Help with LAN Design & Products (Not For Profit Organisation)

So while its not windy and my busted foot is still mending I am assisting a startup not for profit organisation to set up a new network.

They have been given a donation to buy hardware, software etc. Some of this software is available from Microsoft and Cisco and other partners at a generous discount.

I just need to pic some brains of what is appropriate given some parameters - which I'll post if anyone bites

cisco said...

Did somebody invoke my name??

Indeed

Coincidentally named? or can you be more help than Cisco (the company)? (Never had to deal with them before and so far, rather unimpressed...)

Nathanrb4 said...

Mate what size network are you looking at setting up? ie. How many terminals ect. Is it a Fibre or Copper connection to the office?

Copper ADSL1

They have been given a donation to buy hardware, software etc. Some of this software is available from Microsoft and Cisco and other partners at a generous discount. The Cisco hardware available is as per the list at www.connectingup.org/donations/ to the value of $1000AUD


Choosing the hardware for a standalone network is reasonably easy for the small number of users/PCs etc. a 877W ISR would do the job nicely. However, this organisation has been offered donated shared office space, power and use of some network infrastructure (Namely use of a Sharp MFP, Samsung LED TV) and the bookkeepers time*.


The existing network consists of:
HP ML150 running Microsoft SBS2008 (Client is using RWW and OWA)
Cisco 877W connected to ADSL connection for web
Multiple laptops 4-16 (xp,Vista,Win7) connected via wireless and wired (Slowly adding in wired points to the office).
Sharp MX2301N MFP
Samsung LED TV (Just been added and awaiting a wired connection.)
Growth is 2-4 laptops added per year



The new network should consist of:
HP ML150 running Microsoft SBS2008 (Client will be using RWW and OWA)
Multiple laptops 1-6 (Win7) connected via wireless and wired (Slowly adding in wired points to the office).
An incoming ADSL connection.
Use of the Sharp MX2301N MFP
Use of the Samsung LED TV (Optional)
*A very nice to have is for the Bookeeper to be able to connect to both domains from one laptop (not at the same time though)
Growth is unknown but 2-4 laptops added per year is possible.



What I need to know is:
What hardware should I get (from the available list) in order to:
Create the standalone network infrastructure.
Allow shared use of the common items ie Printer




Caveats:
The hardware used would need to support the NFP organisation if they outgrow the current arrangement of donated office space etc. (ie someway to connect to ADSL and then to wired and wireless clients.)
Reuse of existing hardware (ie the 877w) is preferred.
SBS2008 does not play nicely with other SBS servers on the same network (ie Trusted domains arent allowed) (Happy to be shown otherwise)
Gigabit network preferred.
VOIP to external is also optional (future use)
Both organisations have limited IT budgets and simplicity to configure/support rates above full/complex future configuration.
There is a deadline for commissioning the system before mid August to coincide with a national awareness week.



I have a couple of scenarios for comment:

1) 2 x 877W Routers each connecting to a seperate ADSL connection and then to a shared Switch with 2/3 subnets/VLANs (1 for each SBS domain, 1 for shared printer))

2) 2 x ADSL modems connecting to a Router then to a shared Switch with and 2 Wireless APs and 2/3 subnets/VLANs (1 for each SBS domain, 1 for shared printer)


I am familiar with general network topology but it has been some time since I was configuring to this level/with a shortlist of equipment already decided for me. I am not familiar with Cisco products in general and what can achieved with the right mix.



Any help is most appreciated.

Thanks

The first scenario seems the easiest, just wasnt sure about the 2 routers on at the same time (although I have seen some cisco diagram with that setup)
I might fire off an email to the person you suggested and see if I get some traction there as well.

Had the local IT shop chasing this for me as well - had them stumped for a while.

The devil is always in the details - I would hate to buy the gear and then have the cisco tech turn up and say "Oh you should bought the blah blah blah one instead"

Any chance of a diagram showing what you want?

What are the requirements (not the solution)?

I used to be a guru with this stuff, but am not up to date with the small access stuff these days.

One thing I can say, is sometimes the cheap netcomm or equivalen ADSL modems are surprisingly well featured, easy to use, and very cheap to replace. It may pay to use one or two of these instead of a cisco solution as they are easy to change or replace, whereas the cisco setup will require someone to really know what they are doingwell. I myself have a bunch of cisco adsl routers lying around but I use a generic adsl modem as its easier to configure.

In a similar vein, the generic gigabit switches you can buy are cheap to setup, but often don't support vlans. If you need VLANs, then I guess you need to get the cisco stuff. If you don't you might better off with the generic stuff although the prices on the site you listed are very cheap.

FormulaNova said...

Any chance of a diagram showing what you want?

What are the requirements (not the solution)?

Simple Requirements.
1 building, 2 companys, 2 domains, sharing a printer.
Both have their own ADSL/phone connections.
Both running SBS2008, Exchange and using RWW and OWA
Both need wired and wireless network access to their own server (From inside and outside the office), to the internet and the printer.


The consumer gear could be cheaper/easier to configure but the Cisco gear is less than 10% of retail cost and they get $1000 of it.

Family has been crook for 3 days...


F i n a l l y got a call from a Cisco presales rep on friday... Apparently these will do the job:
Cisco 2960-S Series 24-Port Gigabit Power over Ethernet Switch
Cisco 877W# Router for ADSL and Wireless Applications
Cisco 870 Series 32-MB Flash Memory Module
2 x Cisco Aironet# 1140 Series b/g/n Access Point
2 x Cisco Aironet# Power Injector for 1140 Series

VLANs as discussed, 1000mb internal network with 300mb wireless.
Now just gotta configure it


Current setup moving into a new room so it wont be under someones desk keeping the feet warm.


Thanks all for your help - seabreeze as usual

Anyone want in on the config [}:)]