Network Setup

[IanT]

Hi Guys,

Just curious to how your network is setup, i.e. what hardware you got on the back end (switches etc)

How is your admin and curiculum setup.

Thanks.

[Michael]

I primarily use HP switches. If it's a small network, I might have say 3 x 24 port 10/100 switches with 2 gigabit ports. This allows the switches to communicate at gigabit speed and also allow upto 2 servers (generally one curriculum and one admin) to also operate at gigabit.

If the network is larger with say 6 x 24 port 10/100 switches or more, I would generally buy a managed gigabit switch at the core, with all switches and servers connected into the core switch; all operating at gigabit.

If I am installing wireless, I'm a big fan of PoE (Power over Ethernet) which delivers data and power to access points. This is a very efficient way of managing/controlling access points.

And last but not least, always use the same brand of switches and access points in your infrastructure. You're generally guaranteed less compatibility problems and if using managed switches throughout, it simplifies management even further.

[IanT]

okies kool, are your admin and curriculum on the same domain/network?

[kmount]

We are HP Procurve (managed) all the way throughout our Campus and it works perfectly well.

We started with two domains (admin/curriculum trusted) but found it easier and more sensible for us to start again with a single domain.

[imiddleton25]

Moved 3 domains into one back in NT4 days it was a nonsense to have 3 domains. ( I inherited it like that). Moved from some little servers to some huge Compaq 8500 8 CPU boxes cheap from ebay.
I was then very fortunate to be given £150,000 to upgrade to server 2003 and xp.

Bought an EMC cx-300 SAN
leased 10 Dell 1955 blades and blade center (have bought 2 encloseure and 2 more blades)
Got rid of 17 switches
put in 4 Cisco 6500 core switches
re cabled the whole school to new switches.

This is very robust setup all blades ae clustered and so for those lovely users there is no downtime when servers need restarts etc.
well worth the money and even had some change for 2 of us to do MCSE.

[markwilliamson2001]

Sounds like ur place has lots of money....seems like we struggle to provide anywhere near that sort of service.

Good on you though for all the hard work.

M.

[Michael]

okies kool, are your admin and curriculum on the same domain/network?

Yes they're on the same network. There's little need to have two domains.

[IanT]

excellent, thanks guys

When the new building opens I WOULD LIKE CISCO STUFF but that would cost a bomb, so next stop will be all HP stuff i've worked with.

[kmount]

The HP procurve kit we have comes with a lifetime warranty which makes it very good value.

[IanT]

what fibre switches do HP do?

[kmount]

Lots ... look at the Procurve range, there's something for everyone.

[IanT]

So many choices lol

[markwilliamson2001]

I would recommend the 2600 series for your edge switches, while we have 3400 and 5300 chassis series for our medium and core switches. Hope this helps.

Mark

[djdohboy]

We have just finished implementing a 3 domain forest structure:





Also we have 7 Vlans to segrigate the traffic across the network, with a 3com managed wireless system (undergoing a rebuild this week) a 3com Gigabit core and HP Procurve 2524 and 2650 edge switches.

The routing is set up so that staff can get to all the network, students can only get to the students servers, but if a staff member logs onto a student PC then they have access to most of the network, but no access to the SIMS server.

[FN-GM]

We have just finished implementing a 3 domain forest structure:





Also we have 7 Vlans to segrigate the traffic across the network, with a 3com managed wireless system (undergoing a rebuild this week) a 3com Gigabit core and HP Procurve 2524 and 2650 edge switches.

The routing is set up so that staff can get to all the network, students can only get to the students servers, but if a staff member logs onto a student PC then they have access to most of the network, but no access to the SIMS server.

Im just wondering why you decided to go down the forest route please?

thanks