core switch redundancy

[mateens]

Hi,

school with around 800 users having one core switch 6509-E sup-720 (inter-vlan routing) collapsed core design connected to - 30 layer 3 HP switches with 10G and 1G backup links - 2 juniper WLCs 120 APs and VMware servers looking for a solution to achieve core redundancy. suggestions required,

[Joseph W. Doherty]

Concerning VSS soluions, don't overlook the 6840-X or 4500-X. Perhaps a bit more "industrial strength" than a 3K stack, and also likely more stable than the new Catalyst 9Ks.

[mateens]

Yes these are 1st priority. But would you say something about using this option :

"If the HP switches support VRRP you could use one of them connected to the core on vrrp but it would need to be able to take the network load if it failed over from the 6500"

you see any downsides ?

[Joseph W. Doherty]

Regarding comments on 6500 throughput on the HPs, do we know what all the chassis is populated with? We know it has a sup720 but line cards also greatly impact the 6500's throughput capacity. Do we also know what the average and peak loads the 6500 provides now? if not, difficult to say whether there would be an issue using just the HP switches. (Of course, knowing the capacity/performance of the HP switches matters too.)

That said, still the comments on capacity/performance are worth noting because it could become an issue. Capacity/performance is probably unlikely using a newer stack or VSS replacement.

[mateens]

How can i do the capacity check ?

#sho module
Mod Ports Card Type Model
--- ----- -------------------------------------- ------------------
1 24 CEF720 24 port 1000mb SFP WS-X6724-SFP
2 48 CEF720 48 port 10/100/1000mb Ethernet WS-X6748-GE-TX
4 8 CEF720 8 port 10GE with DFC WS-X6708-10GE
5 5 Supervisor Engine 720 10GE (Active) VS-S720-10G
7 8 CEF720 8 port 10GE with DFC WS-X6708-10GE


As per monitoring software Last weeks avgs :
cpu modules load are around 5-7% . Routing processors load are around 7-14%. Have 1G uplink to ISP.

[Mark Malone]

what type/model are the HP switches ?

[mateens]

HP5412ZL/J8698A

[Mark Malone]

It doesn't look as powerful as the 6509e but its no small switch either 700gbps backplane going by the data sheet below , its modular is it fully populated ?

is the 6500 blades above you posted are they fully populated or 50% etc ? or is it just used for 10gb downlinks back to the HPs

http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press_kits/2010/HPOptimizesAppDelivery/E5400zl_Switch_Series_Data_Sheet.pdf

[mateens]

6509E is 80% populated with connections to HPs 10G and 1G, WLCs, Vmware storage.

[Mark Malone]

so if you were to use one of the HP switches in VRRP only around half those connections would be moving over to split the load , it might be worth testing can the switch handle the load before buying new kit it may work fine

personally if the budget was there my choice would be still some form of vss

[mateens]

definitely vss is the priority. Thanks for help.

[Joseph W. Doherty]

"How can i do the capacity check ?"

Pretty good. All your line cards are CEF720s. The 6708 cards have DFCs. If the 6724 and 6748 don't have DFCs, your sup720, in fabric mode offers 30 Mpps, regardless of packet size, so you're likely not overrunning its capacity.