Replacing our HP Core Switch

[chriscubed]

Hello all,

 

We have an aging 5308xl core switch with only 8GbE ports and 4 SFP sockets (plus 120 10/100 ports), which is severely limiting our options for connectivity to other switches.

 

The XL modules for it are quite expensive in comparison to newer models, so I'm looking at replacing the whole thing, and may be able to claw back some money by selling the old one on.

 

I've had a look costings for what we could replace it with, and the cost effective options that I've seen come down to a choice between:

 

4160GL

E4208 (VL)

E5406 (ZL)

 

What I could really do with, is someone to explain what the difference is between the models, especially between 4xxx and 5xxx models, and whether any of it is important to us. I'm open to suggestions, budget is undecided but around £5-6k to provide around 70GbE and 6 SFP ports.

 

Lastly, I ought to mention our core switch is used for routing, in case that makes any odds.

[Millgate]

Hi Chris,

 

The main differences between the 4xxx and 5xxx is that the 5406 is a layer 3 advanced whereas the 4208 only has a few of the features. The 5406 has more expansion and has a POE option.

 

If you'd like, i can arrange a conference call with one our HP networking specialists and he can give you some recommendations???

 

Cheers

[IanT]

Hello,

 

I've installed a few ProCurve E5406zl cores, excellent switches

[glennda]

I've put in a HP E5406zl with 36 SFP ports and 68 copper ports,

 

If you would like i can put you in touch with our supplier - but then Luke @Millgate did me a good price on an extra 24 port module for mine so might be able to beat the original price!

[AngryTechnician]

As above, the 4000 series only have very very limited routing features. Basically you can turn routing on or off, but if its on, it routes all traffic between all VLANs with no option to access control traffic between them.

[chriscubed]

Thanks for the replies so far. Given that we use our switch for routing, I think I can rule out the 4xxx series in our case.

 

@Millgate thanks for the offer but I'm not quite at that stage yet - our next budget will start in September. I will however keep you in mind for closer to the time if I can convince SLT of the need for it.

 

Seems to be a lot of love specifically for the E5406zl, are there any viable alternative models without going through the roof on price?

[gshaw]

We did the same... each XL module only had the 4 ports as you mentioned so it worked out cheaper to gte a 5406zl with a 24-port SFP module than to try and get anywhere near with the XL modules

[glennda]

Not really from the chassis design (from HP anyway) you have the E5408zl and E5412zl but these just have greater expansion capabilities (along with a backbone to support).

 

Mine costs me 11.5k because i had to by 36 fiber SFP modules at over 100 quid each something like 130 i can't remember.

 

You are looking at the base chassis (with 44 copper and 4 sfp) HP Part No J9447A

Then an HP 24 Port Zl module J9550A - if you need any more just look at the modules required

 

Also don't go by website prices - having looked at the insight website mine was costing around 19k!

[Diello]

5406 here as well - brilliant peice of kit.

[chriscubed]

Ok that's probably a good thing anyway, likely it's not about to be discontinued or anything like that. Currently we have an 8 module switch but realistically I think we'd only need to fill 4 of the modules at least initially so we'd have consider whether the larger chassis was worth the extra cost.

 

36 fibre modules? Can I ask why you need so many? We only have 6 currently to travel between buildings.

 

While I'm on the topic, does anyone use the 10gigabit modules at all? Is it worth it or overkill for a pretty standard secondary school?

[Millgate]

Also don't go by website prices - having looked at the insight website mine was costing around 19k!

 

Soooooo true. Anything HP networking, never go off the online price. The more expensive the switch the more of a saving you'll get.

 

We have HP & Cisco deliveries in stock all the time and we seem to get a much much better price then the online "big boys"

[chriscubed]

Good to know! I've been looking at prices online for a rough guide, but I'll definitely talk to you (Millgate) amongst others closer to the time.

[glennda]

36 fibre modules? Can I ask why you need so many? We only have 6 currently to travel between buildings.

 

We have around 40 Edge Switches and each has a 1gb link to the Core some are patched over so 2 switches share a 1gb link - we have 900 clients

[timbo343]

We have about 30 edge switches all with 1gb link to the core but i made the fatal mistake of buying a 4204vl for the core which i totally regret now.

 

Nevermind.

[synaesthesia]

This is why I scream when people say what they have and I stare at specifications of them to find they're actually worse than standard rack switches at half the price. With all the research I've done in the last 10 days I am *adamant* (stand and deliver!) there's a lot of price fixing involved on the manufacturers part. For instance - why would the chassis of one of these switches cost pennies (say a grand for the 5406) yet the modules which are largely passive cost upwards of 5?

 

Incidentally - Millgate, if you could throw me via PM your current price on the 5406 with 48 gbe port modules then it'd be much appreciated.

Edited November 30, 2011 by synaesthesia

[glennda]

They tend to put the website prices (especially on there website) higher then the resellers to make it look like you are getting a good deal, and then the prices from Account Manager is so much cheaper to make it look even better.

[Millgate]

Incidentally - Millgate, if you could throw me via PM your current price on the 5406 with 48 gbe port modules then it'd be much appreciated.

 

I've PM'd pricing to you now We have stock

[Haptic]

Just saw this post and we are here for a comparative price also for anyone in need.

 

I agree with the online price comments though, never ceases to amaze me how much some people charge!

 

 

 

Chris

[irritabletechy]

We have a E5412zl at the core of our network. It's fantastic for our needs. Happily routing eight vlans, 700 devices with hardly any load at all

 

Replaced all the switch gear the summer just gone. Much of it came from CP ltd. Excellent service from them. But they were beaten on price of the 5412. Can't win 'em all Chris! Definetley worth approaching though.

[synaesthesia]

Just saw this post and we are here for a comparative price also for anyone in need.

 

I agree with the online price comments though, never ceases to amaze me how much some people charge!

 

Chris

 

Have already emailed you and Mark is waiting for a chat

[synaesthesia]

Can I just echo and confirm what was said about always asking your account managers and emailing companies direct rather than worrying about any prices you see online. I think we're just about to bag a pair of 5406zl 44port POE switch units for half what we found online... Definitely shop around!

[Millgate]

I agree, it's always worth shopping around. Just be careful, i've heard of horror stories in the past where people thought they were buying genuine HP kit, spent thousands on it and it turned out to be HP renew or grey stock.

 

Sometimes you'll never know the difference between real and grey stock but sometimes, when the worst happens, it can damage or void the HP warranty leaving you up #*#* creek without a paddle!!!

 

So if it seems too good to be true, be careful and get it in writing that it is genuine UK stock and then if it all goes wrong, you can go back to them and tell them to sort it!

[snoerre]

HP 5406-44G-PoE+-2XG v2 (J9533A) ~4000,-€ incl. VAT