Help needed with Switches and Fibre Optics

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ZaphireSA

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Hello Everyone,

I want to buy good switches that can be used for LAN. It must be GIGABIT (10/100/1000).
Also I would appreciate it if someone could tell me what the Buffer Speeds per Device is on a switch and how much faster it could boost the network speed. The one I'm currently looking at has a buffer speed 1.632mb buffer per device.

The next thing I want to know is what is the "4 combo SFP fiber connection" used for. As far as I'm concerned it is used for Fiber optics cables and if I am correct what type of connectors would be used. ST or SC connectors and in Singlemode or multimode.

If anyone could also give me a rough idea what fibre optic cables cost I would appreciate it as well as shops where Non-Businesses can buy it.

What type of LAN Cable's work best with GIGABIT switches aswell. Is it CAT5E or CAT6. What is the difference between SOLID and STRANDED cables?

Another problem is that there are 2 10/100 switches that need to be connected to each other and then one should be connected to a 10/100/1000 switch but there are no Fibre optic ports. Should I connect only 1 LAN cable between the 10/100 and 10/100/100 switches or should I connect 2 LAN cables.

Here is a link to the switch we have in mind - http://www.pricecheck.co.za/offers/12389742/D-Link+DGS-1210-24+Web+Smart+24+Port+Switch/

Help would be greatly appreciated.
 
cat 5e will work fine for lans, no need to buy cat 6 for a lan for games etc and copying.
 
Would the CAT6 cables be faster than the CAT5e cables? And will it also be ok if the CAT6 cables were solid and not stranded?
 
ZaphireSA said:
Hello Everyone,

The next thing I want to know is what is the "4 combo SFP fiber connection" used for. As far as I'm concerned it is used for Fiber optics cables and if I am correct what type of connectors would be used. ST or SC connectors and in Singlemode or multimode.
Click to expand...

Those 4 SFP fibre connections are used by the switch to utilize 4 fibre lines, although SFP ports can be used for other things. You would need to buy the SFP modules in order to take advantage of these ports for fibre use (like these: http://h30094.www3.hp.com/product/s...working:Switches:Switch+modules/JD118B/JC095A). Your fibre ST (round) or SC (square) connectors would plug directly into these modules.

Single Mode is best for long distances (airports, Cities etc)
Multimode is best for offices and warehouses etc.

If you do plan on laying fibre permanently, use 4core fibre or higher. Basically in order for fibre to go from A to B, 2cores are used. If in the future you to extend the connection from B to C, you will have spare cores on your existing link so data can go directly from A to C without hitting B first. This allows for expansion in the future without having to relay cable.

Another problem is that there are 2 10/100 switches that need to be connected to each other and then one should be connected to a 10/100/1000 switch but there are no Fibre optic ports. Should I connect only 1 LAN cable between the 10/100 and 10/100/100 switches or should I connect 2 LAN cables.
Click to expand...

You can buy a device called a Media Converter (pic) which essetially receives the fibre connection and allows you to connect it to a normal switch using a CAT5 cable, so no special switch is needed. You would be close to or just above R1k if you want a GB media converter.
 
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If you are getting managed switches, you can use 2 of the lan ports for up-links and assuming you are using gigabit switches, the up-link speed will be 2gigabit, which should be more than enough of your purposes. I am saying this, because it will be cheaper than getting the gbix connecters for fibre up-links, unless you have them already and just need the fibre cables, which isn't that expensive, depending whom you buy from.
 
hungrybeaver said:
You can buy a device called a Media Converter which essetially receives the fibre connection and allows you to connect it to a normal switch using a CAT5 cable, so now special switch is needed. You would be close to or just above R1k if you want a GB media converter.
Click to expand...

You would only use these if you need the length and not for "speed".
 
Yes, we don't know if he has the switches already or not, but what I was trying to say, you would use the converter if you need to go over the 100m length restriction of UTP or going outdoors with the cable, etc... If he just needs to connect the 2 switches and they are next to each other, a 1m UTP cable will do. :)
 
I would never pick a switch based on buffer speed. If you want a fast switch you want wire-speed hardware. The buffer is a little waiting area for frames that come into the switch too fast and they busy waiting to get back on the line. A wire-speed switch will have enough backplane and forwarding capacity to run every port on the switch at full speed and nobody needs to wait.
 
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