[nflug] Router vs Layer 3 switch

[Darin Perusich]

ICS = Internet Software Consortium, the develop BIND and DHCP.

Richard Hubbard wrote:
> OK, that was my suspicion...but I still have one question...
> ISC?
> 
> Thanks!
>  
> <span style="font-family:comic sans ms;">Richard Hubbard </span>
> ATTO Technology Inc
> 
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Darin Perusich <Darin.Perusich at cognigencorp.com>
> To: nflug at nflug.org
> Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 12:55:23 PM
> Subject: Re: [nflug] Router vs Layer 3 switch
> 
> A layer 3 switch is a router and much cheaper then an actual router. I
> have a 24 port 3com SS 4924 1Gb switch as the backbone "router" of my
> network with the individual network segments broken up using VLAN's.
> This has been in production for 3 years now and I'm very pleased with
> it. The only thing I'd change looking back at things is I would have
> gone with a Cisco Layer3 switch instead of the 3com. About once or
>  twice
> a year I run into some unexplained networking issues which requires
>  that
> I reboot the switch. Maybe 3Com's fixed this by now but I don't know,
>  we
> had an existing 3com infrastructure so I stuck with them.
> 
> Do your DHCP on a dedicated server where you can run ISC, you can
> forward all the traffic across network segments from the Layer3 switch
> just fine, it's what I do.
> 
> Richard Hubbard wrote:
>> I'm in a situation where "Theoritical" vs "Reality" is about to hit
>> home.
>>
>> I have a network of over 300 computers, all on the same subnet.  I
>> need to break it up.
>>
>> The traditional method is some kind of router.  Which is fine, but
>> when you ask Cisco about routers that can handle 1Gb, all the
>> employees at Cisco start shopping for boats.
>>
>> It has been pointed out to me, that what I am looking for is a Layer
>> 3 switch.  Which I have never actually touched before.  So, is there
>> anyone here that has worked with layer 3 switches?  Which brand?
>>
>> What I would like...
>>
>> Web front end, ability to configure subnets. DHCP server capability 
>> 1Gb/sec speed 16-24 ports. Inexpensive.  If I wanted expensive, I'd
>> buy a bunch of Cisco boxen.
>>
>> What I don't need, yet, Router-router communications. However, due to
>> the size of the network, I can imagine eventually requiring RIP. I
>> don't think that should be too hard (most $50 household size boxes
>> have RIP)
>>
>> Any thoughts?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> <span style="font-family:comic sans ms;">Richard Hubbard </span> ATTO
>> Technology Inc
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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-- 
Darin Perusich
Unix Systems Administrator
Cognigen Corporation
395 Youngs Rd.
Williamsville, NY 14221
Phone: 716-633-3463
Email: darinper at cognigencorp.com