[nsp] Gigabit/Fibre LAN - Required Network Elements

[Mark Tinka]

Hi all.

We are planning a project that will be LAN-bandwidth intensive - there will
be a lot of file sharing, a lot of media streaming and quite a large amount
of packet transfer across the LAN.

We are thinking of running Gig-E on Cat-5 UTP and fibre.

To be more specific:


	o We plan to run the main media servers on a 10Gbps LAN backbone.
The servers already have IntelR PRO/10GbE LR Server
	  Adapter. These adapters have a dual-port interface for an MMF/SMF
fibre hookup.

	o All the LAN machines already have the IntelR PRO/1000 MT Desktop
Adapter installed, and can run from as low as 
	  10Mbps through to 100Mbps and onto 1Gbps, over Cat-5 UTP.

	o Some of the workstations that will access the the media servers
for content will need to re-serve it to both 
	  internal and external users. These workstations are equipped with
the IntelR PRO/10GbE LR Server Adapter, along
	  with the dual-port interface for an MMF fibre hookup.

	o We are also integrating IP telephony for our internal telephone
system on the same backbone, using Cisco IP Phones
	  and some Cisco switching/routing gear. We need to have sufficient
capacity on the LAN so voice quality isn't 
	  compromised.


Questions:

	o We are looking for a solution that will allow us to run our LAN
from 10Mbps all the way to 1Gbps, using both Cat-5
    	  and SMF or MMF fibre, depending on the distance/bandwidth
trade-off. More specifically, a solution in terms of
	  switching and routing.

	o What we have on budget now is 2x 3550 Cisco Catalyst Switch and 2x
3725 Cisco routers. Obviously, for us to realise
	  anything between 100Mbps and 10Gbps, we need to run said speed
right from the PC network card through to the switch
  	  and then the router. 

	o Could anyone please suggest what we could do with this Cisco gear?
We haven't yet ordered, as we may need to be 
	  specific about required network modules. I could have done all
this on my own, but I realised I may not have enough
	  time, and would really appreciate any tips/feedback from list
members that have (tried) such a scenario.

	o Essentially, we want fibre and Cat-5 to reside on the
switches/routers, in, more or less, equal amounts, to allow
	  for growth and expansion in either direction.


Please note that while this project is quite ambitious, this is a corporate
business, with just *enough* money to spare, hence the low router/switch
specs at this time. Anything higher may not be quite feasible (probably
until some time in the future), but your input is welcome, nonetheless.

Any other information anyone can provide will be much appreciated. Thanks.

Regards,

Mark Tinka 
Technical Manager, Africa Online Swaziland