New Core Switch Suggestions

[Mr.Ben]

Good Afternoon All,

 

I'm after some suggestions for new Core switches here -

 

We have 1200 users, 500 clients and around 40 printers here, plus VOIP to administer.

 

I've inherited 4x Netgear stackable switches, which consistently need rebooting as they fail to allow dns queries across themselves, a reboot and they start working again.

 

I'm in need of a fair few fibre ports on the new switches, as we have lots of 1Gb fibre coming into the server room (around 20 different connections.

 

If I buy new stackable switches I'd like 20Gb between them to future proof.

 

So what are you guys using?

 

 

Thanks in advance, Ben

[Rozzer]

I have a HP Procurve 5406ZL. Mine came with 44 ports 1Gig POE + and 4 SFP. They also offer a 24 port SFP. I have used HP for years and touch wood never had one fail Also if in the future you wanted to upgrade to 10GB it has supporting modules.

 

Ross

[dezt]

I have the same HP 5406zl for our core, just added a new 24 port module in it for our virtualisation project. So far it's been great, decided to put a second PSU in it just in case as well.

[twin--turbo]

Two Cisco 4507RE's on our site and the same on the sister site with a 1Gb 5Mile fiber.

 

Despite beeing R's they only have one supervisor card ( I spent a number of e-mails arguing with the installers over this waste of money when they could have put in a 4506)

 

Apart from when we first got the first one 4 years ago ( when 2 PSU's blew in 4 months ) they have been rock solid.

 

Rob

Edited September 2, 2012 by twin--turbo

[Roberto]

Good Afternoon All,

 

I'm after some suggestions for new Core switches here -

 

We have 1200 users, 500 clients and around 40 printers here, plus VOIP to administer.

 

I've inherited 4x Netgear stackable switches, which consistently need rebooting as they fail to allow dns queries across themselves, a reboot and they start working again.

 

I'm in need of a fair few fibre ports on the new switches, as we have lots of 1Gb fibre coming into the server room (around 20 different connections.

 

If I buy new stackable switches I'd like 20Gb between them to future proof.

 

So what are you guys using?

 

 

Thanks in advance, Ben

 

We use: 2x HP 8212zl and 2x HP 5412zl switches with the premium software installed, with the 8212s more or less fully populated with 10GBE SFP+ blades (for uplinks to edge switches, and to servers) and the 5412s populated with a couple of 10GBE SFP+ blades each (for uplinks to the 8212s) and then filled up with 24 port 1GB blades (for anything in the server room that can't or doesn't need to connect via a 10GBE link.). They work very well and I'd be happy to buy them again.

 

IIRC we paid for the premium software as it was an add-on back then but I think it's now included in the bundle. Well worth remembering if someone offers you one 'cheap' but without the premium software add-on.

[twin--turbo]

Roberto/Rozzer:::

10GB

links .. NOW THAT is awesome!

 

 

Rob

[glennda]

I would also recommend a HP5406zl (or 5412zl). Which is highly expandable. I used to have one at my last place. I got HP5406zl model with the 2 modules pre installed giving 44 copper and 4 SFP and then got 2 additional SFP modules giving an additional 48 SFP (As I used to have 40 edge switches on 1gb links). I then got an additional 24 port copper about a year later when i needed more space. Whole thing cost less then 12k.

 

I bought a second on just before I left for the second server room (which was to replicate with the first) but never quite installed it.

 

They also have the ability to take 10gb modules if required.

 

I have also used some of the 8212's at a large client on mine and they are very similar to the 5406 range.

[mdench]

I would also recommend a HP5406zl (or 5412zl). Which is highly expandable. I used to have one at my last place. I got HP5406zl model with the 2 modules pre installed giving 44 copper and 4 SFP and then got 2 additional SFP modules giving an additional 48 SFP (As I used to have 40 edge switches on 1gb links). I then got an additional 24 port copper about a year later when i needed more space. Whole thing cost less then 12k.

 

I bought a second on just before I left for the second server room (which was to replicate with the first) but never quite installed it.

 

They also have the ability to take 10gb modules if required.

 

I have also used some of the 8212's at a large client on mine and they are very similar to the 5406 range.

 

 

Additional note the 10gb modules require the 10gb module cards to go into the switch.

[cpjitservices]

Juniper EX2200 - very nice pieces of kit and cheap too.

 

http://www.juniper.net/in/en/products-services/switching/ex-series/ex2200/

Edited September 3, 2012 by cpjitservices

[glennda]

Additional note the 10gb modules require the 10gb module cards to go into the switch.

 

Well yeah your not going to get a 10gb SFP module working in a 1Gb SFP card...

[mdench]

Well yeah your not going to get a 10gb SFP module working in a 1Gb SFP card...

