Need some switches...

Netstudent

I need 48 port POE GIG to every port. I'm doing research on it now. Give me some recommendations that you guys have had success with. I'm open to all vendors. Do not need multilayer functionality.

RTmarc

Extreme Networks X450E

NinjaBoy

I use HP (for network backbone) and 3Com (for wireless POE switch) stuff myself.

For a 3Com switch see here.
For a HP switch see here.

-Ken

networker050184

I use all 3750 G for gig conectivitey. They have never given me any issues and are packed full of features.

I'm open to all vendors.

Come on Netstudent, why would you go with anything but Cisco?? Thats blasphemy

RTmarc

You can find far superior products for much less than the price of Cisco devices.

Netstudent

ya ya ya I know networker...If I were calling the shots, we would be a 100% cisco shop. Unfortunately I work for a medium sized company so our budget requires us to get something a little more economical.

Thanks for the input guys. Right now I'm looking at proposing a case for Nortel or 3Com.

networker050184

RTmarc wrote:

You can find far superior products for much less than the price of Cisco devices.

I don't know about far superior but you can find switches for much less. We used to have mainly Foundry and Netgear, but now we run all Cisco. It costs more, but like the old saying goes you get what you pay for...

Netstudent

Have you noticed any changes in uptime, availibility, dropped frames, ect...since the move to Cisco?

Or is it just more administrative control, more data granularity options with cisco?

networker050184

The network runs a lot smoother now that it is all Cisco (we always used Cisco routers). The Foundry and Netgear switches always had issues with VoIP and sometimes with VTP. My expertise is with Cisco, which has probably help everything run a lot smoother as well.

dtlokee

RTmarc wrote:

You can find far superior products for much less than the price of Cisco devices.

An uninformed statemtent at a minimum, nice to see you've backed it up with examples.

RTmarc

dtlokee wrote:

RTmarc wrote:

You can find far superior products for much less than the price of Cisco devices.

An uninformed statemtent at a minimum, nice to see you've backed it up with examples.

I don't see you overloading us with pro-Cisco information either...

Switches: Extreme Networks, HP Procurves, AdTran NetVantas
Firewalls/Security Appliances: FortiGate, CheckPoint

Routers you are pretty much limited either Juniper or Cisco.

I never said Cisco makes bad products but there are better products out there that are cheaper.

networker050184

By better do you mean functionality or price? If you mean price then yes, but overall functionality then no nothing beats Cisco.

Slowhand

RTmarc wrote:

I don't see you overloading us with pro-Cisco information either...

Switches: Extreme Networks, HP Procurves, AdTran NetVantas
Firewalls/Security Appliances: FortiGate, CheckPoint

Routers you are pretty much limited either Juniper or Cisco.

I never said Cisco makes bad products but there are better products out there that are cheaper.

I think the point made was that this forum is filled to the brim with case studies and examples of Cisco products performing extremely well. In this type of environment, where one product is pretty well-established, bringing a new viewpoint, like you did, would need some examples of why you think that.

Personally, I've had a few more headaches with other managed switches, like HP ProCurves, Dell PowerConnects, and the like. I've found myself using and recommending Cisco Catalyst switches whenever possible. My reasoning: there's plenty of training/documentation available for Cisco devices, Cisco provides excellent customer support, and Cisco devices tend to be pretty much standards-compliant because. . . well. . . Cisco has had a tremendous hand in helping create those standards to begin with. The question, as always, simply comes down to price. If you're willing and able to invest the money, there's no substitute for the Catalyst switches.

Without going too far off-topic, my company uses SonicWall as the firewall of choice. Why SonicWall? Because most of the guys on our staff come from a sys admin background and don't have enough experience to configure a PIX firewall in a production environment. As for routers, you've got some choices out there. Cisco routers are always my first choice, there's little reason not to invest in one. That's not to say I don't like Juniper or Foundry, but it comes back to being standards-compliant and having documentation and support when needed.

Now, as for a recommendation for Netstudent. Despite the headaches the HP ProCurves have given me, I've found them to be more reliable than other switches in the same price/performance bracket. The 3500yl-48G-PWR Intelligent Edge might be right up your alley. It's probably going to be in the ballpark of what your company wants to pay, my company's clients have had mostly positive experiences with HP switches, and HP is generally pretty good about giving support (so long as you have a service plan with them).

dtlokee

Well said slowhand.

The statement was "far superior products" so I wanted some examples. To date I haven't found any "far superior products" to what Cisco has out there, less expensive yes. There are many similar products in terms of performance.

If you read my original post I recommended Nortel, so I am not all pro Cisco.

Does AdTran offer a PoE Gigabit switch now? Last time I looked they didn’t have one.

Netstudent

Slowhand wrote:

RTmarc wrote:

I don't see you overloading us with pro-Cisco information either...

Switches: Extreme Networks, HP Procurves, AdTran NetVantas
Firewalls/Security Appliances: FortiGate, CheckPoint

Routers you are pretty much limited either Juniper or Cisco.

I never said Cisco makes bad products but there are better products out there that are cheaper.

I think the point made was that this forum is filled to the brim with case studies and examples of Cisco products performing extremely well. In this type of environment, where one product is pretty well-established, bringing a new viewpoint, like you did, would need some examples of why you think that.

Personally, I've had a few more headaches with other managed switches, like HP ProCurves, Dell PowerConnects, and the like. I've found myself using and recommending Cisco Catalyst switches whenever possible. My reasoning: there's plenty of training/documentation available for Cisco devices, Cisco provides excellent customer support, and Cisco devices tend to be pretty much standards-compliant because. . . well. . . Cisco has had a tremendous hand in helping create those standards to begin with. The question, as always, simply comes down to price. If you're willing and able to invest the money, there's no substitute for the Catalyst switches.

Without going too far off-topic, my company uses SonicWall as the firewall of choice. Why SonicWall? Because most of the guys on our staff come from a sys admin background and don't have enough experience to configure a PIX firewall in a production environment. As for routers, you've got some choices out there. Cisco routers are always my first choice, there's little reason not to invest in one. That's not to say I don't like Juniper or Foundry, but it comes back to being standards-compliant and having documentation and support when needed.

Now, as for a recommendation for Netstudent. Despite the headaches the HP ProCurves have given me, I've found them to be more reliable than other switches in the same price/performance bracket. The 3500yl-48G-PWR Intelligent Edge might be right up your alley. It's probably going to be in the ballpark of what your company wants to pay, my company's clients have had mostly positive experiences with HP switches, and HP is generally pretty good about giving support (so long as you have a service plan with them).

Hey thanks for lending a "hand" . I have some research to do now.