Help me spend - Switchs

Right i'm currently starting on my budgets for the next financial year and need some advice from you intelligent and educated people :) Sucking up always works :)

We have always been a buyer of netgear switches, yes cause they be cheap, but i'm starting to think in the long run it's time to move away from these to HP. But having no knowledge of HP products thought i'd come here to ask some questions and advice.

We will be looking to replace our main cabinet switchs and if needed the linking 7 switches. In the main cabinet i will need 10 fibre ports, 62 10/100 ports and 12 10/100/1000 ports. On the other end of the fibre links would need to be 48 port 10/100 with at least 1 fibre port. The budget for this will be tight and might have to cut out some of the outlying switchs but the main cabinet needs to be done.

Opinions and advice on which products would be great.

Stick with HP for sure.

ProCurve Switch 8212zl at the core and 2650's with Gbit Fibre module on edge would be a cood combination.

The 8212zl might be a bit overkill for you currently but its certainly got expandability! If that is too expensive maye try one of the 5400zl series at the core - there are 4 different models, ranging from 4 - 12 module slots so there should be one for you there.

Butuz

In the server cab I would suggest a Procurve 5406zl with 1 fibre module (can use 20 fibre connections) and 4 24 port 10/100/1000 modules. The chasis will set you back about £1200 including the power supply. The modules will work out about £1500 each. + £150 each for mini-gbics.

For the other end I'd go with Procurve 2650's. These will be about £400 each + £150 each for a fibre mini-gbic.

So, for the lot I'd be looking at about £10k, including fibre patch leads.

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Originally Posted by Butuz

The 8212zl might be a bit overkill for you currently but its certainly got expandability! If that is too expensive maye try one of the 5400zl series at the core - there are 4 different models, ranging from 4 - 12 module slots so there should be one for you there.

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The 5400zl range comes in 2 formats - 6 port and 12 port. The 5300xl range comes in 4 port and 8 port. But is an older model and is likely going to be discontinued soon enough.

Thanks thats just the kinda info i was after, 10k seems to be a nice round figure to push for too. One question though if the budget shrinks will the netgear fibre mini-gbic in the outlying switches work when connecting to the hp switches?

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Originally Posted by localzuk

The 5400zl range comes in 2 formats - 6 port and 12 port. The 5300xl range comes in 4 port and 8 port. But is an older model and is likely going to be discontinued soon enough.

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Oopsi my bad! :o

Butuz

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Originally Posted by dave.81

Thanks thats just the kinda info i was after, 10k seems to be a nice round figure to push for too. One question though if the budget shrinks will the netgear fibre mini-gbic in the outlying switches work when connecting to the hp switches?

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If you mean will they work in HP switches then no, you have to use HP ones.. If you mean will they work in netgear switches connected to an HP core, with hp mini-gbics at the core then yes.

YEah i meant work in the netgear switches connected to the HP core :)

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Originally Posted by dave.81

YEah i meant work in the netgear switches connected to the HP core :)

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Yep, that *should* be fine. You'd have to have types that are sending compatible signals obviously, but that can be done I'm sure.

Anyone tell me the hp codes for these magical modules? Yes lazy i am but struggling to find the right ones.

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Originally Posted by localzuk

If you mean will they work in HP switches then no, you have to use HP ones.. If you mean will they work in netgear switches connected to an HP core, with hp mini-gbics at the core then yes.

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I don't think there's any reason why you shouldn't be able to use Netgear mini-GBICs in an HP switch or vice-versa; it's supposed to be a standard!

If it's not a standard then please ignore me but if it is a standard and a manufacturer is ignoring it or breaking it then that seems like a reason to avoid them!

What I'd like to know is why I should buy HP instead of Netgear? They're lots more expensive but if you look at the specs then they seem to be essentially the same. What do I get for my money that I might actually need? (I ask this question to all the people from Cisco, HP, 3Com who call me - none ever seems able to answer. Is there really a benefit or is it just "Emperor's new clothes"?

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Originally Posted by srochford

I don't think there's any reason why you shouldn't be able to use Netgear mini-GBICs in an HP switch or vice-versa; it's supposed to be a standard!

If it's not a standard then please ignore me but if it is a standard and a manufacturer is ignoring it or breaking it then that seems like a reason to avoid them!

What I'd like to know is why I should buy HP instead of Netgear? They're lots more expensive but if you look at the specs then they seem to be essentially the same. What do I get for my money that I might actually need? (I ask this question to all the people from Cisco, HP, 3Com who call me - none ever seems able to answer. Is there really a benefit or is it just "Emperor's new clothes"?

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HP switches only work with HP Gbics, older procurves worked with other makes (I had a couple of cisco ones) but all newer firmware releases and hardware versions will only accept original HP parts.

J8697A - the chasis
J8702A - 10/100/1000 PoE module
J8706A - Fibre module
J4858C - Mini GBIC's
J8712A - Standard power supply (865W)

The chasis can take 2 power supplies.

And RE: GBIC's - exactly what DMcCoy said. HP changed their firmware to prevent non-HP modules from working.

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Originally Posted by dave.81

Anyone tell me the hp codes for these magical modules? Yes lazy i am but struggling to find the right ones.

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HP 5406zl 6port chassis = J8697A
HP 5412zl 12port chassis = J8698A
Power Supplies for above chassis:
J8712A = 875W
J8713A = 1500W

24-port mini-GBIC module = J8706A
24-port 10/100/1000 (inc PoE) module = J8702A

Compatible mini-GBICs (must be version B or greater, ie model number ends in B or C)
1000Base-SX = J4858C
1000Base-LX = J4859C

HP 2650 = J4899C
mini-GBICs are same as those previously listed

Quote:

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Originally Posted by srochford

What I'd like to know is why I should buy HP instead of Netgear? They're lots more expensive but if you look at the specs then they seem to be essentially the same.

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Netgear seem struggle to make a £40 ADSL router perform reliably - I wouldnt trust them with my mission crytical network, or thousands of pounds of school money.

I have not had one HP switch or module fail over the last 6 years. I have had 3com fail, cisco fail, netgear fail, linksys fail, planet fail.

Thats my choice though and you may chose differenty!

Butuz