Planning a network for a video production studio

[rbaibich]

Hi everyone.

I'm doing a project for this video studio, they only use Macs and they're looking into having a mixed Gigabit Ethernet / 100T network for their new location.

They would have 6 computers plus the server connected through Gigabit Ethernet, the other 8 computers would use 100T.

I was thinking about having a router (or maybe just a switcher?) connecting all these guys together. My only concern is the possible bottleneck when you have 2 or 3 guys over Gig Ethernet pulling files from the server at the same time. So...

1. What are the best routers (or switchers) for this kind of application?

2. Are there any solutions that would allow me to have a huge bandwidth pipe between the router or switcher and the server?

 

[spidey07]

Just buy a GOOD 10/100/1000 24 port switch switch. Preferably one with a 10 gig port or two on it just in case you ever need more than 24 ports.

I've worked on these kinds of applications before. Don't skimp on the switch. Cisco, foundry, extreme all make nice ones.

A router is really only needed when you want to connect to another network.

Cisco's 3750 is a nice fit, the extreme summit line or foundry fast iron series.

http://www.cisco.com
http://www.extremenetworks.com
http://www.foundrynetworks.com

Depending on the server you may want to use multiple 1000 Base-T cards if the architecture supports it (multiple CPUs, multiple buses, etc) and bond them together. Generally at 1000 Base-T speeds the bottleneck isn't the network, but the server hardware.

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Just buy a GOOD 10/100/1000 24 port switch switch. Preferably one with a 10 gig port or two on it just in case you ever need more than 24 ports.

I've worked on these kinds of applications before. Don't skimp on the switch. Cisco, foundry, extreme all make nice ones.

A router is really only needed when you want to connect to another network.

Cisco's 3750 is a nice fit, the extreme summit line or foundry fast iron series.

http://www.cisco.com
http://www.extremenetworks.com
http://www.foundrynetworks.com

Depending on the server you may want to use multiple 1000 Base-T cards if the architecture supports it (multiple CPUs, multiple buses, etc) and bond them together. Generally at 1000 Base-T speeds the bottleneck isn't the network, but the server hardware.

Indeed. getting a server that chokes at 1000 Base-T cost big bucks. A good switch is a must.
switches like Spidey mentioned have the ability to handle 12 to 20 gigs across the switch,
so figuring a way to add a second server is the cheapest way if the current setup starts to bog you down.

 

[rbaibich]

Just so I learn a little bit more about this before I start buying stuff, what's the difference between a Cisco 3750 and a Linksys SR2024 besides the $3,000 difference in the price tag? Internal bandwidth?

Also, I doubt they'll need another 24 ports anytime soon. For starters, they wouldn't have enough physical space for all those computers.

They access the internet through a DSL connection, so the way I can get it to work would be to connect the DSL modem to a small Linksys router and that router to the switch? Can I use the small router to do the DHCP assignments?

 

[skyking]

The switch you linked is unmanaged. There are other managed switches, the 3750 is just cisco's offering.
I would not drop a chunk of change on a 24 port gig switch unless it was a managed one.

 

[rbaibich]

What about the Dell PowerConnect 2724? Seems like an interesting option for them... Don't you think?