Upgrading Backbone of our network - Looking for advise

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Space_Ranger

Gawd
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Jul 13, 2007
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Hello everyone,

I'm about to embark on the process of upgrading our backbone switches from 1Gbit to 10Gbit, and was wondering if I should go all-fiber for the backbone (All SPF+), or go with 10Gbase-T with SPF+ uplinks?

Basically, I'm debating between getting the Netgear XSM7224 or the Netgear XSM7224S. Any thoughts or possible pitfalls I should be concerned with?

Thanks for taking the time to read this,

- Space
 
SFP+ is generally uses less power and the add-in NIC's are cheaper. Honestly, the downfall is the lack of interchangeability/cross-compatibility on DAC's. Generally crossing brands of optics works but if DAC's is your goal it can get dicey. Long range capability & low latency is also nice. Fiber is cheap and generally easy to work with especially if you aren't new to it. If your upgrade involves running wire, i recommend using the best fiber you can afford/justify, taking the distance into consideration. Future-proofing for 40Gb & 100Gb could be attractive, just be sure to run a minimum of 5-pair (10 strand) fiber on long distance runs.

10Gbase-T is just about standard for new servers with 10Gb capability built in. You are seeing less and less SFP+ based NIC's built in. Standard CAT6 patch cords can be nice in a data-center is nice if that's what you are set up for (if you have fiber trays as well it's not really an upside). Downfall is shorter distances, higher latency and higher cost for add-in NIC's. The latency could be enough to warrant using optical based media in storage network environments. We aren't talking huge difference but in the storage world it makes a difference.
 
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Something else to consider is single mode vs multi-mode fiber.
I have been going to all single mode for runs between rooms/floor, I think it is more future proof and the price difference is not great in some cases cheaper than om4 which is the min. I would go with.
 
Thank you everyone for your responses so far!

bds1904 said:
SFP+ is generally uses less power and the add-in NIC's are cheaper. Honestly, the downfall is the lack of interchangeability/cross-compatibility on DAC's. Generally crossing brands of optics works but if DAC's is your goal it can get dicey. Long range capability & low latency is also nice. Fiber is cheap and generally easy to work with especially if you aren't new to it. If your upgrade involves running wire, i recommend using the best fiber you can afford/justify, taking the distance into consideration. Future-proofing for 40Gb & 100Gb could be attractive, just be sure to run a minimum of 5-pair (10 strand) fiber on long distance runs.

10Gbase-T is just about standard for new servers with 10Gb capability built in. You are seeing less and less SFP+ based NIC's built in. Standard CAT6 patch cords can be nice in a data-center is nice if that's what you are set up for (if you have fiber trays as well it's not really an upside). Downfall is shorter distances, higher latency and higher cost for add-in NIC's. The latency could be enough to warrant using optical based media in storage network environments. We aren't talking huge difference but in the storage world it makes a difference.
Click to expand...
Some of the devices that will be hung off the backbone are high-end storage units (Thecus N16000V + N16000 add-on unit for 108TB of storage). I'm leaning towards SFP+'s for the majority of the connects to the backbone anyways. Thanks for validating some of my thoughts as well. :)

diizzy said:
http://www.nextwarehouse.com/item/?1854342_g10e
ftp://ftp.zyxel.com/XS3700-24/datasheet/XS3700-24_3.pdf

http://www.nextwarehouse.com/item/?1854400_g10e
ftp://ftp.zyxel.com/XS1920-12/datasheet/XS1920-12_2.pdf
Looks like much better deals?
//Danne
Click to expand...
THANK YOU!! The XS3700-24 is something that is a perfect fit. I get the better of both worlds (10Gbase-T and SFP+'s). 1-2 months wait on Amazon.. I'll have to hit up my other vendors and see what the pricing/availability is like.
stormy1 said:
Something else to consider is single mode vs multi-mode fiber.
I have been going to all single mode for runs between rooms/floor, I think it is more future proof and the price difference is not great in some cases cheaper than om4 which is the min. I would go with.
Click to expand...
I agree. Everything I'm planning out going forward has been Single-mode Fiber. Thanks for backing my thoughts up!
 
stormy1 said:
Something else to consider is single mode vs multi-mode fiber.
I have been going to all single mode for runs between rooms/floor, I think it is more future proof and the price difference is not great in some cases cheaper than om4 which is the min. I would go with.
Click to expand...

