Connecting 2 sites?

Beansprout · 27 Nov 2006 at 15:43

That's ok then, your network just won't work in winter

The_KiD · 27 Nov 2006 at 15:44

pdw8 · 27 Nov 2006 at 15:59

So are you planning to just tack the cable along a wall or something?

Beansprout · 27 Nov 2006 at 16:01

The_KiD said:
?

If they won't give the money for a proper upgrade, try your best to produce a report showing what *needs* doing and why, and why you absolutely cannot have it done on the cheap. Show them the figures - hundreds of people idle because of a bleeding cable type - madness! I really hope they give out the necessary resources

The_KiD · 27 Nov 2006 at 16:19

pdw8 said:
So are you planning to just tack the cable along a wall or something?

Yes pretty much.

Code:

A----------------------C
  \              /
    \---------B-------/

Like that.

pdw8 · 27 Nov 2006 at 16:30

Sorry but its obvious that you are not taking the advice people have said. I think you should get someone in who knows what they are talking about.
Running CAT5e externally unprotected is not a sensible thing to do. If the water, cold or sun does not kill it then there is always the chance lightning will.

Andyt_uk · 27 Nov 2006 at 16:37

pdw8 said:
Sorry but its obvious that you are not taking the advice people have said. I think you should get someone in who knows what they are talking about.
Running CAT5e externally unprotected is not a sensible thing to do. If the water, cold or sun does not kill it then there is always the chance lightning will.

or squirrels!

The damn blighters managed to chew through a couple of cables under a portakabin that weren't protected. Not fun trying to replace them.

Cheapest option is to run it in plastic trunking secured properly and sealed with silicone at all the joints.

/edit - And make sure you've got STP turned on on all of those switches if your connecting them like that, otherwise you'll end up with a huge switching loop

zetec452 · 27 Nov 2006 at 16:58

This is turning into quite a funny thread.

Sits back and waits for the "OMG my network is bust thread".

.

pdw8 · 27 Nov 2006 at 17:08

JonRohan said:
This is turning into quite a funny thread.

Sits back and waits for the "OMG my network is bust thread". .

yeah, I have given up aswell. If the OP just wanted a small 5-10 user LAN then fair enough but this is a 200 user corporate LAN.

bitslice · 27 Nov 2006 at 19:52

I can't believe a 200 PC company can't afford a few hundred for a proper network.
and I'm fed up of saying it on this forum, fibre links are NOT expensive.

If they are that hard up, then some 2nd hand 3COM or Cisco fibre switches can be had for absolute pennies. Likewise for pre-terminated fibre cables.
I'd suggest Nortel, but their fibre adaptors are a total ripoff

Go and look, you'll be surprised

Please post back with whatever quote you get.

.

Beansprout · 27 Nov 2006 at 19:58

We shouldn't have told him about STP

Oh well, plenty more issues

The_KiD · 27 Nov 2006 at 22:27

Wait.....lol.... I see the confusion hehehehe my bad

This cable will not be running externally

We own all 3 buildings in a row and the cable will be run through the inside.

like so..

please excuse poor image

At least I hope thats the confusion, I am not avoiding the advice, I have just worked for this company for long enough to know what they will and wont do.

pdw8 · 27 Nov 2006 at 22:40

My fault aswell, I jumped a bit too quick thinking you meant the cable was going to be run externally

Andyt_uk · 27 Nov 2006 at 22:49

By the way, what switches have you got currently feeding the current users? You may not need to get the 2650's as there 48port.

Also mark out where all your servers are and how many you've got. May be better to buy a 24port gig switch, put all servers on this and then run gig links to 'feeder' switches for the users.

The_KiD · 27 Nov 2006 at 23:13

So the Gigabit is ok then? ?

I dont think I will need 48 ports in each site, so it would actually be 2 2650's for site A & C (we need the extra space in A and we may as well make room now in C for the possible increase in numbers), but B would only need a max of 24 if that.

Beansprout · 27 Nov 2006 at 23:18

The_KiD said:
We own all 3 buildings in a row and the cable will be run through the inside.

Hehee, brilliant

Pros - Noob
0 - 1

Hehe

Andyt_uk · 27 Nov 2006 at 23:58

what i'd say would be to put a 24port gig switch into site A(assuming this is where your servers were). Something like a HP 2900 series. Then run gig links from that to as many 2650's as needed in a/b/c.

If you don't need the 48 ports that a 2650 offers then replace it with the 24 port one to reduce the cost a bit.

At least then you've got a gig backbone between all your servers and the switches serving all the users.

Probably around 3k in total with all switches and cabling at a rough guess, maybe a little more.

bitslice · 28 Nov 2006 at 08:56

Beansprout said:
Pros - Noob
0 - 1

LOL, annoying but such is life

The_KiD · 28 Nov 2006 at 11:13

Beansprout said:
That's ok then, your network just won't work in winter

At least now we know why this confused the hell out of me.

Anyways just had the man here to price up the fibre, so he is coming back with prices, however I am thinking we go with the gigabit connection if the fibre is more than the MD wants to shel out for.

bitslice · 28 Nov 2006 at 11:39

The only point in having fibre was that we thought your buildings were separate - if they are one unit, there is no lightning issue. Therefore Cat5e is now an option

The only point in having three runs of fibre was the possible issue of having one building going down (for whatever reason) and taking out the other links. If it's one building, then it's less of an issue.
Therefore having switches that support STP is not really required. (although still nice)

post the details of the switches you are currently using
post where your servers are

.