Recommendations for router with routed copper gig-e ports?

Tue Feb 16 16:47:04 UTC 2010

Some different router options  Here are three, each w/ different levels of capability:

Option #1 - CISCO3845 (3RU tall)
1x CISCO3845
2x MEM3800-512D
2x HWIC-1GE-SFP
1x GLC-SX-MM
This will provide 4x GbE ports, which will fill the minimum need as described below.

Option #2 - CISCO7204VXR (3RU tall)
1x CISCO7204VXR
1x NPE-G2
1x C7200-I/O-GE+E
2x PA-GE
2x PWR-7200-AC
This will provide 6x GbE ports (though 3x will be fiber only - this is a good option in terms of performance, so I still put it out there, as it may be possible to work around).  Performance wise, this is about 4x as powerful as the 3845 above.  If we need an in-between option, replace the NPE-G2 with an NPE-G1 - the G1 is about 2x as powerful as the 3845.

Option #3 - Cat6500 (4RU tall)
1x WS-C6503-E
2x PWR-1400-AC
2x PEM-20A-AC
1x WS-SUP720-3BXL
1x WS-X6516-GE-TX
The maximum performance option, the 6503-E here is capable of 40Gbps/slot (as configured, the 16 port GbE card gets 8Gbps of throughput).  If DC power is needed, you can change to the 7603-S chassis, which is the same form factor, just available with high-output DC power (which would be needed here).

For all 3 options, DC power is available if needed.

Graham Farrar         +1 805 690.3714
AIM IM: GrahamNHR / Fax: 805 690.1825
Network Hardware Resale, LLC.

-----Original Message-----
From: Lorell Hathcock [mailto:lorell at hathcock.org] 
Sent: Sunday, February 14, 2010 12:42 PM
To: 'North American Network Operators Group'
Subject: Recommendations for router with routed copper gig-e ports?

All:

I'm involved in a project where we are cutting over a WISP from being a
single broadcast domain into the grownup real world of routing between tower
nodes.  Of course the equipment is all Mikrotik and the single broadcast
domain was easy to implement, so that's why it was done this way.

My problem on the redesign is I want to provide routed, copper gig-e ports
at a reasonable price per port.

My thought is to provide one copper gig-e port for all of the APs at a tower
and a copper gig-e port for each backhaul to other towers (typically 2 to
4).  On the core nodes, I want to have one fiber gig-e port for the internet
connection.  BGP would be implemented on the routers that connect to the
internet.  OSPF would be implemented on all of the backhaul ports.

So number of routed, copper gig-e ports at each tower would be:

1 - AP network (need suggestion for cost effective gig-e switch)

2 to 4 - back haul ports

1 - internet port (on one out of every 4 towers or so)  (and most likely
fiber instead of copper)

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Sincerely,

Lorell Hathcock

OfficeConnect.net | 832-665-3400 x101 (o) | 713-992-2343 (f) |
lorell at officeconnect.net

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