<div dir="ltr"><div><div>Assuming a single storage array, in a fast/reliable/cheap - pick 2 scenario, you'll get best bang/buck with the storage on 10gig uplinks, and the servers on 1gig ports (ie. 1gig _uncontested_). The thing to bear in mind is that iscsi hates dropped packets, and you don't want performance falling off traffic peaks - hence, uncontested bandwidth gives best worst case performance.<br><br></div>Hence - Cisco WS-C3650-24TS<br><br></div>Paul Wilkins<br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 19 April 2015 at 15:59, Robert Hudson <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:hudrob@gmail.com" target="_blank">hudrob@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">Hi James,<div><br></div><div>IMHO, you won't get good performance/reliability out of $2k switches for iSCSI - even if you can turn on jumbo frames (mandatory IMHO for iSCSI), the buffers won't be deep enough to cope with the load that iSCSI can place on switches, etc.</div><div><br></div><div>Given that a client is involved, you also need to be confident that the switches won't give you a bad reputation.</div><div><br></div><div>I've never been a fan of Dell switches. I haven't played with their Force10 kit (because of the bitter taste that PowerConnect left in my mouth).</div><div><br></div><div>I've used Cisco 3750 switches in the past for iSCSI and been disappointed. Lately, I've taken to using Brocade ICX and VDX-series switches for iSCSI, and I've been very happy with them. This has been across a range of storage (NetApp, Dell EqualLogic, Dell Compellent, HP 3PAR, Nimble Storage), they've all played nicely (to the point where at least one of those storage vendor asked for copies of my benchmark results due to the throughput they were seeing across my Brocade switches).</div><div><br></div><div>You could probably go for a 24-port ICX6610 (or two) - they have 24-1Gbps ports, but also 8 x 10Gbps ports (plus stacking ports on the rear), can run dual PSUs, can even do PoE if required (if you want to converge data and storage networks, though I tend to keep anything that requires PoE away from my storage). The ICX6450 switches have four 10Gbps ports each, but again I'd be concerned with using them for iSCSI given the specs.</div><div><br></div><div>Alternatively, the VDX switches are great - I recently bought two 6740T switches which cost me less for both (along with warranty, 40Gbps port licenses and accessories such as QSFP to SFP+ cables) than the high-end of the price range you mentioned, and you get 48 x 10Gbps ports each (copper), but they are at that end of the range, not the $2k - $5k range you were hoping for.</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div><div class="h5">On 19 April 2015 at 12:47, James Cunningham <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jjazza26@gmail.com" target="_blank">jjazza26@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br></div></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div><div class="h5"><div dir="ltr">Hi Guys,<div><br></div><div>Not sure if this is the correct place to ask this question, so apologies in advance - but since most people here run high speed storage networks it is probably relevant.</div><div><br></div><div>Can I have some recommendations for low end, cost effective, 10Gbps switches (for iSCSI use)?</div><div><br></div><div>Only need around 8-10 ports per switch, and all the switches I'm looking at from the likes of Cisco and Juniper are around $20k-$30k a switch - seems pretty extreme really. I'm looking at deploying 2 x 10Gbps iSCSI switches for a client for a small VMware project, and am looking for suitable switches.</div><div><br></div><div>Looking for suggestions for a half decent switch to use here - doesn't have to be top of the line with heaps of features, just something very basic, as long as it's 10Gbps and has at least 8 ports.</div><div><br></div><div>Looking at the Netgear XS712T, these are around the $2k mark, which is in the ballpark of what I need. Looked at the Netgear XSM7224 and DELL N4032, but these are around the $5k mark per switch (but granted 24 ports with dual power supplies)</div><div><br></div><div>Suggestions anyone?</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks</div><span><font color="#888888"><div><br></div><div>James</div></font></span></div>
<br></div></div>_______________________________________________<br>
AusNOG mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:AusNOG@lists.ausnog.net" target="_blank">AusNOG@lists.ausnog.net</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.ausnog.net/mailman/listinfo/ausnog" target="_blank">http://lists.ausnog.net/mailman/listinfo/ausnog</a><br>
<br></blockquote></div><br></div>
<br>_______________________________________________<br>
AusNOG mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:AusNOG@lists.ausnog.net">AusNOG@lists.ausnog.net</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.ausnog.net/mailman/listinfo/ausnog" target="_blank">http://lists.ausnog.net/mailman/listinfo/ausnog</a><br>
<br></blockquote></div><br></div>