enough to have just 1G support. Later on I can swap the modules right ?
When I go for SFP´s then I also have to buy the SFP Copper connectors right ?
Because now we just have 1G support.
ASKER
I am interested in the N5K System with extenders.
But when this parent system , N5K, breaks what happens to the extenders ?
Or is the parentsystem redundant ?
But when this parent system , N5K, breaks what happens to the extenders ?
Or is the parentsystem redundant ?
How much traffic is anticipated - so you don't buy an overkill hardware?
ASKER
this is not easy , how to calculate this ?
FEXs connected to N5Ks can be dual homed. Meaning one link (or links) connect to one 5K and the other link connects to a different 5K. That way if one 5K fails, you will still have connectivity to the FEXs... As long as it's configured properly.
This is sounding like a rather large (and expensive) undertaking. There are a number of factors involved in designing and selecting the correct equipment. For example, in the 70xx platforms, there are XL and non-XL linecards. While the price difference between the two isn't huge, the license to take advantage on the XL linecards retails for over $50,000 (not that anyone pays retail). That doesn't even consider whether you would need XL linecards.
My point is that it is very easy to make a bad (and expensive) choice when it comes to equipment decisions. And learning how to do this on the job can make the situation even worse. The cost of a consultant to help guide you on this project would be money well spent.
This is sounding like a rather large (and expensive) undertaking. There are a number of factors involved in designing and selecting the correct equipment. For example, in the 70xx platforms, there are XL and non-XL linecards. While the price difference between the two isn't huge, the license to take advantage on the XL linecards retails for over $50,000 (not that anyone pays retail). That doesn't even consider whether you would need XL linecards.
My point is that it is very easy to make a bad (and expensive) choice when it comes to equipment decisions. And learning how to do this on the job can make the situation even worse. The cost of a consultant to help guide you on this project would be money well spent.
ASKER
ok thanks, next year I have some appointments with consultants.
ASKER
in my case it is not that big, but I want to have a good and scale-able back bone.
Building 1:
Here we have our new data center, not big, maybe with 20 servers.
It includes our vmware cluster plus storage.
Here are sitting 40 people in the 1st floor.
And up to 10 people siting on the ground floor.
Plus some printers and scanners.
Building 2:
Here we have one IT room in the basement.
And 2 floors are used.
In the 1st floor nearly 40 people located.
In the 2nd floor nearly 40 people located.
Plus some printers and scanners.
The only critical application is our SQL cluster which needs good performance and networking.
The buildings are connected via MPLS and 1Gbit connections.
So you see, the networking part is not very big.
Since now we just use HP Procurve switches and Cisco 2960 switches.
But now, they are not stacked and not redundant.
In the future this is a need and also scale ability.
Building 1:
Here we have our new data center, not big, maybe with 20 servers.
It includes our vmware cluster plus storage.
Here are sitting 40 people in the 1st floor.
And up to 10 people siting on the ground floor.
Plus some printers and scanners.
Building 2:
Here we have one IT room in the basement.
And 2 floors are used.
In the 1st floor nearly 40 people located.
In the 2nd floor nearly 40 people located.
Plus some printers and scanners.
The only critical application is our SQL cluster which needs good performance and networking.
The buildings are connected via MPLS and 1Gbit connections.
So you see, the networking part is not very big.
Since now we just use HP Procurve switches and Cisco 2960 switches.
But now, they are not stacked and not redundant.
In the future this is a need and also scale ability.
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Depending on the design you plan to use L2/L3 access and traffic volume I would recommend 3650 with 10Gb uplinks as access switch.
Then i´d recommend a 6500 like Don said to link the access switches with 10Gb however you should seek out a network consultant to guide you and if you are not experienced with installing and configuring the equipment have them do it for you.
Then i´d recommend a 6500 like Don said to link the access switches with 10Gb however you should seek out a network consultant to guide you and if you are not experienced with installing and configuring the equipment have them do it for you.
ASKER
ok thanks so far :-)
ASKER
Hi Experts,
where do I find a comparison for the access switches to see the different traffic volume ?
How do I count a regular user just with a desktop or laptop ?
Do you have a plan to calculate the traffic volume ?
where do I find a comparison for the access switches to see the different traffic volume ?
How do I count a regular user just with a desktop or laptop ?
Do you have a plan to calculate the traffic volume ?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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where do I find a comparison for the access switches to see the different traffic volume ?The Portable Product Sheet is a good start. But it's just a starting point since it's rather old. And I can't remember if it's publicly available. I usually check the spec's on the current data sheets. So for a 3750, I would google "cisco 3750 performance" or throughput.
How do I count a regular user just with a desktop or laptop ?Uh... as one? Not sure what you're asking here.
Do you have a plan to calculate the traffic volume ?That's very difficult. The best (and easiest) way is to look at the existing network (if there is one). For example, if you have 1gig links that are running at 80% utilization most of the time with spikes to 100%, then you should plan on upgrading those to 10gig. If you have 100m links that never go over 50% then you can leave those.
But if there's not an existing network, then absent some very expensive modeling tools or spending a lot of time researching the applications being used, all you can do is make an educated guess.
ASKER
sometimes our main switch has losses, I can see it with our SMOKEPING software.
Can it be that there is too much traffic ?
Can it be that there is too much traffic ?
Vendor, switch model? Can you monitor traffic with PRTG, CACTI, Nagios, Shinken?
ASKER
Mats solution sounds good.
On the data center a C6500 unit and then 10G connections to the different floors.
Is this possible ?
Can I have access switches, which have some 10G ports uplink ports ? And the rest of the ports just 1G for the users.
On the data center a C6500 unit and then 10G connections to the different floors.
Is this possible ?
Can I have access switches, which have some 10G ports uplink ports ? And the rest of the ports just 1G for the users.
Can you specify what are your users doing? If they are just surfing the web, email etc, you don't need ultra fast ports. My customer has C6500 but with gigabit ports only (copper and fiber).
It won't help you much if you have 10 GB uplinks with 100 Mbit WAN connection. And I assume users don't have direct Access to the internet, they are using Proxy?
It won't help you much if you have 10 GB uplinks with 100 Mbit WAN connection. And I assume users don't have direct Access to the internet, they are using Proxy?
ASKER
Hi,
I have found now a solution.
C4510 and 2960x
I have found now a solution.
C4510 and 2960x
ASKER
I have seen this N7K Chassis is for 10 slots, do they have it also smaller ?
Where can I find more about the modules ?
I want to use 48 ports with 1GE, maybe also with some SFP ports.