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Network management Toolkit

LAN headroom: Designing for expansion

Robert McIntire Tech Republic

Published: 15 Apr 2002 14:30 BST

At this point, you can create a level of redundancy by grouping both of the router's Ethernet interfaces into a single ether-channel between the router and the switch. What better way to design for expansion than by building in redundancy from the start? Not to mention that using wide-pipe bandwidth between the switch and router allows for plenty of network traffic growth. Many Cisco devices can automatically detect potential ether-channels and configure them, but if you need to explicitly declare them, try this command from within the Switch Config mode:

Switch1(config)# interface fastethernet0/1

Switch1(config-if)# port group 1

Switch1(config)# interface fastethernet0/2

Switch1(config-if)# port group 1

Remember that the ports you use on the switch will have to be in the same VLAN.

Managing the expanding network

Another issue concerns managing the rapid expansion of a network. You'll soon be adding more switches, possibly some routers, and most likely a few servers. How do you go about managing all of these devices effectively? Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is definitely an option. Cisco provides a suite of management software called CiscoWorks, and other manufacturers offer software from the simplistic to the most sophisticated products you've ever seen.

The idea is to have one single interface to view your network as a whole. If you have the budget, I'd implement it at the start. Regardless of whether you delve into sophisticated management suites right away, you'll most likely end up using one of the more cost-effective products in the beginning. Either way, you'll need to set up your network devices for SNMP management. You can do so at the command prompt, or you can use the Cisco Web-based configuration utility to set up SNMP parameters. Another thing to consider for management, aside from SNMP, is the Cisco clustering capability. It allows you to assign an IP address to one switch and then group all switches as a cluster for ease of management. It's Java-based, runs from a browser, and provides a simple, intuitive graphical interface.

Summary

Although expansion can be a painful process, you can take the edge off by following some of the methods and guidelines mentioned here. Remember to consider the basics first, such as number of workstations and subnets. Then, plan your cabling needs accordingly. From there, set up your infrastructure and devices to be flexible and allow for future growth. In this way, you might actually make it possible for the IT department to go home on time.

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