Main differences between chassis and stackable switches?

[SamMooreIT]

Good morning, all.

I am budgeted to replace my core MDF switch this year, and had a couple of questions regarding a good choice.

1. What are the main differences between a chassis switch and a stackable (or stackwise) switch?
   • Obvious pro's/con's of chassis over stackable?
     • I realize the chassis is significantly more expensive because of the Supervisor engine
   • Obvious pro's/con's of stackable over chassis?

I'm currently looking at the 48-port 4507 Catalyst chassis SFP and the 48-port 3750 Catalyst stackable SFP. Our LAN is relatively small: 1 core MDF, 3 MDFs connected to the core MDF via multimode fiber and 3 IDFs connected via multimode fiber. I've attached a Visio of my LAN. The MDF being replaced is the 3750-48P in the bottom left of the drawing.

Thank you in advance for your comments.

Best regards,

Josh Dunbar

[paolo bevilacqua]

Look that, for example the 3750, doesn't support netflow export, beside that is an excellent product very cost effective.

If you read the datasheets carefully, you get to learn an understand many things.

That is a process that you can done by yourself only. Don't expect too much help from reseller or engineers with no vested interested to be much helpful in that.

[Mohamed Sobair]

Josh,

Looking at your design, it doesnt seem to be the right and recommended design, you need to replace the 3550XL, and you need to redesign your whole infrastructure.

Before recommending on the type of Switches to be replaced, we require knowing what type redundancy you require? what type of Backblane and Switch fabric throughput required?  what kind of Application Server you have and what they served?

I can provide you with some advice if you provide some more details.

HTH

Mohamed

[SamMooreIT]

No redundancy is necessary, although, having a supervisor engine would be nice (hence, the 4507 catalyst). Not sure how to answer the backplane/fabric speed question. We're currently running multimode fiber. The servers shown in the drawing are an Exchange server and Internet-facing Web server (DMZ)

What would you change with the current drawing? You mentioned that it would need to be redesigned. Is it laid out poorly?

Thanks,

Josh Dunbar

[Mohamed Sobair]

If this is the case, then you dont require high end Catalyst Switch.

The Supervisor Engine differ from one model to another, and its primarily defines the Capacity of the Total throughput per line cards and Control Switching Engine.

The 3750 Stack Switch would suffice here and Achieve what you are looking for, I dont know why you dont require Redundancy, its the Most important here for your Exchange/Web and Internal Servere , besides the ASA and Internet Gateway.

I would first replace Both 3500XL 48 ports to 3750G stackwise, and from there have the DMZ and Inside Zones seperated by different Access Switches, let say 2960G each.

Each one of the Access Switches , DMZ and Inside Zone Switch should have Two Upliks to the Stack (Etherchannel) , which ensures loadbalncing and redundancy at once.

The Outside Zone of the Firewall can be connected directly to the router , no issues.

Please have alook at the DataSheet of 3750 below:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/switches/ps5718/ps5023/product_data_sheet0900aecd80371991.html

Let us know if this answered your question,

Mohamed

[Leo Laohoo]

Here's the deal, I'm going to focus (for now) on the speed you intend to push.

Now if you say you're just going to push 1Gb (and no chance of thinking about 10Gb) then a stacked WS-C3750G-12S is sufficient.  However, if someone is willing to push a bunch (more than 2) 10Gb up the creek then start considering a 4500R+E plus Sup7E as a "beginner".  If you want something with higher bandwidth then the 6500 combined with the soon-to-be-announced Sup2T (or Sup720 if finance department goes into an anaphylactic shock).