Need pro tips for switches!

TheGreatDoc · January 30, 2016, 08:28:04 AM

Hi All,

We are moving to 10G backbone, We currently have an ASR1002-X with 8Gb RAM, using the 6 SPF ports in 2 2x1G port-channels. The port-channels are connected to a 3750G as a backbone switch. Each port-channel are 1 for LAN and 1 for WAN. We currently connect our transit providers to this switch and the ASR1002X only run the eBGP.

To this 3750G is connected other 3750G with a 3x1G Port Channel, this one is acting as our MAN Router. To this switch is connected our edge routers with also several port-channels.

What Im going to do (If you dont say anything better) is:

Change the 3750G backbone switch to a 2x WS-C2960S-24TD-L (with FlexStack) having a 4x10G and 48G switch for interconnecting the ASR1002X with our new transit provider 10G uplink and the new L3 Switch.

The 3750G L3 switch will be switch to a WS-C3850-24T-E with 2x10G uplinks. One to our needmoarbandwith router and the other 10G to connect with the 2960S. The WS-C3850-48T-E can also be an option, as it can have 4x10G uplink module, giving us a little bit more 10G interconnection.

For our Server Racks, im thinking in 1xWS-C2960S-24TD-L

Please, take in consideration we are a small company, our budget is small

deanwebb · January 30, 2016, 10:22:14 AM

Get a Nexus9K and anticipate your growth!

TheGreatDoc · January 30, 2016, 11:39:44 AM

Quote from: deanwebb on January 30, 2016, 10:22:14 AM
Get a Nexus9K and anticipate your growth!

I said our budget is small, but we are not poor. We can get something better

wintermute000 · January 30, 2016, 05:41:55 PM

The 2960 series has small buffers and as an access switch is a terrible choice for server and high throughout scenarios. If you want to stick to cisco, minimum 3850, ideally 4948 or nexus 3000 preferably. You can afford asrs and 10gb backbone, if you can't afford those models look at other vendors like brocade or HP
Whatever you do, do not use an access class switch

TheGreatDoc · January 31, 2016, 03:38:57 AM

Quote from: wintermute000 on January 30, 2016, 05:41:55 PM
The 2960 series has small buffers and as an access switch is a terrible choice for server and high throughout scenarios. If you want to stick to cisco, minimum 3850, ideally 4948 or nexus 3000 preferably. You can afford asrs and 10gb backbone, if you can't afford those models look at other vendors like brocade or HP
Whatever you do, do not use an access class switch

Can you be a little bit more specific? We need "3 kind" of switches. What for each you mean?

Also, our Server Rack is for "private use". I mean, we dont provide hosting or housing services, the Server Rack BW use is minimal (less than 100Mbps) for that the 2960G.

wintermute000 · January 31, 2016, 04:31:33 AM

Look up the models, they're model numbers

TheGreatDoc · January 31, 2016, 05:51:10 AM

Yeah I know, but you are picking up 3 different models.

Do you mean the 3k nexus for interconnect, 3850 for MAN Routing and 4948 for servers?

wintermute000 · January 31, 2016, 06:27:57 AM

No, I'm giving you three options that are not bottom end 2960s

deanwebb · January 31, 2016, 07:25:48 AM

Quote from: wintermute000 on January 31, 2016, 06:27:57 AM
No, I'm giving you three options that are not bottom end 2960s

Right, any one of those switch model numbers would be good. I remember looking over a 3850 and 4948 as an upgrade for the server rack at my last company, and then I saw that HP Procurve switches had some great features for their price.

But do not use the 2960. Those switches are probably going to disappoint. Port speed is one thing, but one must also consider their backplane speed and how many packets/sec they can handle, things like that.

Reggle · January 31, 2016, 01:46:41 PM

I agree with the above. You don't want a 2960 as core or backbone of anything due to the buffers. 3650, 3850 or 4948 if you stay with Cisco.

TheGreatDoc · February 01, 2016, 06:33:12 AM

I'm back!

What about the WS-C3850-12XS-S for Core and WS-C3850-48T-E with C3850-NM-4-10G for internal routing?

SimonV · February 01, 2016, 06:43:24 AM

Do you need that many SFP+ ports on your core?

TheGreatDoc · February 01, 2016, 07:05:32 AM

Quote from: SimonV on February 01, 2016, 06:43:24 AM
Do you need that many SFP+ ports on your core?

Thats a very good question and have a very good answer (or I hope so)

With 4x10G switch for core is fine for now, p.e. the WS-C3850-48T-S with C3850-NM-4-10G.

In a first step, we need 1x10G for our main transit provider, 1x10G for the Local Routing and 1x10G for the ASR (BGP). With that, we will have a 5G routing capacity (the 10G to ASR is for WAN (BGP) and LAN (Local Routing).

The thing is, only 1x 10G port left. In about a year or less, we will upgrade our second uplink to 10G and then, all 10G ports will be used. For the price difference between the WS-C3850-48T-S with C3850-NM-4-10G and the WS-C3850-12XS-S there is no other option than the 12 SFP+ (upgradeable to 16 SFP+).

Dont you think so?

icecream-guy · February 01, 2016, 08:25:01 AM

The 4948 10Ge are EOL Last Day Sale was 2/28/2013. they go Last day of support on 2/29/2018.
The 4948 are EOL Last Day Sale was 8/1/2013. they go Last day of support on 7/31/2018.

dlots · February 01, 2016, 09:21:52 AM

I would probably take a look at the 4500X (WS-C4500X-16), I don't know how much they run, but I would be willing to bet since we have 2 they are fairly cheap.

Update they are listed at 11K currently
https://www.cdw.com/shop/products/Cisco-Catalyst-4500-X-switch-16-ports-rack-mountable/2814805.aspx