Configuring core redundancy with 2 X C3560G switches 2

[ABOzIT]

G'day!

I have and existing C3560G as my core switch. We are implementing VMware so I want to install a second C3560G so I can configure redundant paths for the VMware networks.

I've been trolling the web for some good config examples and/or instructions on how to do this but have not come up with anything useful.

If anyone has a link to some good information on this I'd really appreciate your help.

Cheers!

 

[VinceWhirlwind]

Well, they're not stackable, so you will perforce have to have 2 core switches and use Layer 3 (ugh) or spanningtree (ughugh) for redundancy.

Are you using 3560Gs because it's the 12x 10Gb switch?

If not, change for 3750G or E switches which are stackable and will allow you to configure nice handy etherchannel for your virtualised server environment.

 

[tjbradford]

assuming the vmserver is going to have two nics out of it then one into each switch with a trunk between the switches the only thing i'm not sure of is if the devices support rsvp which would be required for the default gateway to / from that subnet

 

[VinceWhirlwind]

The problem with spanning-tree is that it halves your bandwidth compared with what you get with etherchanneling. It also complicates your network design and affects your uptime in a failure. But maybe I'm just unnecessarily prejudiced against spanning-tree.

On second thoughts, I think I've been brainwashed by Cisco - they recommend against using STP:

http://www.cisco.com/application/pdf/en/us/guest/netsol/ns431/c649/ccmigration_09186a008093b876.pdf

"Only use L2 looped topologies if it cannot be avoided. In general practice, the most deterministic and best-performing networks in terms of convergence, reliability, and manageability are free from L2 loops and do not require STP to resolve convergence events under normal conditions."

Having said that, Page 51 onwards should give you some ideas.