Core network upgrade

[Tribal_Tiger]

Hi,

 

Our core switches are getting a bit long in the tooth and really need replacing. I've just started talking to a few vendors to try and get some pricing and ideas together ready to start the project when I get my budget through.

 

Just want to get some peoples reactions to equipment. So far we have been recommended both HP and Meraki.

 

I've heard lots of good things about HP, and we have a small number of their switches on site already. Meraki gave me a web demo yesterday and the management cloud tool looks fantastic. Just want to get some feedback from people who actually use the stuff rather than a sales pitch.

 

Cheers

[FN-GM]

What switches do you use as your edge switch? What features do you require?

[andyturpie]

We have a 5406ZL core switch and various gig/fibre/PoE modules - been running for circa 6 years. The chassis failed a couple of years ago, but once support was called, we had a replacement at our door next morning. Can't say fairer than that

[Tribal_Tiger]

At the moment our edge switches are a whole mix of random old stuff, so we will be looking to replace as many of these as we can as well.

[win]

Never used Meraki so someone else can comment on that, but got a few HP switches and had no issues. You an also try Extreme networks who do good switches as well.

[Oaktech]

I would go HP 5412zl or 5406zl in a heartbeat.

[Tribal_Tiger]

Been looking at the 5412zl, but have been hearing in a few places, that it you have a number of 10Gb modules it starts to struggle a bit and can only run a few ports at full speed. Heard rumours that it is soon going EOL to be replaced by a newer version.

[Griff]

Always been HP Procurve gear in both schools I have worked in

[Dkeen94]

Had a HP5406zl installed a few months back! Perfect replacement, does the job and supports 10Gbit in the future !

[Net-Ctrl]

We’re a Juniper Networks house. Although they do come out expensive when looking at their RRP we have designed and built some great packages for education sites with a great saving off the RRP – beating HP on price. From past experience it really depends on the project to have much we can get off the price for you. We also have just taken on Allied Telesis and their switching solution as well.

 

If you had a budget in mind, and would be interested in either solution let me know and I can pass it to one of the sales team to look into for you, and send over some info.

[Oaktech]

Hey @Net-Ctrl How is the Allied Telesis offering these days? I used to swear by them and then they just kind of stopped keeping up with the likes of HP and Cisco...

[Net-Ctrl]

Hey @Net-Ctrl How is the Allied Telesis offering these days? I used to swear by them and then they just kind of stopped keeping up with the likes of HP and Cisco...

 

They're very new to the company, and i personally haven't dealt with them much. The partnership all came about with how they integrate with our Mobotix Ip-CCTV and Netgenium access control solutions. A few of the sales managers met with them a few weeks ago, and were impressed with what they saw. Apparently its interesting how they distribute power and how they handle multiple products requiring different PoE elements. So i'm told anyway

[Oaktech]

They're very new to the company, and i personally haven't dealt with them much. The partnership all came about with how they integrate with our Mobotix Ip-CCTV and Netgenium access control solutions. A few of the sales managers met with them a few weeks ago, and were impressed with what they saw. Apparently its interesting how they distribute power and how they handle multiple products requiring different PoE elements. So i'm told anyway

 

Interesting times then!

 

I shall have a gander at their sales blurb.

[PotNoodleTech]

5412zl core, 2530-48g Edge. Network done. Next question??

[Net-Ctrl]

Interesting times then!

 

I shall have a gander at their sales blurb.

 

Their sales blurb will be much more informative than me at the moment

 

If you're coming to BETT we will be having some of their solution live on our stand (C73). We will be running a whole host of integrated security solutions off it so you can see it in action. There will also be people on hand to answer any questions.

[sonofsanta]

To offer another approach to the 5406zl option: we went with a pair of stacked HP A5800s for our core when we replaced two or three years ago. Worked out a few grand cheaper and have been absolutely rock solid. Thoroughly recommended.

 

Big selling point for us was being able to reuse 3COM transceivers for the fibre - worth bearing in mind if you have some of them mixed in.

 

Edgewise, we have upgraded to HP A5120s at major cabs, stacked where necessary. Also rock solid. Love the stuff.

[john]

We’re a Juniper Networks house. Although they do come out expensive when looking at their RRP we have designed and built some great packages for education sites with a great saving off the RRP – beating HP on price. From past experience it really depends on the project to have much we can get off the price for you. We also have just taken on Allied Telesis and their switching solution as well.

 

If you had a budget in mind, and would be interested in either solution let me know and I can pass it to one of the sales team to look into for you, and send over some info.

 

I got a wonderful Juniper solution in my last place from @Net-Ctrl and it was amazing and really good, the numbers were scary but due to excellent relations with Juniper we got a good deal and all installed and working was the best thing since sliced bread You can even read a shiny case study - http://www.juniper.net/assets/us/en/local/pdf/case-studies/3520447-en.pdf is a pdf and here is another version of it with cool animated video - Settle College Uses EX Series Ethernet Switches to Improve Its Network - Juniper Networks

[avenn]

Hi Tribal Tiger,

 

Used a variety of kit in the past - HP, Netgear, Cisco,TP Link etc. All generally good for the specified job.

 

Currently using Mikrotik kit at some sites and found it to be v good and cheap. After setting it up correctly its become a install and forget (apart from monitoring it, general maintenance etc) - which we like.

 

ink: RouterBoard.com : Products

 

They are used by many WISPs in Asia, Africa and East Europe but are slowly (crap/no marketing?) getting known here to.

 

My Pros:

Fast and reliable

VERY Feature rich - this has saved my bacon when dealing with unforeseen issues. http://www.mikrotik.com/pdf/what_is_routeros.pdf

cheap

No complex licence issues

free updates

 

My Cons:

Initially needed to get use to config etc - but now ok - the same as switching to any vendor? Many similar commands/gui to others

Manuals need updating more often.

Main Website looks crap

Takes time to digest the amount of what's on offer

 

Have you got any more details such as network diagrams, number of users, uplink needs etc

 

Hope the above helps.

 

Regards

 

Aidan

[Iain.Faulkner]

We're currently looking at doing a similar project with a view to pulling out all the existing, 3com, cisco, netgear switches etc and replacing. We already have a HP 5406zl in the core and at this point we're looking at HP for the edges as well. Just had pricing through for redoing all our fibre as well! I'm not sure the headteacher is going to like the overall cost :-)

[Tallwood_6]

For the core I'd now go for the 5400R zl2 series which is the natural successor to the 5412zl v2 and 5406zl v2 even though they are still available. The new modules just have greater backplane speed and I suspect when the release the v3 modules next year they will only be supported full speed in this new chassis.

[pcstru]

We have HP S5706E at the core and around 50 edge (mostly 2650B) and 10 aggregate switches. They are pretty reliable but never less over the years a few have failed which HP have replaced under their lifetime warranty.

[synaesthesia]

It's good to standardise. We rock a pair of HP 5406ZL's at our cores and give us more than enough oomph, plus should we need to go up to 10Gbe we can easily get the modules to upgrade. We are replacing switches as we need to (not often) to HP units at the edge, the majority are *spit* dlink *spit* though from when we needed to get everything upgraded on the quick. They've not been bad though!

[3s-gtech]

I will state again for those who haven't needed to use it - the HP lifetime warranty is awesome, on the very few occasions where I've needed it. Our Cisco kit has the same deal, but never had to use it as we haven't had it long. Our core is a 5406zl here, no complaints. It replaced a D-Link DES-6000 which had been re-purposed and is still running - proper tough old box that.