What is the best switches to use for a LAN

[andrewging]

Hi I am trying to setup  a LAN that

can be in a ring network with probably 4

switches distributed around and then from the switches going out to equipment. Wha

t is the best switches to use that will alow me to set up a ring and star netwrok with fibre backbone and copper going out.

There will be one main comms room that the switches will be going back to. I was thinki8ng of the switches at the outstaions being access switches going back to the main switch. What are your thoughts

[Calin C.]

Hello Andrew!

Your question is too general. It's like asking what car suite me best to drive from home to work.

To respond to your question I can say simple, Cisco 3560. It support copper and fiber, so it should be fine.

The truth is that my above answer will not help you too much. You have to ask yourself question like:

- how much traffic I have to support (e.g.FastEthernet or GigabitEthernet ports)

- do I need high-density ports or regular would be just fine (e.g. simple switch like 3560 is ok, but a 6500 would be more suitable if you need high density ports)

- what are the forecast plans for your network (e.g. how soon I will need additional ports)

- do I need to support new technologies like Borderless network (e.g. c3560 would be good, but even better the new C3750-X)

- what is my budget (maybe the most important question)

These are just a few of many questions that need to be answer before deploying a new LAN.

Cheers,

Calin

[andrewging]

The end equipment will be IP cameras.

I will not need additional ports

the budget is ok but do want to keep it reasonably low

[Leo Laohoo]

The end equipment will be IP cameras.

1.  How do you plan to power up the cameras?  What power requirement is needed?

2.  Do you need Gig or non-Gig ports?

3.  What uplinks do you require, 1Gb or 10Gb?

[Ganesh Hariharan]

The end equipment will be IP cameras.
I will not need additional ports
the budget is ok but do want to keep it reasonably low

Hi,

As suggested by others it really depends on what is the type of traffic will be flowing across the network, as per the post if it is prely a video traffic fo low cost camera can be given power from switches itself, so with requirement of video traffic in mind i would suggest check the data sheet for cisco 3560 with POE feature.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/switches/ps5718/ps5528/product_data_sheet09186a00801f3d7d.html

Hope to Help !!

Ganesh.H

[Wassim Aouadi]

If your cameras are PoE, I think 2960 with PoE would do the job. If the distance between the closet and the data center is more than 100meters, then you'd better consider SFP slots for fiber uplink connections. check Cisco datasheets for more information:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/switches/ps5718/ps6406/product_data_sheet0900aecd80322c0c.html

[glen.grant]

   You have to have some idea on how much traffic is going to be passed across the network.  If the users are light office users  then access switches could be 2960's going back to a 3560 or 3750 core.   If they are heavier users   then you could use the 3560's as access switches and something more powerful at the core like 4500's .    If you only have 4 closets and not real high density requirements then use the 2960 scenario , even with these you can get a stackable 2960 now to have the ability to add in the future .

[mbroberson1]

My personal experience, I would go with the 3750 model, as a basic lan switch. They are easy to manage stackable (up to 9 physical switches) and support a vast array of featues (if you actually need them). You manage the switch stack from only one ip address.

HTH,

Brandon