[Pc_Support] Layer-2 and Layer-3 managed switches -- Dell PowerConnect Web-Managed

[Bryan J. Smith]

Damien McKenna wrote:
> Layer 3.
> All gig-E.  If we're upgrading there's little point in doing half
> measures.

Well, it all depends.  It gets _really_expensive_ when you start
entering the stacked GSM73xx series.  And I've never used them, so I
don't know how good they are.

The GSM7228S (24x GbE, 4x 10GbE) is $2K, the GSM7252S (48x GbE, 4x
10GbE) is $3K.  Stacking units are options, or you can just use the
10GbE ports on the front.  Setup 802.3ad (link agg) or 802.1d
(spanning tree) for redundancy.

http://www.netgear.com/Products/Switches/Layer3ManagedSwitches/GSM7328S.aspx
http://www.netgear.com/Products/Switches/Layer3ManagedSwitches/GSM7352S.aspx

But at those price points, I'd do a bit of homework on other Layer-3
options.  I need to update myself on what other Layer-3 products are
out there.  I haven't done that in a few years now (other than Cisco).
 All I know is the Dell (can't remember the original OEM) layer-3
products are known for massive firmware/reliability issues (again, I
have to find out who is the OEM, because it affects theirs as well).

Or you can do two other options:

1.  Get a "core" layer-3 GbE, and then "access" layer-2 GbE.
2.  Go with a 100Mbps "stack" that has several GbE ports

#1 brings some of the costs down.  You can still do single console
management because of SNMP, although you can't configure the entire
stack as one (unlike a stackable solution).  The "core" will run you
over $1,000 for 12 ports and the "access" switches will be $200-500,
depending on what solutions you go for.  I recommend you aggregate or
span 2 ports to each lower switch for redundancy.

http://www.netgear.com/Products/Switches/Layer3ManagedSwitches/FSM7328S.aspx
http://www.netgear.com/Products/Switches/Layer3ManagedSwitches/FSM7352S.aspx

#2 is probably a better option, if you only need a half-dozen or so
GbE ports.  You still get a single, manageable stack, but you just
have more 100Mbps ports.  You use a loop in your stack, for
redundancy.  Everything else is handled by the stack itself.  You can
go for something like the layer-3 FSM7328S (or FSM7252S) with 24x
(48x) 100Mbps, 4x GbE for $300 (although you use the GbE ports to
stack).  Or you could go with an older, layer-2 FSM726S (or FSM750S)
with 24x (48x), 2x GbE plus dedicated, separate stack ports

http://www.netgear.com/Products/Switches/Layer2ManagedSwitches/FSM726S.aspx
http://www.netgear.com/Products/Switches/Layer2ManagedSwitches/FSM750S.aspx

> We've got two dumb Netgears that are pretty good but, they're dumb.
> We're lining up to do some upgrades so want it to be a step up, or five.

If you don't mind going "refurbished," you can save a lot on select
models at JustDeals.COM.  Sometimes there is only a 33% savings
(2/3rds new).  Othertimes, there can be more than 66% savings (1/3rd
new).

Like on the FSM750S for $219:
http://www.justdeals.com/Items/FSM750SNAR

Or a GSM7324 for $599:
http://www.justdeals.com/Items/GS_GSM7324NAR

> .. and we're still hoping to hire a network admin too who'd take care
> of it.  No idea on timelines as they've been a little funny this past
> week.

Yeah.  I originally assumed (from afar) that you just had a series of
bad ports.  I guess the fact that the whole switch went (probably it's
ASIC) wasn't surprising.

I already promised the day to my father, but I didn't have a car (mine
was here in NY, I flew down for the weekend) and he was out of the
area.  So I didn't have any way to get there (or to even his work for
that matter).