Core Switch Budget

[DrCheese]

Hi folks,

 

We've currently got 4 x Dell Switches in our core stack - 2 x 24port (7024f) switches links and 2 x 48 port (7048) Ethernet switches - These are Layer 3 switches.

The fibre links go out to coms cabs around the site, the ethernet links are for the servers. The connections are mirrored, so if one unit fails we can carry on.

 

The equipment is reaching 10 years old & EOL with dell - We've had to replace each unit in the switch at least once over the past year due to hardware failure & looking to start replacing it.

 

Anyone who's done this recently - What sort of budget should I be setting aside for this?

 

I had a "Like for like" quote from the company that installed the current system based on Dell S4048-ON switches which came to around £29k, which I thought was extremely expensive - I've got in touch with HP/Aruba but awaiting pricing at the moment.

 

Many thanks

Edited April 29, 2020 by DrCheese

[PlantHead]

How many fibre ports do you need in the Core and what redundancy are you looking for?

[DrCheese]

We've got 12 in each of the fibre switches - We can lose either a fibre switch or an ethernet switch (or one of each) & carry on at the moment - So ideally need redunancy like at present.

[ITGURU]

At a school i've just replaced a HP 5406ZL with a 4 switch D-Link 3130 stack.

2 are 24 port copper switches for servers etc

2 are 24 port SFP ports (1gb)

All have redundant PSUs.

Server teamed connections are across switches 1 and 2 (for redundancy)

Edge switch links are connected to switch 3 and 4 (SFP ports)

If i wanted to i could double up on the links to SFP with redundancy to each edge switch but at the moment just running as single links from core to edge.

High availability and redundancy in event of a single switch failure in the stack.

Cost about £4,500 and in stacking topology this gives me 8 x 10GB ports (2 per switch) for future expansion which I have already utilized one of them to do 10gb from core to edge in a new IT block.

[Tefters]

I'm replacing my core switch infrastructure next year and will be going down the Ubiquiti EdgeMax route.

Cheap as chips with fantastic 10gb performance!

 

Just make sure your fibres are at least OM3 otherwise they will only do 1gb, as for ethernet cat 5e or above is good enough but lengths differ (5e = 45m, 6 = 55m, 6a or 7 = 100m)

[Norphy]

Just make sure your fibres are at least OM3 otherwise they will only do 1gb

 

Not strictly true, it depends on the transceivers that you use. One of our buildings still has OM2 fibre but we’re running 10gbit uplinks to the switches by using LRM transceivers.

 

They’re more expensive but they work.

[ITGURU]

Not strictly true, it depends on the transceivers that you use. One of our buildings still has OM2 fibre but we’re running 10gbit uplinks to the switches by using LRM transceivers.

 

They’re more expensive but they work.

You can run 10gb over any fibre I believe...you will just be restricted on distance..

[bald_pig]

I'd be looking at HPE/Aruba core switches, a 5406 should cover your needs with the right modules, and have room for expansion later.

[DrCheese]

We're OM3 so we should be good for 10gb over our existing runs

 

I'd be looking at HPE/Aruba core switches, a 5406 should cover your needs with the right modules, and have room for expansion later.

 

Aye, I have Aruba working on a quote at the mo - Just looking for what rough budget I should be looking to set aside for this (Based on what others have done recently) - As I'm hoping the £29k I was quoted by the previous installers is an outlier!

[Norphy]

You can run 10gb over any fibre I believe...you will just be restricted on distance..

 

OK, fair enough. Let me rephrase. You can run 10gbit over a more useful distance on OM2 fibre if you use LRM transceivers, up to 220m. Otherwise you're limited to about 80m.

 

We're OM3 so we should be good for 10gb over our existing runs

 

 

 

Aye, I have Aruba working on a quote at the mo - Just looking for what rough budget I should be looking to set aside for this (Based on what others have done recently) - As I'm hoping the £29k I was quoted by the previous installers is an outlier!

 

We've just got a whole load of new networking equipment in for one of our schools. We're using 5400R switches for both the core and edge because why not? We've bought 4 5412Rs, a 5406R, three 2540s and two 8 port 2530s. In all, there are about 900 ports. Including Airwave licenses, it came to a smidgen over £60k.

 

So I'd say that the £29k quote just for the core is waaaay off.

Edited April 30, 2020 by Norphy

[bald_pig]

We're OM3 so we should be good for 10gb over our existing runs

 

 

 

Aye, I have Aruba working on a quote at the mo - Just looking for what rough budget I should be looking to set aside for this (Based on what others have done recently) - As I'm hoping the £29k I was quoted by the previous installers is an outlier!

 

It has been a few years since I specced up a core switch, but iirc we managed to get a 5412 with 10gbe network modules for about £12k!

 

Your previous installers were trying to take you for a ride!

[bald_pig]

Quick look, bare switch is £1500 ex vat on ebuyer: https://www.ebuyer.com/646265-aruba-5406r-zl2-switch-j9821a

[Net-Ctrl]

@DrCheese for further comparison you could also look at the Ruckus ICX switch range. There's some great discounts available. If you would like another comparison to consider, please let me know.

[Davit2005]

I'm replacing my core switch infrastructure next year and will be going down the Ubiquiti EdgeMax route.

Cheap as chips with fantastic 10gb performance!

 

Just make sure your fibres are at least OM3 otherwise they will only do 1gb, as for ethernet cat 5e or above is good enough but lengths differ (5e = 45m, 6 = 55m, 6a or 7 = 100m)

 

There is limited/no resiliency options with Ubiquiti.

 

My choice would be a switch stack so links can be aggregated between physical switches. That can not be done on any Ubiquiti switch that I am aware of. Even VRRP is missing on a switch level, spanning tree is another area that needs work if no stacking is available.

 

I had 2 ES-16-XG switches at home with a ES-24 and ditched them in favour of a few Aruba 2930f's in a stack.

 

IPv6 routing also was missing on the switch, another reason why I ditched them.

Edited April 30, 2020 by Davit2005

[DrCheese]

Aye, we stack our switches at the moment (Both core and edge) - I've only got 2 fibre links to some locations but 3/4 switches in a stack so I couldn't use unifi edge devices without putting an aggregation switch at the top of each rack