DFE Guidelines for a primary

[CHiLL]

I've been reading through the DFE guidelines for new network infrastructure and they recommend stackable switches with 40Gb interconnects, Cat6A cabling to endpoints and a core with two management modules, two PSUs, etc. While I agree that is all good stuff, especially for larger networks and it'll last 15 years or so...but for a primary that has ~50 staff and ~280 students, it seems overkill. I am planning on replacing our infrastructure with Ubiquity UniFi, but having those requirements puts you into the campus range of switches, which is a whole lot more expensive and frankly, outside of what I can purchase.

 

For anyone who has recently or will be implementing a new network in a relatively small primary, what direction did you go in?

[johnnyboy3600]

I'm actually going through something like this now at one of my primaries. I think I've ran this through Gemini about 100 times...!!!

 

DfE says you can have whatever switches you want, but if they're stackable, they should operate at 40Gbps (Meraki has this capability). If they cannot truly stack (like UniFi), then the connections between each switch should be 2x10Gbps SFPs. 

 

I think my main core should be;

LGfL-> (via Cat6) Dream Machine Pro Max -> (via 2x DAC cable) Pro Aggregator -> (via 2x DAC cable, each) Switches

 

Then I've got a cab downstairs. I read it as it should be 2x 10gbps from the core per switch, but Gemini says you can do 2x fibre to an aggregation switch and then 2x DAC to each switch, as this still satisfies the 2x10gbps back to the core.

Core -> (via 2x 10GBps fibre) Aggregator -> (via 2x DAC cable, each) Switches

 

And our IT suite has a cab.

Core -> (via 2x 10GBps fibre) -> 48 port switch

 

The standards are crazy for a primary school, but it will depend on your setup. I haven't gone ahead with any of this yet, but I'm trying to get ahead of it and see what makes sense. 

[Chr1S1rhC]

I replaced all my old Cisco gear with Unifi throughout. 

Where the fiber allows its 10Gb between buildings, some older 1Gb is in asbestos lined tunnels we cant touch. 

Aggregator switch delivers a mix of 1 and 10Gb and we have a pair of 10Gb that go to the server switch.

We deliver 1gb to the desktops and have a mix of Wifi 5/6/7 that serves everything else. (several thousand devices at max usage)

IP phones, large CCTV install.

We run a 1Gb synchronous virgin connection for internet which we have only upgraded from a 200/200 because we got a great deal.

We are a large 4 form primary and never ever use anywhere near full capacity on anything, we sometimes have density issues with APs but that's because of our 100+ year old building and walls that could withstand a nuclear blast!