Need some new switches (core/edge)

[PokerMunkee]

Hi, first post, so bear with me...

I currently have a set of 3com 3870 switches stacked that is my core switch. It does level 3 routing and VLANs.

Im looking at replacing it with a modular switch, since the 3com is getting old and I'd like a faster/better switch for my core. My LAN is fairly small, under 250 devices. I have 4 edge switches that will connect to this "core".

Can anyone recomend me a switch?

I was interested in the HP 4208vl (j9030a) but I'm not impressed with it's specs (330MHz/64MB).

Just need ideas. My budget is around $5-6K and I need 144 10/100/1000 ports.


Thanks!

 

[cajuntank]

Of course, I would get with a reputable reseller for pricing, but I think you will be hard pressed to get a modular switch with the amount of ports needed at 1Gb for only $6K with better specs than the 4200 series. I have not had 3COM (now HP's A series) in many years and really can't tell you much about them compared to HP's E series. I have quite a few of the 5400zl modular switches and LOVE them, but you're not going to find one new for less than $6K with 44 ports, let alone, what it will be for the other 100 ports. I just bought one (I'm an education mind you) that was a 12 slot chassis with 144 ports for around $11K-$12K. Looking at the 4200 series price-point does fall more in line with your $6K budget, and might be where you need to stick too. I know the 4200 has routing limits of 16 static routes (this switches max), so if this is a problem then you'll need to go with the 5400 (if modular) or maybe just do a couple of the non-modular switches to get your port count. Of course, variables like PoE, or the need for routing protocols like OSPF, etc... would introduce cost as well.
You could always get the better switch in a lower port density now and add more ports in the future as funds become available. I would go with the 5412zl switch to give yourself enough port growth for clients and enough slots for 10Gb, wireless, or whatever in the future.

 

[PokerMunkee]

After researching all day, we are leaning towards a 5406 for our core switch and 4204 for the edge. So we are expanding the budget

Can you have more than one default gateway? For example, have vlan3 use a different firewall to get to the internet than the other vlans.

 

[jkupski]

Cajuntank, there's one update to your post: HP now bundles the "premium edge" license with new 5400 series switches, so if you need VRRP, OSPF, etc, there is no longer an additional cost here.

 

[cajuntank]

Can you have more than one default gateway? For example, have vlan3 use a different firewall to get to the internet than the other vlans."

http://forums13.itrc.hp.com/service...47627+1294845742963+28353475&threadId=1031911

http://h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/E-Series/HP-5406zl-Policy-Based-Route/td-p/2328029

5400's, as of today, cannot do PBR (policy based routing) which is really what you need. There is speculation that it will be coming in future software upgrades, but I am not aware of any formal declaration from HP. The first link I provide does mention about having multiple default routes and specifying different metrics for each default route, then using ACLs to permit or deny based on VLAN... but it's not anything I've tried to implement myself. My firewall could direct traffic out to various ISP's based on source network, so I would handle this on my firewall if I had to implement it myself.

 

[PokerMunkee]

That makes better sense, thanks.

Getting some quotes today on a 5406 and 5412.

The 4208 has a 68G backblane, so that wouldn't work if we put over 100+ ports on there. The 5406 has 345G backplane.

 

[cajuntank]

Glad I could help.