dave.81 Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 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.
Butuz Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 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
localzuk Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 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.
localzuk Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 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. 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.
dave.81 Posted February 12, 2008 Author Posted February 12, 2008 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?
Butuz Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 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. Oopsi my bad! Butuz
localzuk Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 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? 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.
dave.81 Posted February 12, 2008 Author Posted February 12, 2008 YEah i meant work in the netgear switches connected to the HP core
localzuk Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 YEah i meant work in the netgear switches connected to the HP core 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. 1
dave.81 Posted February 12, 2008 Author Posted February 12, 2008 Anyone tell me the hp codes for these magical modules? Yes lazy i am but struggling to find the right ones.
srochford Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 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. 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"?
DMcCoy Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 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"? 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.
localzuk Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 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. 1
riedquat Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 Anyone tell me the hp codes for these magical modules? Yes lazy i am but struggling to find the right ones. 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 1
Butuz Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 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. 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
riedquat Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 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. Indeed, I have 4 Finisar ones (who I believe manufacture the branded ones for HP) but recent firmware updates have meant they are just gatherering dust on the spares shelf.
dave.81 Posted February 12, 2008 Author Posted February 12, 2008 Wow thanx guys, such speed Will i have to buy psu's for them or do they come with 1 in?
localzuk Posted February 12, 2008 Posted February 12, 2008 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 My thoughts exactly. I've never seen an HP unit fail, but have seen netgear ones go up in smoke (literally), seen d-link ones do strange and not-so wonderful things, and 3com ones have just been a complete disaster to me. I've never had problems with Cisco though. Wow thanx guys, such speed Will i have to buy psu's for them or do they come with 1 in? They don't come with any in, so you'd have to buy one or 2 - I'd go for 2, to provide redundancy in the key part of your network.
dave.81 Posted February 13, 2008 Author Posted February 13, 2008 Thank you all for your help with this been great help. I know the bursar will die of shock when he see's the figures but i think it will be a good move in the long run. Just as a side note we've only had 3 netgear switches fail in 8 years and all have been replaced under warrenty but i'm starting to see some slow down on the 5 year old main switches so now is a good time to replace before they fail one busy coursework deadline day.
srochford Posted February 14, 2008 Posted February 14, 2008 We have a complete Netgear network (FE doesn't have the cash which has been thrown at secondary schools :-)) We have had a few failures but warranty replacement has been good. The layer 3 switches are relatively cheap so we just have spares sitting in the racks at key points, ready configured so that if a switch does fail we can just swap over to the spare. I think everyone can tell horror stories about a brand - I've seen a stack of 3Com switches go up in smoke one after the other, for example - but it would be good to get genuine technical reasons for buying another platform.
Butuz Posted February 14, 2008 Posted February 14, 2008 (FE doesn't have the cash which has been thrown at secondary schools :-)) *falls off chair* *lands in a pile of money that someone threw at him* I think everyone can tell horror stories about a brand - I've seen a stack of 3Com switches go up in smoke one after the other, for example - but it would be good to get genuine technical reasons for buying another platform. as mentionmed above - 3com suck too! As for genuine technical reasons - would be nice but real world experience will do for me! Butuz
dave.81 Posted April 22, 2008 Author Posted April 22, 2008 Right we are having major problems with our switches now so need to put together this quote and just wanted to check the parts are right before taking it to the powers that be. J8697A Procurve 5406zl Modular Chassis x1 J8702A Procurve 24-port 10/100/1000PoE Module x3 J8706A Procurve 24-port Mini-GBIC module x1 J4858C Procurve Mini-GBIC x20 J8712A Procurve 875W power supply x2 J4899C Procurve 48-port Switch x8 This is the plan have i missed anything out?
richard.thomas Posted April 22, 2008 Posted April 22, 2008 Our whole network is now 3com, including wireless points. We also install 3com in some of our primary schools. The only issue we've had with 3com is when lightning hit the building and blew random ports on some of the switches (which i'm fairly sure would happen with all makes of switch ). Also, one of the antenna for a wireless access point didnt fit on it, but they replaced that fairly quickly.
torledo Posted April 22, 2008 Posted April 22, 2008 We have a complete Netgear network (FE doesn't have the cash which has been thrown at secondary schools :-)) We have had a few failures but warranty replacement has been good. The layer 3 switches are relatively cheap so we just have spares sitting in the racks at key points, ready configured so that if a switch does fail we can just swap over to the spare. I think everyone can tell horror stories about a brand - I've seen a stack of 3Com switches go up in smoke one after the other, for example - but it would be good to get genuine technical reasons for buying another platform. We've been quite lucky with cisco kit over the years, although we recently had a very old 3500XL stackable switch die after being unplugged and removed from the equipment rack. The 3500XL's don't have line cards just a couple of GBIC slots. When we plugged it back into the switch stack the tell tale lights that indicate a faulty switch came on......on further inspection, error codes pointed to ESD damage to one of the internal components. What's odd is that you can't get to any internal cicrcuitry without pulling the cover off......and that's never been done. improper insertion and removal of gbics would cause ESD damage to the gbics only. Very bizarre occurance as wouldn't have thought you'd need to take ESD precaustions for handling the switch itself. Dust could have been an issue as it was caked in it....but other than that i can't believe ESD damage from handling was to blame - but then the fault only occured after it was removed so there you go. There are some switches that have an ESD point for attaching anti-static wrist strap, but not the 3500XL. My advice is to take care when handling whatever switch TS chooses to buy.
localzuk Posted April 22, 2008 Posted April 22, 2008 Right we are having major problems with our switches now so need to put together this quote and just wanted to check the parts are right before taking it to the powers that be. J8697A Procurve 5406zl Modular Chassis x1 J8702A Procurve 24-port 10/100/1000PoE Module x3 J8706A Procurve 24-port Mini-GBIC module x1 J4858C Procurve Mini-GBIC x20 J8712A Procurve 875W power supply x2 J4899C Procurve 48-port Switch x8 This is the plan have i missed anything out? Looks fine to me. 1
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now