Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Hosting Security and Technology : Handling redundant Connections

[Vorlon]

I am setting up 5 web servers in a cabinet. I am
wondering how best to connect the ethernet from my
provider.

I am getting two redundant RJ45 connections from my
provider. I am presuming that the traffic will
primarily be comming in on one of these lines unless
the network suffers an outage.

Each machine will have two ethernet ports one for a
local network, the other for the internet connection.

Should I run the two ports from my provider to a single
network switch and then to the five servers. Please
suggest the best device.

I will also need to control bandwidth on the five servers.

Thanks for the help.

[allan]

There are a lot of ways this can be done. I'll tell you how we do it, and maybe this will help.

We have redundant connections from our data center provider. Each connection goes into a seperate 3620 router that is configured with HSRP. Behind the routers, we have several Catalyst 2948s all of which are part of an OSPF ring. There server connect directly into the Catalysts.

[Vorlon]

What would be the least costly alternative to get the redundancy?

[allan]

Get a Cisco 2621. The 2621 is standard with dual 10/100 nics, you can also do som rate shaping on the router.

Behind the router put a Cisco 2924. This way you can VLAN the network traffic and the internet traffic and keep them seperate.

Total cost: $4000 ($2500-$3000 if you go the e-bay route )

[Vorlon]

I have not yet used cisco equipment and would like some clarification.

1. The 2 external connections from my provider would plug into the 2 rj45 10/100 ports on the unit. (Y/N)

2. The cisco equipment is interconnected by a propietary cable?

3. What is meant by WIC?

I hope this information is helpful to others as much as it is to me.

Thanks

[allan]

If you are not familiar with Cisco, you may want to look into Imagestream-IS (http://www.imagestream-is.com) they make Linux-based routers. They will give you slightly more bang for your money, and have better bandwidth control options. If you do use them, our sales guy is Doug Haas (dhass@imagestream-is.com), and he's really good.

To answer your questions:

1. Yes
2. No, you would just connect them over standard Ethernet. You would have to get a third NIC that would plug into your switch (I'm sorry I left that off the diagram).
3. WAN Interface Card -- a T1 Card.

I am going to attempt what I think is a first for webhostingtalk, I am going to try to explain this with a Visio diagram (uhh... ASCIIVisio ):

<-- Dammit didn't Work -->

[Edited by uuallan on 03-14-2001 at 03:01 PM]