atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums VOIP Phones & IP PBX Networking Connecting School Addition

Existing small school is building an addition for some classrooms. The existing school has Cat 5e data cables to each classroom. The new addition will have cat 6 cables. There will be a new equipment room about 200 feet from the old one, with a fiber cable connecting the switches.

I would like to use a gigabit switch with fiber modules. Most of the switches that are in a reasonable budget price are 10/100 switches with 2-gigabit ports (for the fiber module, I think). I don't have a lot of technical specs from the school, but it seems to me the 10/100 ports would be sufficient. Or would it be prudent to go with a $$ 24 port gig switch?

Also, in the addition, there will be about 35 drops, each with two cat 6 cables. 70 ports on the patch panel. What sort of "port fill" should I figure? Do I need 70 switch ports available? Or would 24 or 48 work?

I know all of this really depends on the customer's budget and their needs. I'm looking for some sort of "typical" configuration (if there is such a thing as typical).

Thank you.
Jim

I've had good success with HP and Adtran switches. They make them with SFP slots so you can install fiber ports.

I just bought 3 2824 Gbit switches from dell on sale at about half price! Gbit would be a good choice as the rest of the network will migrate to Gbit!!

If they are going with the expense of Cat 6 then I would suggest 1G switches to match the layout. As for how many ports you will need to ask the customer how many devices they intend on having. You could start with a 48 port switch and add more later.

We just finished 4 school jobs and here is what we do. Each Job had about 600 cat 6 drops

Run a 12 strand fiber from MDF to new IDF's in new buildings.

Run a 25/50 pair communications cable, protected with Circa BET's on both sides.

1 RG-11 for ITV with amps (as needed)

All drops Cat 6 with 25% growth available on the patch panels.

Giga Bit / Fiber switches with all ports on patch panel patched through. All labeled with IDF room number, patch panel number, room number This way when a teacher decides to move her desk she can plug and play.

Cosmo

Oh yeah we are using HP managed switches 24 port


Cosmo

Cosmo, with the HP 24 port switches, does the first one have the fiber module in it, the the other 24 port switches are patched into this 'main' switch?

Which HP switches are you using? the 2810 has the gigabit connectivity in all of it's 48 ports, but it's also $2400. The 2610 just has 2 gig ports, the rest are 10/100.

Jim

The 2810's they all have gigabit connectivity with 2 fiber ports, they wanted to spend the money as that is what they are putting an all the schools.

You can used unmanaged if you want to save them some $$$$.

Cosmo