Daisy Chain Switches?

[jennysu]

Hi,

Maybe this is not the right forum but I think you guys have multiple switches

I have 5 switches. All of my servers and firewall are connected to switch 1.

The new consultan told me that I should change the config to config no2, right now my configuration is config no 1 (see below).
1. Switch 2,3,4,5,6 connected directly to switch 1
2. Daisy-chain every switch + another connection from switch 1 to switch 6
3. Daisy chain switch 2,3,4,5,6 and plus connection from switch 2,3,4,5,6 to switch 1

The reason I do this is because:
1. All of the switches are in the server room, so almost impossible i get problem with the wire that connected between switches.
2. I think is faster than config no 2, because the switch can route the traffic directly to which switch the pc connected to.
3. If there is a big transfer file from server to pc on switch 4, it won't block connection from other switches to switch 1
4. I had limited switch but I just added 1 more switch so maybe if you guys think config no 3 is better I'll change it.
I need your opinion which config is better?

Thanks,

 

[chipk]

What kind of switches are you talking about? If they are fairly new (few years old) and they are connected at 100Mb speeds, you're not going to see much of a performance difference with either of those configurations. Both have advantages/disadvantages.

If they are Ciscos, I can help you out.

 

[ScottCr]

If you go with option 2 and don't use Spanning Tree Protocol then you'll risk bringing your network down with a broadcast storm.

http://scottcross.blogspot.com

Windows and NT Admin.

 

[jennysu]

Thanks Guys,

2 intel express (10/100), 2 Cisco 2950 and 2 Dell 5324. Right now all of the swithes and 14 Servers are connected to one of 5324

 

[chipk]

All those devices should support STP, but I'd be very hesitant to do something like your consultant suggests without specific documentation from each vendor regarding Spanning-Tree interaction with other vendor implementations.

For instance, some vendors handle Per-VLAN STP differently than Cisco does, and STP is touchy anyway without adding in different vendors' implementations of STP. If you only have one VLAN then it's a little less complicated, but I would still be very careful and research this a lot.

If your new consultant simply told you to go ahead and plug these devices in like this without pointing out any of these risks, I would probably fire them and get another consultant.

 

[ScottCr]

Actually all config 2 will do is provide redundancy should you lose a connection somewhere between your switches. (because you will have implemented SPT).

Given your 1st reason for the current config, its entirely irrelevant.

http://scottcross.blogspot.com

Windows and NT Admin.

 

[jennysu]

If I want to change they will do it but again, since all of the servers are in the same rack, I don't think I'll need redudancy.

Thanks again guys,

 

[chipk]

I think you had the right idea to begin with. Your server set up does not necessitate a highly redundant network.

If you want to provide some redundancy, and your port density is fairly low, you could dual-home some of your more critical servers. That way a switch failure would not take out a server. Another way to accomplish more redundancy would be, if you have clusters or other replication, would be to split your redundant servers between switches. That also gives you some redundancy without complicating your network.

The only thing that would be an issue there is that you would want to stop the Computer Browser service on any dual-homed servers because that messes with browser elections.

 

[jennysu]

Few months ago I was thinking to do NIC Teaming, but I don't know how to set it up with 2 switches.

 

[chipk]

I'm pretty sure at least some products can team on two different switches. You'd have to check with your hardware vendor (for both the NICs and the Switches).

 

[DutchDude]

you sure can do NIC teaming, but the config depends on the configuration of your switches. if you connect your server to 2 different switches you have to enable STP on the link between the 2 switches. ussualy you won't need STP if you connect your server to 1 switch, but this would not be really redundant...

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