[nsp] Gigabit/Fibre LAN - Required Network Elements

[Mark Tinka]

Church, Chuck wrote:
> Mark,

Hi Chuck.

> 
> 	How many workstations and servers are you initially using,...

There will be:

	o 11 user workstations
	o 3 laptops
	o 2 network servers
	o 4 media servers
	o 2 content-production workstations

>...and how
> much potential growth?

We don't envisage that much (or any) growth after this; you could say +/- 3
workstations/servers over the next 5 to 7 years of operation.

>  How much uptime/reliability is required?

Well, being a high capacity LAN that would be 100% under our control, we are
gunning for a 99.99% uptime, or thereabouts. In terms of reliability, the
key servers have been backed up and have their redundant counter-parts. The
same goes for the 2 switches and 2 routers, for redundancy and load
balancing (where possible).

>  I
> haven't checked in a year or so, but last I knew, no server could
> come close to saturating a gig link.  Not sure why you're using 10gb
> links to servers, much less workstations.

Well, to be honest, I think so too - but we are also trying to cater for any
future bandwidth requirements over the next few years. It's been made clear
that there may not be much room for more capex :(. 

Having said that, perhaps a 1Gbps LAN may still be reasonable, as you say.

>  Seems like tremendous
> overkill, and very costly.

This is true, especially for the 10Gbps cards, since motherboards nowadays
come with up to 1Gbps LAN interfaces.

>  If I'm reading it right, you've already
> purchased all these 10gb NICs,...

Well, not for all the servers, just 2 of them. If they meet our cost/benefit
ratios, then we may go ahead and do a round purchase. But I didn't want to
do that until I was sure I was spending only where I needed you, hence this
mail.

> and budget only allows for two 3725
> routers and two 3550 switches???       

Correct!

> 
> 
> Chuck Church
> Lead Design Engineer
> CCIE #8776, MCNE, MCSE
> Wam!Net Government Services - Design & Implementation Team 13665
> Dulles Technology Dr. Ste 250 Herndon, VA 20171 Office: 703-480-2569
> Cell: 703-819-3495
> cchurch at wamnetgov.com
> PGP key:
> http://pgp.mit.edu:11371/pks/lookup?op=index&search=cchurch%40wamnetgov.
> com 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cisco-nsp-bounces at puck.nether.net
> [mailto:cisco-nsp-bounces at puck.nether.net] On Behalf Of Mark Tinka
> Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 11:11 AM To: cisco-nsp at puck.nether.net
> Subject: [nsp] Gigabit/Fibre LAN - Required Network Elements
> 
> 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
> 
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Regards,

Mark Tinka
Technical Manager, Africa Online Swaziland