Do I really need to upgrade my switches?

[AlanD]

So in addition to "logon" profile traffic...how much internet traffic are these using typically. Do you have a 1G internet connection? If so I'd definitely be using some LAGs between switches....costs a lot less than replacing switches....

 

And it sounds as if you are working towards "ac" which will help ...without those clients capable of supporting if of course. I'd be focussing on one area and aiming for the Wow factor that internet and logon times are much better there...possibly increasing the number of APs...and then when they start asking why is it better in that block/corner - you can explain that given the funds it can be like that everywhere....

[BKGarry]

So in addition to "logon" profile traffic...how much internet traffic are these using typically. Do you have a 1G internet connection? If so I'd definitely be using some LAGs between switches....costs a lot less than replacing switches....

 

And it sounds as if you are working towards "ac" which will help ...without those clients capable of supporting if of course. I'd be focussing on one area and aiming for the Wow factor that internet and logon times are much better there...possibly increasing the number of APs...and then when they start asking why is it better in that block/corner - you can explain that given the funds it can be like that everywhere....

 

I have a 200mbps internet connection, which we usually peak at 120mbps at times.

 

Logon times are not too bad, as the slowest part it the Group Policy Printers Policy, profiles are local.

 

Year 9-11 have individually assigned laptops, so login in the morning and then keep on going. Shared laptops can take up to 2 minutes to logon if the profiles have been cleared.

 

In this deployment I have actually got a documented decrease of 20-30 tickets a day for two certain areas to 2-5 tickets (usually due to kids switching the WiFi switch off on the laptop and not being able to turn it back on, thank you windows 10 there)

 

This thread was about switches and whether I need to up the priority of replacing them, but at the moment I do not see that.

 

Thank you for all the advice though, it does marry up with what I have been saying for a while

[Michael]

In answer to the original question, it really depends on the circumstances and what they're being used for. In 'most' situations however, 1Gb to the desktop or AP is preferable and it also means you're using your cable infrastructure to the max (most likely CAT5/CAT5e, possibly CAT6).

 

From a raw numbers perspective, all modern devices are more than capable of 11MB/s, offered by a 100Mb Ethernet connection, so implementing a 1Gb to the desktop model, you'll always be pushing the machine to its max in terms of raw bandwidth, instead of the switch itself being throttled by the slower connectivity.

 

Newer workstations (on average), will use anywhere between 300Mb/s > 600Mb/s, so well beyond a 100Mb/s offering, but using 30-60% of 1Gb/s pipe.

 

If the switches were to become problematic (which they do), or of course slow, then the obvious solution is to replace the switch offering gigabit to the desktop and possibly other features such as PoE/PoE+, given you're implementing AC AP's, I can only speculate you're using injectors or mains connected which is far from ideal.

 

Other observations with older switches (with fibre uplinks), is that they're typically using media converters, whereas an GBIC or SFP module is far more preferable, so I have no doubt there are definitely improvements that could be made.

[BKGarry]

In answer to the original question, it really depends on the circumstances and what they're being used for. In 'most' situations however, 1Gb to the desktop or AP is preferable and it also means you're using your cable infrastructure to the max (most likely CAT5/CAT5e, possibly CAT6).

 

Yup, we have CAT6 to all ports :-)

 

If the switches were to become problematic (which they do), or of course slow, then the obvious solution is to replace the switch offering gigabit to the desktop and possibly other features such as PoE/PoE+, given you're implementing AC AP's, I can only speculate you're using injectors or mains connected which is far from ideal.

 

Gbit connection to the AP, but there are rack mounted 24 port POE Injectors, so I am looking at POE+ Switches with the upgrade

 

 

Other observations with older switches (with fibre uplinks), is that they're typically using media converters, whereas an GBIC or SFP module is far more preferable, so I have no doubt there are definitely improvements that could be made.

Luckily there is fibre to each cab which is connected to SFP modules on the switches with what I believe is a miniGBIC module in the port

[Duke5A]

I've got roughly sixty switches in my infrastructure spread across seven buildings with private fiber between each site. Backbone is 1Gb with managed wireless, 180 IP cameras and lots of other fun stuff. Utilization doesn't top 30% on the building links. With the low cost of used equipment I just keep a few spares of each switch model on hand and purchase off of eBay when I need to. Access switches are mainly Cisco 2950 (100Mb ports with 1Gb up-links), wireless switches are 2960S POE (1Gb ports with 1Gb up-links) and the camera switches are 2960 POE (100Mb ports with 1Gb up-links). This stuff is dirt cheap now and I can count on one hand how many switch failures I've had over the ten years of working here. Paying for a continued warranty just isn't worth the cost and capacity isn't an issue at all. I just point whatever budget I get back at client devices.

[AlanD]

I've got roughly sixty switches in my infrastructure spread across seven buildings with private fiber between each site. Backbone is 1Gb with managed wireless, 180 IP cameras and lots of other fun stuff. Utilization doesn't top 30% on the building links. With the low cost of used equipment I just keep a few spares of each switch model on hand and purchase off of eBay when I need to. Access switches are mainly Cisco 2950 (100Mb ports with 1Gb up-links), wireless switches are 2960S POE (1Gb ports with 1Gb up-links) and the camera switches are 2960 POE (100Mb ports with 1Gb up-links). This stuff is dirt cheap now and I can count on one hand how many switch failures I've had over the ten years of working here. Paying for a continued warranty just isn't worth the cost and capacity isn't an issue at all. I just point whatever budget I get back at client devices.

 

I have a very similar policy. Don’t pay for warranty. Buy second hand ...but still current generation switches and modules...sometimes for the cost of peanuts...keep several spare switches...although can’t remember last time I used one..and use Lags everywhere to protect against module or fibre failures. Schools don’t need rolls Royce solutions.

[burgemaster]

After buying some Aruba 2530`s and comparing them to the 1920`s its a no brainer. So glad we didnt get the 1920`s!!

The management is poor and the GUI is terrible. Feels backwards compared to older HPE. The Voice/QoS options are very limited. The ARP table is tiny and the POE version is noisy.

[ITGuyWestMidlands]

How often do you need to use the GUI though? We have loads of 1910s with about 9 vlans across them all. Never really need to touch them.

[Katy]

After buying some Aruba 2530`s and comparing them to the 1920`s its a no brainer. So glad we didnt get the 1920`s!!

The management is poor and the GUI is terrible. Feels backwards compared to older HPE. The Voice/QoS options are very limited. The ARP table is tiny and the POE version is noisy.

 

If you think the 1920 was bad, the current model that replaced it is 1920S - a million times worse!

 

We're a mix of some new 2530 with mostly 1910/1920, made the mistake of getting a 1920S when we needed an additional switch - completely different UI to the 1910/1920 and things like setting VLANs takes about a trillion mouse clicks as you can't do multiples at once.