On Feb 6, 2008, at 9:28 PM, Sherwood Botsford wrote:
Part of my job description is to come as close as possible to doing
everything with no resources. (My entire IT budget for this year is
$6K. That includes internet connectivity, all repairs, all infra-
structure costs, and all core software. About $100/computer) THIS
year I have about 4K for servers. I get to replace my pair of 1 GHz
256MB boxes with something a bit faster, more reliable and more
spacious.)
I was given a stack of 3 com SuperStack II and III switches. I
picked up a set of matrix cables off eBay, and since one of the
switches had the matrix module, I was able to put 4 in a stack. This
made a huge difference. At class shift, login times dropped from
3-4 minutes to 30 seconds.
At present the one with the matrix module is connected to the
servers. Everyone else talks to the other three.
HOWEVER, these switches are dying like flies at a RAID show.
I've had 5 of them die in the last 3 months. (I also use them in
classrooms -- Overkill, for 3-4 computers in a classroom, but, as I
said, the price is right.) In effort to stem the bloody tide, I've
remounted them on the rack with 2 rack holes between each, to
improve the air cooling.
I'm wandering. New servers (wow! NEW, not second hand) are coming
in. I'd like to set up a tiered structure, with the server switch
being a GB switch, the second level switches being 1 GB uplink + 100
MBit to the desk top. Use 3 24 port ones in the wiring closet, and
12 port ones out in the classrooms.
So I went to 3com's web site. Got frustrated as hell trying to find
what I was looking for. Went to Cisco's site. No better, but they
answered the phone. Their switches are pricey. 8 port with 1 GB
uplink are $800. 24 port GB $3300.
Go to Dell's site, and the numbers are a lot cheaper. Even for web
managed (semi-managed) switches I could chop a digit off of prices.
E.g. a 24 port GB switch for about $300, an 8 port GB switch for
$100. Then don't sell semi-managed switches that have just 1 or 2
GB ports.
So I could put GB to the desktop -- except that my wiring is only
Cat 5, and I don't really need GB at the desktop.
So, question time:
1. Why is a cisco 2960-PT-ATTL eleven times the price of a Dell
PowerConnect 2724?
Seriously, do you even have to ask? Compare the feature spec list.
(note: this is not an endorsement of Cisco switches, just that anyone
could compare the feature set of these two switches and see the
differences)
2. I figure there is less likely to be gotchas if all my core
switches are from the same vendor. What vendors do you recommend
for inexpensive switches.
Go used, but find something easily replaceable (either as a whole in
quantity or per module, e.g. HP ProCurve 400M).
Cautionary tales?
You get what you pay for. Sometimes you don't. Every vendor has a
crappy model. I like the Cisco 2900 series. Lately I've been working
with Foundry. Better bang for the buck than Cisco, IMHO. But you
really should be looking at used switches.
There are plenty of quality used switches on eBay, but... it helps to
know what your feature requirements are. All you've mentioned are
port speed and web-management. If you don't need any *real* features
from your switches, go really cheap and pick up some Netgears from
your office supply shop. They're dumb, hard to screw up, and
plentiful in your local area.
---
Jason Dixon
DixonGroup Consulting
http://www.dixongroup.net
