witch Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 One of my main switches has failed and I need to get a new one ASAP - now, the issue is, what do I need? I already have a gigabit backbone - but the switch that has gone is a 10/100. Should I be looking at replacing it with a gigabit switch tp future-proof the system? A gigabit switch is approx 3 times the price (looking at HP procurves if they will fit in the cab), or can I get away with one the same as the broken one? I have another one going the same way so will have to make the same decision again soon The IT suite machines are currently 5 year old Dells but presumably ONE DAY I will get to replace them with better spec machines.
BrianG Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 I would future proof it and go for a gig switch
bloxy Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 I replaced the ones that have failed in my schools with 10/100 switches, figured they didn't need gigabit ones for the price cheers Adrian
Soulfish Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 Personally I'd be future proofing and getting a gigabit switch now. Even more so if you're opting for a manufacturer that offers lifetime warranties on it's switches - like HP .
plexer Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 Unless you think in the future that the school will upgrade it's backbone to 10GIG then go for a 10/100 procurve. Ben
KWestos Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 Unless you think in the future that the school will upgrade it's backbone to 10GIG then go for a 10/100 procurve. Ben I'd second that! Future proof, yes, but when would you be looking at 1GB to the desktop? What benefits really would it serve. I'd go for the 10/100
steveg Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 How much of a 'main' switch is it? - Is everything conencted into it, or does it just serve a lot of clients? What else is connected to it, how many other switches do you have, and what are they? Steve
robk Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 If its a edge switch (i.e. feeding network points for machines) I would go for something like a procurve2610 or if management is not a issue procurve 1800. If its a switch feeding other switches then gb would be good, so procurve 2800 series. Personally don`t like the 1700 & 1800 series switches, they seem built to price rather than spec...
mac_shinobi Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 this has prolly been said lots of times but give simon or one of them at cpltd a shout but yes if you can afford it future proof yaself with gigabit.
Dos_Box Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 I can heartily recommend the Netgear Smart Switches. Semi managed and nice features at a price that won't break the bank. Gigabit Smart Switches by NETGEAR £282 for a 24 port Gb version. Failign thta, give ICT Direct a ring, they often have HP Procurve switches in, and you may get lucky for a Gb version. 1
plexer Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 Problem with buying an HP from someone like ICT Direct is that unless it is 100% new then you don't get the lifetime warranty. Ben
steveg Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 The netgear switches are great value, - the 24 port gigabit smart switch is £161 on ebuyer at the moment. Steve
MYK-IT Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 (edited) Without knowing what make / model / role the switch is, it's difficult to make a suggestion for you. I've managed to upgrade half the school to 10/100/1000 switches through general technology refresh / expansion. From the sound of it, if you are needing to purchase another one would i be correct in stating its not a HP, or 3COM etc with lifetime warranty? (Or could it be 3COM, but you need one asap as you normally have to send it back to the Netherlands under standard warranty??) If you are still after a new network switch contact Sarah Stoughton @ SwitchShop on 01438 831870. Not spamming etc, but i've had excellent prices (and service) from them for 3COM gear, but they do others of course. Edited February 1, 2010 by MYK-IT
localzuk Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 We just bought a new switch to connect the majority of our wireless AP's to - A HP 2510G-24. Came in at £430, so not hugely expensive for a 1Gbit switch with 4 GBIC slots. It'll never need 10Gbit connectivity, but 4Gbit would probably be a boon one day.
pantscat Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 £430 for a 2510G... that's a very good price! Any chance you can PM me? Also - the 3com Baseline range seem to be very very good value for Gb switches...
witch Posted February 1, 2010 Author Posted February 1, 2010 Right - bit more info. It isn't that 'main' a switch: we have the gigabit backbone and connections go off to the various areas: this one is the switch used in the IT suite, it is currently a Netgear 48 port and it has a dink cascaded off it. There are 40 odd connections to it, so not massive. I automatically thought 'procurve' as everyone is always telling me how good they are, and now you are coming up with alternatives! So: a 10/100 procurve or a 1GB netgear?? I know we cant afford a gigabit procurve, but a netgear? Hmmm - will look into it. The dink will go soon, I reckon (its a 24) so I need to factor that in too. If I DONT go for a gigabit switch, what are the implications further down the line?
steveg Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 So you've got about 60 client computers at this location? What link have you got back to the main comms cabinet? Is it just gig over copper, fiber or something else? Steve
mac_shinobi Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 If I DONT go for a gigabit switch, what are the implications further down the line? If you do end up upgrading to gigabit later on for clients or for what ever reasons then you will have to pay out more money because you will have to buy gigabit switches over the top of already having purchased 10/100 switches where as if you upgrade them now to gigabit then gigabit wont be an issue later on if you need it so should work out a bit cheaper in the long run because you are upgrading as you go along hence future proofing.
james_yale Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 I can't see a reason not to go gigabit now. HP wise, you might like to look at the ProCurve 1810G series - they offer VLAN support, port aggregation and have GBIC slots which is a reasonable feature set for an edge switch, at a price point pretty close to the Netgear options.
witch Posted February 1, 2010 Author Posted February 1, 2010 End clients arent gigabit at the moment The main comms cabinet is connected by normal cable, not fibre unfortunately. I have been quoted for HP 2510s so far
plexer Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 It's that balance between your requirement now and in the future, if you go to gigabit to the desktop in the future what other infrastructure will need to be changed to support that? Is you backbone suitable or will it need to be replaced are all your cables to the desktop certified to gig standards, if not then you will have to spend a lot of money doing that. If you have to spend a lot of money upgrading the core to support gig to the desktop then replacing the existing 10/100 for 10/100/1000 switches would be part of that. In this case go for a replacement 10/100 with good warranty etc.. On the other hand if your core infrastructure can support gig to the desktop with only a small amount of replacement then go for a 10/100/1000 switch now. Ben
steveg Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 Do you have more than 1 copper cable between the comms cabinets?
Linfit Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 I would seriously look at the Netgear Smartswitches; we use them extensively here as edge switches and they are a good compromise between the fully managed and dumb option; they give us enough configurability (is that a word ?) without the need to splash out on the fully managed option; they are also much cheaper than the equivalent procurves. If your backbone is gigabit it would seem reasonable to put a 10/100/1000 switch in now; assuming you will eventually replace the clients they will have gigabit ethernet cards and so you are doing a bit of future proofing now.
witch Posted February 1, 2010 Author Posted February 1, 2010 It's that balance between your requirement now and in the future, if you go to gigabit to the desktop in the future what other infrastructure will need to be changed to support that? Is you backbone suitable or will it need to be replaced are all your cables to the desktop certified to gig standards, if not then you will have to spend a lot of money doing that. If you have to spend a lot of money upgrading the core to support gig to the desktop then replacing the existing 10/100 for 10/100/1000 switches would be part of that. In this case go for a replacement 10/100 with good warranty etc.. On the other hand if your core infrastructure can support gig to the desktop with only a small amount of replacement then go for a 10/100/1000 switch now. *There arent really 'comms cabinets' as such - over by the office the signal comes in to a gigabit switch and hence in one cable across the school to my cabinet to the gigabit switch there Ben the backbone should be suitable as it was only put in a year ago. I didn't know that the cables have to be gig standards - all the cables from the gigabit switch to the switch in question are just normal ones i think? Would any new computers bought automatically have gig network cards? (you can tell I usually scrounge second-hand kit, can't you!) The problem is that we are seriously short of money. I will have a look at the netgears - but then the HPs have a lifetime guarantee - but then they are expensive - decisions decisions
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