[TriLUG] finding a MAC address

[Ryan Leathers]

I did a job not long ago and was surprised to find a fairly large 
network running on a bunch of dumb L2 switches all daisy-chained 
together.  There were no VLANs, no L3 decisions, not even a high speed 
backbone. It was literally just switches strung together with Internet 
access on one end.

Now granted, when the project was done there were VLANs, a block design, 
an L3 core, STP and management. They benefited a lot from this project, 
but the shocking truth remains - you really can go a long way on crossed 
fingers and L2 port speed alone. Its easy to forget that when you work 
with "mature" infrastructures on a daily basis.

 


Christopher L Merrill wrote:
> Matthew Pusateri wrote:
>   
>> Amazing how when someone needs to buy a switch they say I don't need a  
>> managed switch, or a web managed will do(instead of an actual console  
>> port).  But when trouble strikes how much in lost productivity $ does  
>> it take to cover the cost of a low end $600-$1000 switch as opposed to  
>> a cheaper one.
>>     
>
> Well, we've been in business since 2001 and never needed one before.
> We've upgraded switches every 2-3 years...so that cost difference
> between a $800 switch and $200 switch is $1800 over the years.
>
> As the person responsible for making that decision, I am not
> regretting that decision at all.  Not a bit.  Particularly since
> back when we were just a startup, that cost would have come directly
> out of my paycheck.  :>
>
> Chris
>
>