6509E Replacement

[Ironman]

Any recommendations on a 6509E replacement? Current setup is 2 6509E's with split STP and HSRP instances to share the load.

Requirements
-4x 10GB Ports
-96x 1GB Ports

Debating dual 4506s or 1 4507 with dual Sups. A coworker mentioned a 9k but I think that might be overkill. Still researching but figured I would ask my knowledgeable compadres here.

[wintermute000]

6800s if campus, 9k if DC?
9k is cheaper than you think (merchant silicon), its the way to go unless you have some kind of campus specific feature requirement, or really really really love VSS

[Ironman]

Thanks wintermute, its a DC environment with 5ks at the access layer. I have started digging into the 9k and it looks like the 9504 might fit the bill. It might be a "comfortability" aspect with me leaning towards the 4507. . . . and I can admit that.

[wintermute000]

9ks no question.

[deanwebb]

9ks no question.

QFT, get them 9Ks in your DC.

[icecream-guy]

9ks no question.

QFT, get them 9Ks in your DC.

next question is show he quote the hardware to be able to grow into ACI, or skip all that and just run standalone
keeping in might that it's an all or none conversion to ACI.   I remember getting quoted for a ACI starter, couldn't find hte part number
but I did find a pdf here

http://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/solutions/collateral/data-center-virtualization/cloud-infrastructure/at-a-glance-c45-732732.pdf

depending on your needs, the 6800 and 9504 starter kit may be comparable pricewise.

[that1guy15]

If you are set on Cisco then yes I agree with @wintermute000, 9Ks are the way to go. If you are willing to branch out my top pick for the DC right now is Arista.

[wintermute000]

I agree 100%.  Arista is awesome (the telemetry alone is mind blowing). However 9k is catching up in features and Cisco is known to drop pants in pricing. Just say the words NSX and Arista repeatedly to your account rep. Do not in the name of all that is holy go near the dumpster fire known as ACI

[NetworkGroover]

I agree 100%.  Arista is awesome (the telemetry alone is mind blowing). However 9k is catching up in features and Cisco is known to drop pants in pricing. Just say the words NSX and Arista repeatedly to your account rep. Do not in the name of all that is holy go near the dumpster fire known as ACI

All bias aside, Arista is pretty awesome - and only getting better!

Quoted for truth on pretty much every count.  Please God do not even waste your time with ACI - go standalone if you INSIST on going Cisco... and watch the angst appear on your rep's face just by mentioning you're evaluating Arista... almost an immediate 80% or better discount... because they can't compete.

[deanwebb]

I agree 100%.  Arista is awesome (the telemetry alone is mind blowing). However 9k is catching up in features and Cisco is known to drop pants in pricing. Just say the words NSX and Arista repeatedly to your account rep. Do not in the name of all that is holy go near the dumpster fire known as ACI

All bias aside, Arista is pretty awesome - and only getting better!

Quoted for truth on pretty much every count.  Please God do not even waste your time with ACI - go standalone if you INSIST on going Cisco... and watch the angst appear on your rep's face just by mentioning you're evaluating Arista... almost an immediate 80% or better discount... because they can't compete.

No joke. May even get free gear, with the cost being moved instead to purchasing pro services hours.

[burnyd]

Thanks for the endorsements of course.  Not to make this "vendor-forums.com" but generally the bugs and issues we see with a lot of the 9ks on NXOS codes is typically what causes customers to go another direction.  If you insist on cisco then going stand a lone 9k is typically the route they will take you in but will try to sell ACI DO NOT GO ACI friends of NF do not allow friends of NF to go ACI. 

[wintermute000]

do you mind elaborating on the kind of bugs you've seen (and whether that was 6.x or 7.x code)?

I have a 9k deployment coming up, so any advance intel would be much appreciated (esp if feature X goes kaboom).

[burnyd]

The best advice is dont deploy them.  I mean things are a little better now that they are on merchant silicon.  There all pretty public there on the CSCO bug page.