Advice please

[hyb80]

Hi All

 

I have recently been involved in a bid process for the ICT infrastructure for a new school.

 

One of the items is the networking infrastructure, not a strength of mine but I get the basics.

 

As you can imagine I am keen to ensure I give accurate advice.

 

 

The brief was to provide an Enterprise level solution. This is what the company chosen to supply are proposing.

 

 

The spec for the Core is a dual Cisco 4500-X (Cisco lifetime warranty) 10gbps links to edge

 

Edge switches Cisco Catalyst 2960X-48LPD-L

 

Wifi Controller Cisco 2504 with Cisco Aironet 2700 series APs

 

Any thoughts would be hugely welcome

 

Thanks again

Edited November 11, 2016 by hyb80

[hyb80]

Added in error Edited November 11, 2016 by hyb80

[john]

Cisco wifi is pant IMHO, where I work we have, at last, replaced all our Cisco with Ruckus. Other members on here like other makes but Cisco certainly isn't high up the like list.

 

On-costs is one thing with Cisco hardware, SmartNet is not cheap, other makes such as HPE Networking (which is starting to be badged Aruba) that doesn't have any yearly support fees unless you want 4hr replacement hardware etc... the hardware is usualyl cheaper and better spec as well than Cisco. I suspect someone is doing the old adage of you won't get fired for buying Cisco when reality is you shouldn't just look at Cisco you should look at other makes. I have also used Juniper in a school and been incredibly happy with that and the lovely folks at @Net-Ctrl were my vendor for both the Juniper and Ruckus.

 

To give more specifics such as exact models people are going to want more info such as load, expected use, desires etc...

[Net-Ctrl]

Thanks @john, @hyb80 if you would like to discuss alternative solutions, please let me know. I appreciate as this other company is a chosen supplier, that this may not be possible

[Meldrew]

I'd also take a close look at any support contracts that go with the kit. Don't want to end up locked into a lengthy contract that gives you no access to change configuration and costly to make any changes that you need. Ensure you are getting full admin access to everything supplied, unless you are happy to be paying the supplier to do it for you.

 

Meldrew