Upgrading?? Optimal switch configuration.

[bigdog175]

I have a 62 seat operation that is being upgrading from a mess of dasiy chained hubs and switches. Everything is being cabled to a central location. I'm now trying to decide on how to best configure switches for optimal through put, expandabilty. 2 servers and highbandwidth dedicated internet access. All users have high bandwith needs, either to the servers or inet. I'm thinking of using 4 x 2950T switches stacking the 1000baset-t ports and connecting servers to 1000base-T. I also have a DMZ with 5 servers, thinking of putting them on a VLAN off 1 of the switches or should I dedicate a seperate switch for the DMZ? Any suggestions, tips, all input is welcome. Thanks

 

[baddos]

With spanning tree on, I would do this with 1000Base SX Fiber GBICs

Switch 1 is plugged into Switch 2 & 4
Switch 2 is plugged into Switch 1 & 3
Switch 3 is plugged into Switch 2 & 4
Switch 4 is plugged into Switch 3 & 1

This will give you the redundancy and 1000 full duplex.

If you want a different VLAN, you will have to have the switch they are on have a router attached or the switch be a layer3 switch. I would recommend the (1) 3550 and (3) 2950 switches in this case. Then just through the servers off a vlan and the workstations off another vlan.

 

[bigdog175]

Thanks for the input, but I have another thought. There will be a PIX 515 UR in place wouldn't I be able to access the DMZ on the other VLAN via the firewall? eg internal network on VLAN1 172.16.x.x and DMZ on VLAN2 192.168.1.x both connected to switch 1: Internal PC -> switch -> firewall -> DMZ -> switch -> mail server and vice versa?? Then increase priority on the ports connected to the firewall to high.

 

[baddos]

Just plug the DMZ port of the firewall onto the DMZ vlan. If those are the only two VLAN's than don't get the 3550.

-Bad Dos