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Generic 10G Wiring question
I have CAT 7 cable runs and am looking to create a 10GB backbone between our servers and key area's of our network where end-users will have 1GB throughput (until costs come down). I'm at the junctur...
Thank you. While it's logical, It seems odd to me to think there are advantages to not using the SFP+ modules. I'm glad I asked.
With the non-SFP+ switches, is every port then a 10G port or is it isolated to those ports dedicated to the higher speed? To control costs I'm looking to slowly meter out deployment of the 10G backbone and then extending it outward. I would imagine 12, 24 or 52 ports of 10G capability would be much more expensive than 2,4, or 6 dedicated 10G ports with the rest being 1G.
There are switches with "just" a few 10G ports (typically for uplink/switch interconnect/storage...) and the others 1G ports (various GSxxxT for example). Of course, there are also pure 10G switches (XS724E, XSxxxT).
Many switch models have combined 10G copper/RJ45 and SFP+ port pairs - only one of these pairs can be used at a time.
Be aware that 10G copper ports don't sync to the legacy 10Mb/s and Fast Ethernet (100 Mb/s) devices.
Further on, earlier switches with 10G ports only sync to 1G and 10G, while some other have 10G-MultiGig ports which can sync to 1G/2.5G/5G/10G. For switch interconnection and most storage/NAS applications that's not a big implication.
To clarify, "Be aware that 10G copper ports don't sync to the legacy 10Mb/s and Fast Ethernet (100 Mb/s) devices."
Are you saying that only SFP+ ports/devices permit backward compatability to 10/100/1000 fast ethernet? If true, then SFP+ is the route I would prefer to take as I'm certain there are plenty of 100Mb/s and 1Gb/s lines running throughout the campuses.
My intention, at least initially, is to create the backbone between key departmental servers using 10G and leaving rest of the systems connected to the switch to run 1G or 100Mb (if necessary). But backward compatability is needed unless I want to begin rewiring everything (I don't, yet.).
SFP+ can have other limitations:
- Typically a SFP+-RJ45 can run 1Gb and 10 Gb, if the switch does support also MultiGig.
- Things are different when using SFP+ fiber modules - here there is no speed negotiation.
10 GbE copper ports can be run either on 10 GbE or 1 GbE, but not on slower speeds. As long as you don't deploy only 10 GbE switches, this is not an issue. Classic 10 MbE, Fast Ethernet, and GbE can continue to run on GbE ports, e.g on switches with GbE or 10 GbE uplinks.
Not sure what your wiring concern is, as you state there is a CAT7 cabling anyway. Depending on the distances, I tend to prefer fiber: More reliable, much thinner, theoretical lower latency, but no DIY installations (except if you master fiber splicing).
The standard says that you can use CAT6 cable for run lengths up to 55 m or CAT6A or CAT7 cable for run lengths up to 100 m. We know that good CAT5A cabling has almost the same electrical behaviour like a cheap CAT6.
"10 GbE copper ports can be run either on 10 GbE or 1 GbE, but not on slower speeds. As long as you don't deploy only 10 GbE switches, this is not an issue. Classic 10 MbE, Fast Ethernet, and GbE can continue to run on GbE ports, e.g on switches with GbE or 10 GbE uplinks.
Not sure what your wiring concern is, as you state there is a CAT7 cabling anyway."
I have several CAT7 new and unused lines running from my server room to critical areas for media/broadcast/streaming distribution. I'm fairly confident that most old cabling is Cat6, or at least Cat5E and I know that our switches are entirely 1GB enabled. The idea is to continue forward with 1G to the workstations/departmental application servers through switches fed by 10G lines connected by servers with 10G adapters. In this way 1G is assured to the desktops/departmental application servers unless I find slower lines (which then need to be replaced).I waiver when it comes to which switches to buy and whether SFP+ devices are necessary for the inter-switch connections. Backward compatability to 100mbps is less of a concern since these particular lines will be used to conenct switches. Still, I wouldn't think I need more than one 10G port in certain locations and four 10G ports in others, relay and endpoint areas.
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