Core switch opinion needed

[robjduk]

Hello,

Afraid its yet another which core switch do you recommend post

 

Currently between an HP 5412R zl2 and quantity 4, HP 5800 models.

 

The 5412R is a lot more what I am used to however the 5800's seem very impressive and have found many references to them on this forum with some very good things said about them but its different to what I have experienced before.

 

All opinions open but really interested in notes between the 2 mentioned.

 

Thanks all

[Steve21]

What situation are you in currently in regards to layouts etc?

 

The main advantage of the IRF style seems to be when split routing is required (e.g. Server/DR rooms), but the chassis seems to be a lot better in regards to a single room doing everything.

 

Also why 4x 5800? If you need more 10G uplinks there's other models with additional ports, and if it's for 1G ports wouldn't you be better to uplink other switches into them.

 

Chassis seems a lot easier in terms of future expansions and being able to adapt to new situations. Cheap module compared to another switch

 

But we been looking at the 5406R don't really see the need for the 12 unless you really need a lot of fibres etc, always seems cheaper to add a fibre module and uplink a stack into it

 

Steve

[robjduk]

We do have another smaller server room where we house our backup server so one 5800 would be based there with a 40GB uplink.

[VeryPC_Colin_M]

Without knowing more @robjduk I would say the 5412r zl2 is a more common run rate option and it is modular which may benefit you more.

[robjduk]

Well thanks both for your thoughts and appreciated.

 

On that note, maybe I should have said other than cost, is there a reason not to pick the 5800 over the 5142?

[Steve21]

On that note, maybe I should have said other than cost, is there a reason not to pick the 5800 over the 5142?

 

Lack of expansion in the future, e.g. lack of 10Gb/40Gb/PoE+/"Other modules" Chassis is nice and easy, bang a module in and done. You're also at the max you could add on for IRF core (4 only more are available for edge switches unless it's changed)

 

If as you say you want a 40Gb link (assuming you mean 4x SFP+ as didn't think 5800 supports QSFP) you'll have very few SFP+ left for stacks/uplinks in the 5800, where you could stack lots on the chassis and have 10Gb uplinks from stack/servers.

 

Much lower routing capacity etc (960Gb vs 200Gb~). They aren't designed for iSCSI etc work (If you're using it)

 

But then with Chassis you have STP issues, and slower failover etc.

 

But in reality will you need many more switches or higher routing figures? Guess it depends how large your network is, and what future plans you have for it.

 

I don't know how quick you're planning to do this, but one of the HP guys I was speaking to at BETT said they're planning to bring IRF to their chassis in the new firmware, which in my opinion would be a no-brainer then as we're planning to replace core over Summer, so kind of waiting a bit to see if that does actually show up but obviously nothings 100%

 

Steve

[cpjitservices]

What about one of these ?

 

Networking Solutions - Ethernet Routing Switch 8800 Series - Avaya UK

 

[njc235]

The 5800 will stack (IRF) up to 9. I presume resiliency is one of the attractions you've been made aware of with the virtual chassis. The 54xx good as it is, still has a single backplane.

[Steve21]

The 5800 will stack (IRF) up to 9. I presume resiliency is one of the attractions you've been made aware of with the virtual chassis. The 54xx good as it is, still has a single backplane.

 

IRF only allows 4 stack for core routing according to HP docs, 4+ is only for stacking edge

 

"Q: How many switches can be grouped together using IRF?

A: One HP IRF domain can contain up to nine access layer switches, or up to four core layer switches."

 

http://m.hp.com/h20195/v2/getpdf.aspx/4AA5-3379ENW.pdf?ver=1.0

 

 

 

Steve

[VeryPC_Anthony_L]

Hi @robjduk as @VeryPC_Colin_M as mentioned it would be handy to know what you want to achieve.

 

Although modular systems are fantastic unless you require something really custom I would suggest looking at the fixed switch range, again it all depends on what you want to achieve and what you require.

[njc235]

IRF only allows 4 stack for core routing according to HP docs, 4+ is only for stacking edge

 

"Q: How many switches can be grouped together using IRF?

A: One HP IRF domain can contain up to nine access layer switches, or up to four core layer switches."

 

http://m.hp.com/h20195/v2/getpdf.aspx/4AA5-3379ENW.pdf?ver=1.0

 

 

 

Steve

 

I believe the document has been misinterpreted.

 

The 5800 is classed as and access layer switch which can perform core routing (and very well too!), thus it can stack 9 high. Something like the 5900, 7500, 12500 being core routing switches will only IRF to 4.