Re: Looking for switch recommendations ...

From: Per Engelbrecht (per_at_xterm.dk)
Date: 03/26/04

  • Next message: Marc G. Fournier: "Re: Looking for switch recommendations ..." 
    Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2004 20:25:52 +0100 (CET)
To: <scrappy@hub.org>

    Hi again

    >
    > One thing I hate about comparison shopping for computers ... there
    > are sooooo many options :(

    - what are your needs vs. $, kinda answers this.

    >
    > What is the difference between Layer2 and Layer3, and what does
    > that affect?

    All switching is done in layer2!
    Layer3 switch 'features' (functionality) is was the vendor put in the
    box. Depending on the amount of $ you're going to spent, you can have
    switches that can act as routers.

    >
    > I see the HP Procurve 2626 (I don't need 50 ports yet) for ~$600 on
    > the web ... while I can pick up the Dell PowerConnect 3324 is ~$500
    > ...
    >
    > How do I compare the two? They seem to both use different
    > terminologies for what I'd guess are the same thing:
    >
    > HP:
    > Throughput: 2650 - 10.1 mpps (64-byte packets) 2626 - 6.6 mpps
    > (64-byte packets) Switching capacity: 2650 - 13.6 Gbps 2626 - 9.6
    > Gbps
    >
    > Dell:
    > Switch Fabric Capacity 8.8 Gb/s
    > Forwarding Rate 6.5 Mpps
    >
    > So, in both cases, the HP is faster, but ... is that 6.6mpps "per
    > port" (ie. the pp?) ... right now, I'm seeing max of around 3Mps
    > going out a server, with average being well below 1 ... so I can't
    > see hitting that high any time soon ...

    The mpps is normally what the switch can do in total / back-plan
    back-bone or whatever the vendor want to call it.

    >
    > Based on the #s for throughput, I can't see a big advantage of HP
    > over Dell to warrant the extra cost, but I see nothing on Dell
    > about the Layer2/3 stuff ... but not sure what that gives either
    > ...

    If you're going to calculate a $ pr. port cost-benefit, then you have
    to make sure the rest of your setup is balanced accordingly (why spent
    time on $ pr. port if the nic in the rest of the setup is cheap)
    >
    > Price wise, both the HP and Dell versions look reasonable, and I
    > think the Dell is easier for me to get in Panama (I know there is a
    > local office for them there) ...

    There's a lot more to network boxes (router, bridge, switch et al.)
    than just price and capacity, e.g. management, (I)OS, firmware,
    support.

    best of luck.

    respectfully
    /per
    per@xterm.dk

    >
    > I've had one + for Dell ... does anyone have any caveats against
    > them? Or kudos too?
    >
    > On Fri, 26 Mar 2004, Per Engelbrecht wrote:
    >
    >> Hi,
    >> Don't know your budget, but HP Procurve 2650 (layer2/layer3
    >> hybrid) works just fine. Full managed, snmp et al.
    >>
    >> respectfully
    >> /per
    >> per@xterm.dk
    >>
    >>
    >> >
    >> > I'm looking at replacing my el'cheapo switch with something
    >> > better that will allow me to fix my issues with the
    >> > em/full-duplex problem ...
    >> >
    >> > I'm looking for ssomething managed, as well as SNMP aware so
    >> > that I can tie it into Zabbix for monitoring ... something 8 or
    >> > 12 port preferred.
    >> >
    >> > Cisco, of course, is always a big name ... but also expensive
    >> > ... oen recommendation is the xl 1900, but I can't find any
    >> > specs on her at cisco's site, so discontinued product?
    >> >
    >> > What about Netgear, which I have easy access to? Or Alcatel?
    >> >
    >> > models to stay away from?
    >> >
    >> > Thanks ...
    >> >
    >> > ----
    >> > Marc G. Fournier Hub.Org Networking Services
    >> > (http://www.hub.org) Email: scrappy@hub.org Yahoo!:
    >> > yscrappy ICQ: 7615664
    >> > _______________________________________________
    >> > freebsd-net@freebsd.org mailing list
    >> > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-net
    >> > To unsubscribe, send any mail to
    >> > "freebsd-net-unsubscribe@freebsd.org"
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >
    > ----
    > Marc G. Fournier Hub.Org Networking Services
    > (http://www.hub.org) Email: scrappy@hub.org Yahoo!:
    > yscrappy ICQ: 7615664

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  • Next message: Marc G. Fournier: "Re: Looking for switch recommendations ..."

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