Re:cat5 for short runs, fiber for the long haul
on
Hardware Networking FAQs?
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· Score: 3, Interesting
I agree wholeheartedly with your advice. Well, except for one minor quibble {grin}
The costs for Cisco laser GBICs to drive SingleMode fiber are substantially higher than that of LED GBICs to drive MultiMode fiber. It seems reasonable to expect that SingleMode gear from other vendors would be similarly expensive. I don't know how much more expensive the SM fiber itself might be.
So... my suggestion would be to use MultiMode where you can, as it will indeed carry Gigabit Ethernet, and only spend the extra money for SingleMode fiber where distances require.
Routing protocol - if you're connecting to any existing routed network, you must use a routing protocol (EIGRP, OSPF, RIP2, NLSP...) the other site supports. Otherwise you get stuck maintaing static routes (not a problem for tiny networks, but an administrative nightmare for corporate enterprise internetworks).
Size and complexity of internetwork - a large/complex routed internetwork requires robust hardware and software. Think Cisco and EIGRP if you have any choice. OSPF or RIP2 if you don't.
RoutED protocol support - are the routed networks supporting TCP/IP clients only, or do you have to deal with IPX/SPX, Appletalk, LAT... ? If multiprotocol, think Cisco and EIGRP if you have any choice, otherwise you're stuck running multiple routING protocols (OSPF and NLSP, or IP RIP and IPX RIP...).
Are you connecting a LAN directly to multiple ISP's ? You may be forced to use either static routes or BGP.
If implementing a frame-relay WAN, will you support the routers, or will the carrier? Unless you have a substantial training budget and time to spend applying what you learn, a carrier-managed WAN may be your best bet.
Are you setting up a remote access (dial-up) router? Multiple options exist - WinNT RAS, dedicated access router (Shiva, Cisco 5200/5300), managed service like AT&T Global Network.
If this is all very new to you, consider hiring a consultant short term, to help you make wise choices. Just take their recomendation(s) with a grain of salt. They may have hidden agendas.
It may take some digging, but look for companies that reclaim precious metals from circuit boards and such.
Slashdot readers are probably most all like you - we use and reuse our PC hardware for so long they're not even useful to charities when we get done with them.
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The costs for Cisco laser GBICs to drive SingleMode fiber are substantially higher than that of LED GBICs to drive MultiMode fiber. It seems reasonable to expect that SingleMode gear from other vendors would be similarly expensive. I don't know how much more expensive the SM fiber itself might be.
So... my suggestion would be to use MultiMode where you can, as it will indeed carry Gigabit Ethernet, and only spend the extra money for SingleMode fiber where distances require.
Some other factors:
Routing protocol - if you're connecting to any existing routed network, you must use a routing protocol (EIGRP, OSPF, RIP2, NLSP...) the other site supports. Otherwise you get stuck maintaing static routes (not a problem for tiny networks, but an administrative nightmare for corporate enterprise internetworks).
Size and complexity of internetwork - a large/complex routed internetwork requires robust hardware and software. Think Cisco and EIGRP if you have any choice. OSPF or RIP2 if you don't.
RoutED protocol support - are the routed networks supporting TCP/IP clients only, or do you have to deal with IPX/SPX, Appletalk, LAT... ? If multiprotocol, think Cisco and EIGRP if you have any choice, otherwise you're stuck running multiple routING protocols (OSPF and NLSP, or IP RIP and IPX RIP...).
Are you connecting a LAN directly to multiple ISP's ? You may be forced to use either static routes or BGP.
If implementing a frame-relay WAN, will you support the routers, or will the carrier? Unless you have a substantial training budget and time to spend applying what you learn, a carrier-managed WAN may be your best bet.
Are you setting up a remote access (dial-up) router? Multiple options exist - WinNT RAS, dedicated access router (Shiva, Cisco 5200/5300), managed service like AT&T Global Network.
If this is all very new to you, consider hiring a consultant short term, to help you make wise choices. Just take their recomendation(s) with a grain of salt. They may have hidden agendas.
good luck !
rdndc
http://www.harambee.org/
http://www.harambee.org/news/ps n_lab_earthlink.html
It may take some digging, but look for companies
that reclaim precious metals from circuit boards
and such.
Slashdot readers are probably most all like you -
we use and reuse our PC hardware for so long
they're not even useful to charities when we get
done with them.