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Need suggestions: ~4port router for Ghost multicasting

RU482

Lifer
Hi all,

We use Symantec Ghost to serve up images to computers here at work.

Our system is structured like this:

image server (dell tower)->linksys router->2x 48 port HP managed switches

The router is starting to get a little flaky, so I'd like to replace it with something solid.

Any suggestions?
 
2 48-port switches? how many actual machines do you have and is each switch separately connected to the router? your post is pretty light on details so...ill assume you have those 2 switches because you have a lot of workstations.

ideally, the switches should be connected to one another, and your ghost server should be on a switch. assuming that youre all one one subnet, the ghost traffic should *never* need to go through the router.

if the router/internet connection is flaky i wouldnt be surprised, the linksys stuff is really home gear and probably just isnt robust enough to handle all your internet traffic. hell, people can run bittorrent heavily at home and bring a consumer-grade router to its knees.
 
We are a small mobile computer OEM, so we image anywhere from 1 to ~75 computers at a time.

We've had the linksys in place since we moved to this office back in 05. The linksys is showing signs of it's age lately...i.e needs to be power cycled every couple of days due to lockups. Our business is good lately, so the cashflow will allow me to spend the extra bucks on a commercial grade router (instead of consumer grade). Don't get me wrong, the Linksys ran like a champ till lately!

The 2nd switch is connected to the 1st switch, then to the router. Those babies are loud! So, on the 4 port router, there is one line going to the switches, one to the server, and two for small qty orders.

The system (network) is not connected to any other network, or the internet. It's sole purpose is to serve up Ghost images via Multicast or directed broadcast.


Networking really isn't my forte, thus my need to turn to the masses at AT for suggestions! I am hoping that someone will recommend a good manufacturer and model number.

I will look in to abandoning the router altogether and just hooking the server into the switches.

Thanks!
 
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whats the router for if its not routing out to anything and youre just ghostcasting on the switches?

Taking a stab here... they are using it as a DHCP server for easy auto config since it is a detached network. However, if that is the case, don't run data through the router, just let it hand out DHCP etc. Or even better, configure the server to handle it and drop the router completely.
 
Taking a stab here... they are using it as a DHCP server for easy auto config since it is a detached network. However, if that is the case, don't run data through the router, just let it hand out DHCP etc. Or even better, configure the server to handle it and drop the router completely.

yeah it occurred to me after i posted that this may be the reason. but then...im also kinda wondering if the ghost server cant run dhcp in that case
/no experience setting up ghost servers
 
Don't use it in line then. Replace the router if it is flaky but you don't need to ghost through it. Hook the server directly to the switch stack.
 
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