 

well erm... Marty learnt the hard way

[FragglePete]

I also have the 5406zl which seems pretty robust. We run our VOIP system over it on a seperate VLAN. The only thing I wasn't happy about was the 'premium' license we had to buy to allow Multicast across VLANs which cost over £1k to purchase. I'm running a some compatabile GBICs on it with no issues whatsoever which are a lot cheaper than branded ones.

 

Pete

[glennda]

I also have the 5406zl which seems pretty robust. We run our VOIP system over it on a seperate VLAN. The only thing I wasn't happy about was the 'premium' license we had to buy to allow Multicast across VLANs which cost over £1k to purchase. I'm running a some compatabile GBICs on it with no issues whatsoever which are a lot cheaper than branded ones.

 

Pete

 

From what I can see most of the models come with the premium software now anyway.

[FragglePete]

I saw that a while back thinking it had the Premium Edge license, but I think it's just the ProCurve Management software that gets bundled with it. Just make sure.

 

Pete

[glennda]

I saw that a while back thinking it had the Premium Edge license, but I think it's just the ProCurve Management software that gets bundled with it. Just make sure.

 

Pete

Both the one I purchased last April and this April both came with premium Edge license.

[FragglePete]

Excellent!

[CyberNerd]

My recommendation for core switches are HP 5800-24G (JC100A). They replaced our 5500G's and 4800G's.

We have 4 running. They each have 4x10GBE onboard and expansion chambers that take another 4x10GB modules each .

They come as either copper or SFP - so we have 2x copper and 2x SFP switches, connected by redundant 20GBE links with a 20GBE link to the blade chassis.

[m25man]

The OP failed to say what model the Netgear Stackables were, I would be interested to find out and how they are stacked.

 

We use HP and Netgear and if configured correctly the Netgears will do most of what the HP will for a lot less.

 

However you always get what you pay for in the switch game you have to put everything in the pot including licenses SFP's and warranties then do a cost per port to really appreciate what youre getting for your money.

[IrritableTech]

We too use a 5412zl. It seems HP have almost cornered this market!

[gshaw]

5406zl for us, lovely bit of kit

[Chris_Cook]

I'm in a similar position to the OP. I've been wondering why the 5406 and 5412 switches are more popular than stacked switches? I'm thinking that a stacked core would give us better redundancy than a chassis. I'm a bit worried about having a single management module and chassis as a single point of failure. I hope I don't sound like i'm second guessing anyone else's choices, I'm just trying to figure out what's best for my school.

 

How do people find the 54xx series in terms of reliability?

[synaesthesia]

Ours have been solid. With redundant PSUs and any array of modules and connection types it seems a far better choice than having to buy another switch. However module prices with some people are just silly, it often works out cheaper in the long run to try and guesstimate what you'll need in the future and getting those modules as part of a chassis deal. If you don't use them you'll easily get the money back selling the modules on It's easy enough to swap out a failed switch in a stack but depending on what that switch is connecting to then it's still not much better than losing a chassis. HP are damn good with warranty stuff. DAMN good.

[CyberNerd]

I'm in a similar position to the OP. I've been wondering why the 5406 and 5412 switches are more popular than stacked switches? I'm thinking that a stacked core would give us better redundancy than a chassis. I'm a bit worried about having a single management module and chassis as a single point of failure. I hope I don't sound like i'm second guessing anyone else's choices, I'm just trying to figure out what's best for my school.

 

I went for a fixed port stack rather than modular. The cost worked out roughly the same and there is full redundancy in the stack (the A5800 SFP has redundant PSU anyway). My choice was really based on the fact that I believe there is more longevity in fixed port switches. For example our old E5500's (5 or 6yrs old) have now been spilt from their original stack configuration and are now being used as edge switches - they have 10GBE uplinks, so they are pretty good spec still. In 5 or 6 yrs time I'll be able to do the same with the A5800's. So it seems like a better plan (to me at least) to be able to re-use the old equipment. I would be hard pressed to find somewhere other than the core to reuse a chassis, but it may work for you.

[apeman]

We run a x2 8212zl and a number of 5406/5412 all with premium licenses. multiple 10Gig links to the 5412's and 4x 1Gb links to the 5406's.

 

All have been solid as a rock and would happily buy this kit again.

 

Added bonus of this setup is that all modules are interchangeable across the 3 models of switch and all run the same firmware code

 

and for the people comparing this kit to netgear, all i have to say is warranty.

Edited September 3, 2012 by apeman

[apeman]

I'm in a similar position to the OP. I've been wondering why the 5406 and 5412 switches are more popular than stacked switches? I'm thinking that a stacked core would give us better redundancy than a chassis. I'm a bit worried about having a single management module and chassis as a single point of failure. I hope I don't sound like i'm second guessing anyone else's choices, I'm just trying to figure out what's best for my school.

 

How do people find the 54xx series in terms of reliability?

 

 

Why not look at the 8212zl then?? this has redundant management modules and fabric modules. it will also carry on switching traffic while the fabric/management modules are failing over if primary one should fail.