As your organization expands, does your network infrastructure scale alongside it? Updating your switching system proactively ensures smooth sailing, whether you’re opening new offices or upgrading bandwidth usage company-wide.
That’s why taking a strategic, methodical approach from the start is key to ensuring a smooth transition. This guide provides best practices gleaned from extensive experience with network upgrades in distributed cloud computing and enterprise environments.
These 10 recommendations will help you deploy switches seamlessly across large, distributed environments.
1. Map Out Your Current & Future Needs
Take stock of devices, locations, applications, and bandwidth demands now—and where things may stand in 3-5 years. This prevents wasted spending and future-proofs your choice of Ethernet switch features like ports, throughput, and management tools. Consider clustered switching for high-scalability networks.
2. Standardize on Tried-and-True Switch Models
Standardizing a core set of Ethernet switch models has numerous advantages. By consolidating proven platforms regularly refreshed by major vendors, you simplify long-term support.
- Field service technicians don’t need extensive cross-training on every unique switch type. And carrying spare parts for a handful of models is more practical than stocking dozens of variants. Standardization also streamlines procurement by reducing SKUs to maintain in contracts.
- Evaluate vendors holistically as well. Beyond just the hardware specs, assess support commitments, upgrade policies, migration tools, and whether the platform meets your long-term networking goals and security standards.
- Virtual switching capabilities can also help standardize management across clustered switches that behave as a single logical device.
With proper evaluation upfront, standardizing on a core set of switch models from a major vendor significantly enhances the long-term management of a large, distributed network.
3. Lay the Groundwork for Remote Management
For large enterprise networks spanning multiple buildings or global regions, relying solely on physical access to Ethernet switches is inefficient and prevents proactive monitoring.
- That’s why laying the groundwork for remote management capabilities is critical in distributed environments. Look for switches that can be configured, monitored, backed up and restored from a central console via CLI, GUI or mobile app, regardless of physical location.
- Remote access prevents unnecessary travel when a switch simply needs reconfiguration or when tracking down an intermittent issue. It also allows proactive monitoring of switches across offices, versus only addressing problems once users complain.
Remote management of cloud computing future-proofs your network for unpredictable growth scenarios by enabling the deployment and support of switches anywhere, anytime, from a browser or mobile app. Combined with configuration templates, centralized management massively simplifies maintaining thousands of distributed switches.
4. Consider Access, Aggregation & Core Functions
Not all switches perform the same job. Access switches plug directly into end-user devices and handle low-latency tasks. Aggregation switches route traffic between access switches. Core switches pass traffic throughout your entire network and between buildings. Know which type suits each layer to optimize performance.
5. Involve Facilities Early for Smooth installations
Ethernet switch deployments may require new rack space, cabling runs, or electrical work. Enlist facilities and construction teams early on for accurate scoping and budgeting and to avoid project delays. They can also advise on clean cabling practices like wire management, labeling, and outlet/patch panel placement.
6. Test Thoroughly Before Deployment
Switch rollouts impact business continuity, so testing is key. Physically set up a lab with sample switch configurations to verify functionality, check for bugs, and train staff. Load test for performance. Automated testing and documentation prevent last-minute scrambling. Staff should also test any remote access before switches hit production.
7. Use Configuration Templates for Consistency
Manually configuring dozens of switches is error-prone. Instead, create templates for settings like VLANs, ACLs, monitoring, etc. and deploy en masse. Templates enforce consistency and speed rollouts versus individual switch-by-switch programming. Advanced features like StackWise Virtual Switching extend this across clustered switches.
8. Stagger Rollouts to Catch Issues Early
A big bang rollout risks major disruption if bugs emerge. Instead, deploy switches in stages, like one floor, closet, or building at a time. This limits blast radius while still allowing parallel rollout. Staged rollouts also give time to address early issues before completing the full deployment.
9. Consider Third-Party Support Options
Supplement in-house expertise with outside help. Carefully evaluating third-party options is an important consideration for large network upgrades.
- Consultants: For complex projects requiring specialized expertise, consultants can assist with planning, design, implementation and documentation. They’re useful for large-scale rollouts involving complex protocols, virtualization or automation. Consultants may also help optimize existing environments through assessments and recommendations.
- Deployment and staging services: Some vendors offer deployment services to fully stage, configure and install switches remotely or on-site. This can accelerate projects by offloading hands-on work, freeing up in-house staff for other tasks.
- Supplemental technical support: augment in-house support with third parties who can handle overflow work or provide assistance after hours/on weekends to keep projects on track. Some offer per-incident support as needed.
- Managed services: Full managed services involve a third party remotely running and managing your switch infrastructure for a monthly fee. This outsources hands-on maintenance and monitoring, freeing up internal teams for strategic work.
- Monitoring services: Remote monitoring tools provide around-the-clock tracking of switch health, performance and issues via customizable dashboards. Alerts ensure rapid response before problems significantly impact users.
- Maintenance/warranty extensions: Purchasing multi-year maintenance contracts from third parties extends the standard warranty period, providing budget certainty for repairs versus unpredictable out-of-warranty costs.
- Staff augmentation: For short-term gaps, third parties can provide experienced network engineers on a contract basis. This supplements internal teams without long-term hiring commitments.
- Flexible financing options: Vendors and third-party partners offer various leasing and as-a-service models to acquire Ethernet switches through low monthly payments rather than large upfront capital expenditures.
Leveraging outside expertise allows for focusing internal resources more strategically while gaining deployment flexibility. It also provides access to skills that are not cost-effective to maintain internally on a permanent basis.
10. Plan for Change Management & Training
Users expect seamless transitions but change requires adaptation. Communicate the “what” and “why” of upgrades clearly. Offer training on any new features or management interfaces. Collect feedback to address lingering issues. Change management smooths users into leveraging new capabilities for maximum ROI on their network investment.
In Conclusion
Taking a strategic approach to switch deployment pays dividends, whether upgrading or expanding your network infrastructure. Standardization, remote management, and staged rollouts help large enterprises absorb changes with minimal disruption. Following these best practices ensures your network scales smoothly alongside your growing needs.
