Connecting 2 sites?

It sounds like a proper network professional is needed, because at this rate...a switch failure in A will take down the entire network!
 
you could look for three switches that support spanning tree protocol, then link them up with fibre in a triangle.
Low end quote: a ProCurve 2600-8 and two 2650-48 might do. Only 10/100, but 1Gb links

It's a bit pricey for 1Gb switches, but are any of your PCs capable of 1Gbs ?
a 150 PC network could do with a fast switch, but you didn't say what site A is using... :confused:

Do you want to use VoIP between sites? Then some Cisco kit may be the way to go.
We use a bunch of Cisco 3500XL and loop them all up with fibre.


Need more info on what your needs are

.
 
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Depending on budget the Cisco WS-C2950G-24-EI has 2 x 1Gb uplinks (for diverse fibre) and 24 x 10/100Mb TX ports. These can be had for around £1100 each. We use these and they are rock solid.

I would have somthing like:

Building A = Catalyst 6509 with 4 x WS6348-RJ45 then diverse 1Gb optical to both building B and C terminating on the 2950's.

A nice robust little LAN :)
 
yeah sorry wasnt very clear.

I only need 10/100 at the client end.

The link would be going direct from A - C (there is already `10/100 link from A - B)

I am going now to measure how far it is to see if we can have the gigabit connection between A & C.

So the Procurve 2650 has 2 gigabit ports, but 48 normal 10/100's?
 
You should really think about having a backup cable between all 3 buildings aswell. If you loose one of the cables you will still have connectivity.
You mention you could soon have over 200 users on the LAN and thats a lot of people to be twiddling their thumbs if some dozzy contractor cuts through your only link, especially if you have shared servers in all 3 buildings.
 
The_KiD said:
So the Procurve 2650 has 2 gigabit ports, but 48 normal 10/100's?
Click to expand...
yes
http://www.hp.com/rnd/products/switches/switch2600series/overview.htm

the reason I looked at that is because it has STP and dual GBICs enabling you to link all sites in a loop. (OK, Andyt_uk suggested it first ;) ). But think of it as minimum workable configuration

I'd replace the copper 10/100 link from A - B with fibre, and add one to B-C as soon as.

consider if VoIP is an issue, as picking switches that provide line power would be handy.

what does site A currently use ?
 
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bitslice said:
the reason I looked at that is because it has STP and dual GBICs enabling you to link all sites in a loop. (OK, Andyt_uk suggested it first ;) ). But think of it as minimum workable configuration
Click to expand...

Corrected ;)

I've used many of these in the school i worked in a couple years ago. Very nice bit of kit at reasonable prices.

Its worth investigating to see if you can get the copper from A to C as well as B to C. If not, suggest to your bosses that the only possibility is to use fibre.

Definately worth running more than one cable as well. If i needed 2 links i used to run 4 cables. Then if one snapped/broke/was cut etc you could easily fix the problem. Also adds in some room for expansion.
 
HEADRAT said:
Sure :) but even in an ideal world fibre over such a short distance is OTT ;)

HEADRAT
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Totally disagree with that comment. We have 8 core fibre linking all of our blocks together and that was money well spent. It was installed about 4 years ago and its meant it has future-proofed us for a long long time should we jneed more bandwidth between the sites.
 
Beansprout said:
200 people idle for, let's say, 3hrs, due to a silly cable cut, paid at around £6/hr (ie pretty much minimum wage) = £3600 lost :)
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Thats the least of your worries. Loss of business would be slightly higher.

In response to the OP. Its not personal but you sound like you are punching way above your weight which generally only leads to one thing. A project like this needs to be done properly and once only. Forget trying to do it on a small budget.
 
Thanks for all the advice and help.

1) Yes I am in deeper than my knowledge goes however with minimal funding and no one else to do it, then I dont have a lot of choice

2) I agree Fibre sounds like the better way to do it and I am getting a price for that too, however the price is likely to put it out of our reach.

So I am looking at putting a ProCurve 2650 in all 3 sites (A,B & C) the using the Gigabit ports to link the sites, so 2 questions:

1) Do you need special cable for gigabit? or will normal Cat5 do it?

2) Is it worth buying the 3yr carepak with the switches as these are almost the same price as the switch.
 
Short runs of fibre shouldn't cost too much, unless of course they have to start running it underground etc.

As for the carepack, the switches are generally quite sturdy and reliable. Just depends if you have a spare to switch to if one breaks as it'll take a couple of days to get a replacement sent out, whereas with a care pack then you should get someone out same or next day.

Worth speaking to whoevers in charge and saying that if they want it done, then it needs to be done properly, otherwise there just going to have problems in the future. A few thousand more now would save a whole load of hassle in the future.
 
How will the CAT5e be run between buildings? It is not rated for external use so the absolute minimum is that is should be an a waterproof conduit or duct if buried underground. Other things to consider is its also only rated to work to -10C degrees so it could be an issue in winter and should be kept out of direct sunlight.

The longer this thread gets the more I am concerened. A LAN with upto 200 workstations is pretty large and needs to have the correct infrastructure. Make sure you get quotes for fibre and include these in the proposal. If it gets rejected and in the future the LAN has issues at least you have covered everything off. I sound a bit ruthless but I have seen people loose thier jobs over things like this.
 
The_KiD said:
Thanks for all the advice and help.

1) Yes I am in deeper than my knowledge goes however with minimal funding and no one else to do it, then I dont have a lot of choice

2) I agree Fibre sounds like the better way to do it and I am getting a price for that too, however the price is likely to put it out of our reach.

So I am looking at putting a ProCurve 2650 in all 3 sites (A,B & C) the using the Gigabit ports to link the sites, so 2 questions:

1) Do you need special cable for gigabit? or will normal Cat5 do it?

2) Is it worth buying the 3yr carepak with the switches as these are almost the same price as the switch.
Click to expand...

Just remember to cover your butt mate. Explain everything to your bosses, ie carepacks, what if we don't have one, why we need one , why fibre etc etc. You give them the options / recommendations let them make the decisions. Taking on something like this could either help or hinder you depending how it goes.
 
ok just got a stupidly long Tape Measure to mesaure the distance between sites.

Total distance including, the little nooks and crannies the cable will have to follow is 62metres.

\o/

So seeing as the max Gigabit cable length is 75m, then what I hope to do is get 3 of the HP Procurve 2650 switches, put one in each of the sites and link all 3 together to get the nice little triangle effect.

However still have the fibre install guy coming to give us a price tomorrow.

But with those 2650's only costing £411 each I cant see us going for the fibre option.
 
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