HP Switches - Recommended Models?

[smarties11]

Hi,

 

I'm currently looking into replacing some or all of our network infrastructure. All of our current kit is 3Com, of varying degrees of age - oldest 10 years, newest 4-5 years.

 

We're a school of approx. 470 clients, 690 pupils on roll.

 

We currently have 1 core switch - a 3Com 5500G-EI. It feeds our VMHosts (4 x 1GB to each host), and is also loaded with 1Gb fibre modules on the back which feed our 8 remote cabinets. The remote cabinets have 1 top-of-rack switch with the incoming 1gb fibre, and depending on the cab size may then have 1 or 2 additional switches connected on the 1gb uplinks.

 

So we're running 1gb backbone with 100mb to the desktops.

 

I'd like to increase the backbone to 10gb and 1gb to desktops on the cabinets that feed our IT and Media suites. The remaining cabinets will remain as they are for now. I plan to put dual-port 10gbe adapters in the VMHosts and then have 2 x 10gb copper to the core switch. We'll also be replacing fibres as they are old and don't support 10gb.

 

It's been a while since I've looked at or bought any switchgear. I'm thinking HP but will consider anything with a lifetime warranty.

 

Any model suggestions for a new core switch, top of rack distribution switches and edge switches?

 

Thanks!

[timbo343]

Core switch.. 5406zl

[ass17]

Core switch.. 5406zl

 

+1 for the 5406zl, we have two for our core. Then at the edge we have 2920 PoE.

[Hawes29]

We used A5800 at the Core and 5120's at the edge.

[glennda]

+1 for the 5406zl, we have two for our core. Then at the edge we have 2920 PoE.

 

Echo this, brilliant kit

[m25man]

The HP5400 zl V2 is probably the only chassis based switch suitable for your needs as it has almost every combination of module available and puts everything into a neat package however, with the proliferation of virtualisation and the adoption of gigabit to desktop and the eventual evolution of 10Gbe uplinks to Edge closets you should not dismiss the possibility of stacking as in many cases a stack will give far more usable configurations than the chassis options and can work out a lot cheaper the more complex your needs are.

 

The 5406 is attractively priced but are 6 bays enough for your needs?

If it is only to be used for core/distribution yes, if you expect to connect half a dozen classrooms six slots runs out of space quickly.

 

Best you draw your network starting from the outside edges back to the core calculating the number of links and potential bandwidth requirements and choose your core switching with at least 20% expansion capability.

 

I like the 5400 in fact I've just spec'd one for my next job but I often end up back to stacking solutions because of price and connections.

[Tallwood_6]

Vote procurve 5400R zl v2 the normal 5400 zl v2 and many of it's supported modules are going end of life

[njc235]

I would echo my comment re the 5406 and its blocking. It will only handle 2 x 10G links at full speed per slot. Why not virtualise with a suite of 5800s creating an IRF. The 5406 has now been replaced with the 5406R which whilst increasing the backplane speed is still blocking at 2:1. No word yet of v3 modules but v1 modules definitely not supported whereas v2 will be.

[synaesthesia]

2 x 5406zl's for the cores here. Very happy.

[Bananas]

We have a 5412zl it's only half populated with modules but fantastic.

 

Except new network manager decided to test redundant psu by pulling one out during the day and of course the switch just powered down causing me endless grief.

[robknowles]

Hi,

 

Dell also have a lifetime warranty as well.

 

For our core switch/router we have 2 devices. A PowerConnect 8164F - 48 x 10Gbits/s ports and 4 x 40Gbits/s ports. This links all of each edge and top of rack switches together. I also have 2 x PowerConnect 7024F that are stacked together - this acts a secondary/backup switch in case the first one dies/crashes etc. All edge and ToR switches are connected to each of these two core switches. The 7024F is gigabit only - but that's more than enough I feel as a backup switch.

 

For the ToR Switches in one rack we have 2 x PowerConnect 8024F, another rack are 2 x PowerConnect 7048, the final one has 2 x PowerConnect 5048.

 

We have 5548 & 5558P (PoE Version) in cabs. These are all stacked together so I can manage each cab switches as a single managed stack, which naturally makes management quite easy.

 

Cheers,

 

Rob

[psydii]

If you are familiar/happy with comware/3com then I'd suggest

 

Some 5800s at the core, with 1910 at the edge, and use a 4gbit/sec bridge aggregated links between your cabs.

 

If you really want a 10gbe backbone, the procurve 2920 is a bargain at the moment.

 

Also this might be useful:

http://h17007.www1.hp.com/uk/en/support/warranty/index.aspx

[dhicks]

Then at the edge we have 2920 PoE.

 

Us, too. We've found the 2920 PoE model to be a bit noisy for a classroom environment - we wound up getting an accoustic cabinet for the opne in our ICT suite as it was quite loud. Also, just for you know, a 450VA UPS (rackmount, about the same size as the switch itself) keeps it running for around half an hour, in case you're planning your power protection at the same time. Make sure you get big enough cabinets - ours are a bit of a squeeze, you can fit the equipment in okay but it took a bit of messing around getting cables and so forth in to tight spaces.

[steveg]

Worked out best value for me recently to put 4 2920's in, with stacking cables between them, in a redundant loop, so 40 gig between between switches. Then used a 10 gig fiber link to another 2920 in another cab, and 10 gig direct attach sfp copper cables into the 3 main servers. All seems to work pretty well.

[njc235]

It's all about budget and requirement and budget again!

[sonofsanta]

We had a 3COM 5500 at our core a couple of years ago, and various 3COM switches elsewhere. We replaced the core with stacked A5800s (and there's loads of options on how to configure them with the module slots) and use 5120s at other major cabs, with 1910s in the more remote locations. Chief advantage: you can re-use your 3COM SFPs for your fibre. This will save you a lot of money.

 

A pair of 5800s is also cheaper than a 5406, or was a couple of years ago. They've been rock solid for us.

[psydii]

What is the difference between the 5120 and the 1910 apart from the colour of the chasis and price?

[njc235]

In a nutshell....

 

The 5120 is faster, has more functionality, is fully manageable. Click for full specs

Edited June 23, 2014 by njc235

[sonofsanta]

What is the difference between the 5120 and the 1910 apart from the colour of the chasis and price?

 

5120 is Layer 3 and a higher class of device. Also much bigger, depth wise, so check your cab dimensions.

[localzuk]

The 5120-24G has redundant power and stacking.

The 1910-24G has some layer 3 routing capabilities.

 

They have different OS's also I believe.

[sonofsanta]

The 5120-24G has redundant power and stacking.

The 1910-24G has some layer 3 routing capabilities.

 

They have different OS's also I believe.

 

1910 has no telnet access, though they could well both be Comware underneath (3COM used to artificially segment their switches with telnet access; there are secret commands to turn it on in some switches).

[psydii]

Edit: oops somehow missed most of the responses. Edited June 23, 2014 by psydii

[DMcCoy]

1910 has a 256 entry ARP table, not so useful.

[psydii]

1910 has a 256 entry ARP table, not so useful.

 

Only a limitation if you are trying to ask it to do layer 3 stuff.

[clockend25]

We're rolling with an E5406 at the core, with about another dozen 1910-48/24Gs around the site.