The significance of routing switches during the design of new networks is by far over-rated, and not at all cost-effective. This is according to Tarsus Technologies, a member of the JSE-listed MB Technologies group.
"While workgroup bandwidth requirements for most local area networks (LAN) have reached a standstill in the last couple of years, backbone bandwidth requirements have increased substantially," says Louis Helmbold, HP network and storage consultant at Tarsus Technologies. "This development can mainly be attributed to an increase of intranets and server farms."
As a result, he explains, traffic volumes for which these networks were not designed have increasingly overloaded router-based network backbones. "In an attempt to limit the network traffic overload, the network is then broken into smaller subnets, and routing switches are installed to route traffic between these subnets."
"Some networks were developed over a period of time, and consists of more than one subnet. Other networks were initially planned around smaller subnets, for example a Class C subnet that only supports 254 devices, and companies were forced to add new subnets due to growth," he explains. "Routers and routing switches were then deployed to enable communication between these subnets."
Helmbold says there are a few options to be considered before implementing a routing switch. "Making use of a private address and proxy server when planning or re-planning a network allows for network growth and increases security. Organisations should consider network design and try to implement switching to the desktop, striving to build a `collision-less domain`.
"Additionally, traffic volumes can be reduced by implementing controls such as Automatic Broadcast Control, which enables the switch to snoop or listen to IP and IPX, addresses resolution responses and caches them. Another traffic control, Internet Group Management Protocol, was developed to eliminate multicast traffic on segments that are not destined to receive this traffic. This are two examples of traffic controls that can be implemented on most Layer 2 switches with Layer 3 traffic controls," he adds.
Far too many switches have been implemented with default settings and no traffic controls. "Traffic can be reduced by using standard features supported on Layer 2 switches with Layer 3 traffic controls."
Helmbold concludes: "Layer 2 switches combined with Layer 3 traffic controls can go a long way towards resolving traffic issues, while careful planning can significantly reduce costs."
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Tarsus Technologies is the distribution arm of MB Technologies Limited - a company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and one of SA`s leading IT groups.
The founding company of the group, Tarsus Technologies, was established in 1985 by Leo Baxter, and was involved in the development and sale of software before diversifying into hardware distribution.
In 1989 Baxter sold a majority share to M+PD Electronics, which was subsequently sold to Siltek. In the early 1990s, Tarsus expanded its hardware sales, and was appointed distributor for OKI, Samsung and Compaq. In 1992, Baxter bought back Tarsus, selling a majority share to Persetel, and in 1994 he took advantage of an opportunity for a management buyout and repurchased the company with Mike McGrath acquiring an equal share.
The company was now growing strongly, and MB Technologies was formed as a holding company to cater for the group expanding and diversifying its operations into new areas.
Today, Tarsus Technologies is one of SA`s leading hardware distributors and widely recognised by the channel for its service ethos, product knowledge, excellent support and channel focus.
With an executive board comprising Mike McGrath (the founder of M+PD and past MD of Siltek), Leo Baxter, Guy Whitcroft, Pierre Spies, and Jamie Scott, Tarsus` management team is arguably the most experienced IT distribution team of any company in the country.
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