Wednesday, January 20, 2021

SMB Network Suggestions

Hi Everyone,

I am needing a quick sanity check and some assistance with some initial discussions on deploying a new wired/wireless network into a business. I'm our global System Admin with a network backbone that hasn't been touched in about a decade.

Background: The discussion is prompted by deploying a Hyper-V cluster to an on-site datacenter which needs 24 ports of ideally RJ45 10Gbps although could be SFP+. This main switch is supporting Storage Spaces direct storage across 5 hosts and a backup server. We have four global locations with small data centers already implemented with redundant fiber, generators. From a server standpoint, we are migrating from a very heavy physical base to virtualized.

In the immediate future we will also be overhauling/implementing true access point wireless connectivity in the building which in it's currently state are a ton of consumer grade Linksys routers acting in AP mode. I am fully aware of how awful this is and I have finally been given CapEx funding for a full replacement.

I'd like to manage all switches from a single pane of glass along with wireless APs. After contacting our CDW account reps, they are pointing me in the direction of Aruba 3800 series for the data center portions and then 2530s for the access layer of the network.

In the building, our internet connection comes into our datacenter, and then is joined to the main distribution point via Cat 7 cabling (~50 feet) before being further distributed via fiber to three other locations in the building where I have 8, 5, and 4 access layer switches providing connectivity to client devices. Everything I have is layer 2.

Currently in the building:

Datacenter - 4 switches , two are redundant against each other and our the networks connectivity to the firewall, feed to the main distribution point and then each daisy chain to two other switches.

Main network hub - 8 switches all layer 2, daisy chained together.

Warehouse - 5 switches, top has fiber from the main hub and then daisy chained.

Offices - 4 switches, top has fiber and then daisy chained.

I also know that we have some cat 3 (yep, not a typo) in the building but it's limited. Most of my wall jacks are Cat 5/5e so access layer can be 1Gpbs.

Brands:
+I'm not convinced HPE/Aruba is the way to go. Reviews, and other information is sparse and I can't find a definitive yes/no answer.
+The Cisco Catalyst 1000 line seems like it would fit the need nicely with the exception that none of the series provides 10Gbps connectivity.
+The Netgear M4300 series seems to actually fit the bill here, however, no one thinks "Netgear" for this type of networking.
+Meraki by Cisco - They are cloud managed and require a subscription, while I'm not apposed to licensing etc, this is a constant OpEx and requires a constant management subscription for the devices to work.
+Dell X series - this also fit the bill, although without a wireless component however they have just been retired.

I'm not brand loyal, and most important aspect is manageability for both wired and wireless hardware.

Are there other brands/series which would fit the bill much better?

I've also thought about excluding the 10Gbps switch need from the overall design and focusing just other the other 99% of the network and buying a purpose made switch for the Hyper-V Cluster connectivity.

Thanks everyone for readying and for any advice you can pass along.



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