A modern network should have a simple design, be easy to manage and cost less to purchase than the legacy infrastructure it replaces:

• Single switch operating system so less training required
• Single management console for configuration and monitoring
• Easy switch deployment through scripted configurations
• Identity based dynamic port policies rather than fixed configurations
• Simplified, highly available and scalable design using Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation
• Storage and IP network consolidation with FCoE, iSCSI or NFS used for storage in place of Fibre Channel
• Reduction in cables due to consolidation of multiple GbE connections into a 10GbE connection
• Reduction in switches due to higher-port densities and port consolidation

No longer are network ports configured with a fixed policy instead port configurations are dynamic, secure and automatically configured:

• Integrated security enforces authentication before granting access to the network
• Dynamic security policies follow a user independently of where they log onto the network
• VOIP phones and the connecting edge switch port can be auto-configured for the voice VLAN and QoS policy using open standards such as 802.1x authentication and Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP)
• Port polices map onto Active Directory Groups and when a user logs in the switch auto-configures the appropriate policy (e.g. PoE, ACLs and 802.1p QoS tagging)
• Wireless access can be enabled during business hours and disabled at all other times

For most organisations a modern network infrastructure will mean performance and availability issues well be a thing of the past:

• Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation enables switches to be clustered for high-availability and scalable performance
• 10GbE provides enough bandwidth to support application and file servers, and even GbE connections to the desktop
• VMware vSphere provides Network I/O Control (NIOC) to prioritise traffic within a 10GbE based virtual infrastructure

Legacy networks are typically complex, expensive and very difficult to manage. In addition they cannot provide the performance that applications and users now require - refreshing your network will bring tremendous benefits and address all of these issues.

SNS can advise on the options that are available, help you determine the optimal design for your organisation and how best to integrate the network with your virtual infrastructure and storage arrays.