Forgot to mention that, thanks for pointing it out. I tend to forget that because the standard fiber I work with is all SM, even within the same room. Our engineers spec SM fiber for everything so cable routes are less of a concern. I know of runs in a 75x100 building that are 900ft because of the route it has to take to avoid other cables/trays/equipment/frames.
 
bds1904 said:
Forgot to mention that, thanks for pointing it out. I tend to forget that because the standard fiber I work with is all SM, even within the same room. Our engineers spec SM fiber for everything so cable routes are less of a concern. I know of runs in a 75x100 building that are 900ft because of the route it has to take to avoid other cables/trays/equipment/frames.
Click to expand...
If its in the same room usually I can hit it with a dac. If not I would likely use single mode also.
The price savings with a dac makes it hard to justify fiber for short runs.
Hmm I may be able to justify it using uniformity as an argument.
You got me thinking.
Thanks!
 
Seems as though the ZyXEL XS3700-24 is a rare commodity... I can't get my hands on 1 for at least a month or two.. :(

Any other suggestions for the switch? I'd prefer to have as many SFP+ ports as possible on the switch..

Thanks for everyone's contribution so far! :)
 
The best I was able to do was to have them backordered, with a ship date of 3/31. That's only 2 weeks out so I can deal with that. I did not try Nextwarehouse however.

Thanks,

- Space
 
I see, please report back on your experience
//Danne
 
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Most certainly will. Thank you for the pointer to the ZyXEL equipment. Was able to get 2 of the 3700's instead of just 1 Netgear unit... :)
 
Well... I've sent an inquiry to NextWarehouse, as my supplier just informed me that my 3/31 shipdate is now 4/30... *sigh*... Anyways, I'm waiting to hear back from Next as to whether or not these units are still unicorns... I can't find ANYONE who has any in stock. :(
 
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Well, as we're a non-profit, I went looking through our "sanctioned" vendors (Govconnection, CDW, etc.). Amazon has a 1-2 month wait, Newegg doesn't carry it. Not going to go with just ANY merchant, so whomever has it, I have to check their reliability and whether or not they are acceptable for our organization.
 
@ Space_Ranger
It's in stock at several etailers here in Sweden and in Europe overall but that doesn't help you really...
//Danne
 
diizzy said:
@ Space_Ranger
It's in stock at several etailers here in Sweden and in Europe overall but that doesn't help you really...
//Danne
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, it doesn't :(

Looks like I'm just gonna have to wait it out. I'll get my units eventually, just puts a hurting on my schedule.. :(
 
And the delays just keep on coming... From the Zyxel rep.

“This is a brand new product for us and we’re still waiting on our initial stock.

(The slow down, and now trucker strike at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles didn’t help us any, either!)

So far, I show we’re expecting our initial stock to arrive May 20th.

Like I said… brand new product.

John A. Berrios”
 
Since you used high end storage and Thecus in the same sentence these may out of your price range, but Arista makes reasonably priced high density 10Gb SFP+ based switches.
 
@nicklebon
Sorry if my non-profit organization doesn't fit the profile for high-end enterprise equipment.

I've already purchased 2 of the Zyxel units. I'm just keeping the thread up to date on where things are at since I was asked to report back on how things work out.

Your insulting input has been duly noted.
 
Space_Ranger said:
Your insulting input has been duly noted.
Click to expand...

Take it how you like but no insult was intended. I was merely pointing out that the Arista boxes may be priced out of your range given what you considered high end. Now if want to know a real insult we can discuss your lack of good judgment. How does your non-profit feel about purchasing newly introduced product with no track record? When you have no budget to speak of buying unproven equipment is foolish. Every vendor produces bad products especially when they first enter a new market. Usually the way these bad products are fixed is by offering different products leaving the early adopters to buy the new models. Large customers can of course use leverage to work out trade in deals or just very large discounts. Small purchasers OTOH get stuck with crap gear or writing another check they can't afford. Best of luck with your purchase.
 
You do realize that Zyxel has been around in this network segment for years...?
//Danne
 
I think Nikelbon's referring to the random chance that will be the piece of garbage that every vendor periodically brings to market. And on a shoestring budget, is that an appropriate risk? A valid concern, in my opinion, but at the same time, it is a calculated risk with a decent reward. I've had great luck with Zyxel's as edge or lone switches, never used one as a core though.
 
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