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We're just about to add a couple of sites to our existing campus which will require at least an additional 2 fibre connections on our main core swich (currently full). We've also got a new blade chassis (on gigabit ethernet connections) that's hanging off a switch connected to the current core switch. Obviously this is far from ideal so I was thinking given this expansion now would be the ideal time to start looking at a replacement core switch so we can return to a full star network topology with all of the servers hanging directly off the main switch. In terms of connection we'd need the following as a minumum :- *At least 14 Fibre Connections (to cope with current servers and uplinks plus future expansion) * At least 10 gigabit ethernet ports Currently all of the switches on our network are 3com (a mix of 4900s and 4400s). If we needed to I think we might be able to buy additional stacking units but given current developments (and likely future ones) on the site I think that a new core switch would be the better more future proof option. I was thinking about something like the 3com modular chassis below fitting with a gigabit module and a fibre module :- 3COM 3C16894-UK 3Com Switch 7754 4-Slot Chassis Bundle http://www.3com.com/products/en_US/detail.jsp?tab=features&pathtype=purchase&sku=3C16894 it's difficult to predict what options we might use in future (VOIP,PoE,80211N) but does anyone have any suggestions for alternatives to the 3com above and are there any features we should be looking for in particular? Would a modular option be the best bet or are stacks perhaps untimately more flexible? Any recommendations/advice would be appreciated? TIA

We are considering purchasing an Intel Modular Server (possibly rebranded as a NEC Flexpower Server), plus Promise Vtrak VTE310 for additional storage. I would be interested in any opinions/experiences that people have had with one of these. Our current setup is nearly five years old (Dell Poweredge 2850s x4, AX100 fibre channel SAN on RM CC3) and, of course, money is tight so we are looking for good value but still high quality and speed. We're initially looking at moving our CC3 across onto this but in due course possibly going vanilla and using Hyper-V with Windows 7 workstations and adding an Exchange 2010 server. Is this up to it in a large secondary school? Thanks.