Switch - compatibility question

[kreso]

Hi!

I have 2 HP 1810 (J9803A) switches. Those two are connected via optical cabels. 

Now as we are expanding I want to buy HP 1920(JG927A). 

My question: Can those two models be connected with optical cable? are SFP modules compatible?

[parnassus]

Yes, they can BUT you must use compatible Transceivers (HPE Mini-GBIC aka SFP).

The HPE OfficeConnect 1920 Switch Series supports these SFP Transceivers:

J4858C HP X121 1G SFP LC SX Transceiver

J4859C HP X121 1G SFP LC LX Transceiver

J8177C HP X121 1G SFP RJ45 T Transceiver

JD118B HP X120 1G SFP LC SX Transceiver

JD119B HP X120 1G SFP LC LX Transceiver

JD089B HP X120 1G SFP RJ45 T Transceiver

The HPE OfficeConnect 1810 Switch Series instead (especially the 1810-24G v2 model) supports these SFP Transceivers:

J4858C HP X121 1G SFP LC SX Transceiver

J4859C HP X121 1G SFP LC LX Transceiver

J8177C HP X121 1G SFP RJ45 T Transceiver

J9054C HP X111 100M SFP LC FX Transceiver

So if an SX Fiber Optic uplink is within your networking requirements (and you're going to use LC/LC Fiber Optic cables), equipping both the new 1920 and the existing 1810 with the J4858C Transceiver should be fine.

[Ian Vaughan]

Howdy,

Sure, but you have to pick the right module for the right switch.

Quick specs pdf for 1920 can be found here

Quick specs for 1810 can be found here

You are probably looking for a 1Gb SFP LC SX in each case but this type of transciever is specifically for "Multi mode" fibre, which is the most common and is usually orange.

You may however have "singlemode" (usually yellow) which goes a lot further for a few dollars more.

It might be worth speaking to your favourite partner and describe what you are trying to build over what kind of fibre and what kind of distances for the best advice.

As you step up to 4 switches, remember to try not to design loops into your topology as you'll maybe then need a protocol such as spanning tree (youtube has lots of resources if you are new to this kind of thing) to keep the network nice and stable.

Also think about, if you are going to use multiple VLANs what does your logical topology look like overlaid on your physical one?

Thanks

Ian

(Hope that helps - please give kudos if it does).

[kreso]

Thanks for your help guys!

That part of building is still under construction so I can't see the type ... Distance between buildings is approx. 20 meters ...  If it's multi then the best would be J4858C HP X121 1G SFP LC SX Transceiver? And if it's single?

Is it possible to know wich transceivers are now in existing 1810 without uninstalling them?

Now I have 2 switches in server room (HP 1810 and HP2626) and one on first floor (HP 1810). 

My plan is to replace those 2 in server room with 48 port 1920(because 2626 is very old), connect with optic 1920 and 1810 on first floor and 1810 on first floor with 1810(old from server room) to new building(10 PC's only) ... on 1920 would be approx. 35 active ports, and on each 1810 approx 15 active ports ... in total approx. 65 active ports, all in the same VLAN ... so default settings on switches would work ... right? 

[parnassus]

Hi kreso,

Thanks for your kudos.

Considering that your "Server Room" is probably not located on the 1st Floor (old Server Room?) as your actual 1810 and exactly in the "Server Room" you are going to replace the couple 1810+2626 with a fresh new HPE OfficeConnect 1920-48G if I were you (without knowing exactly your cabling availability you currently have between the 1st Floor and the actual 1810 and between your "Server Room" and your new building) I would ensure to have 2 Fiber Optic Cables (multi-mode, SX it's OK for your inter-building distances...the J4859C LX Transceiver is not necessary) per each uplink: in order to then aggregate them (Port Trunking with LACP) to benefit of enhanced resiliency and throughput (especially considering the "many-to-one" or "many-to-many" traffic streams you will end to have from the two 1810 edge switches to the new 1920 core switch):

• 1st Uplink: between the new HPE 1920-48G (2 x J4858C HP X121 1G SFP LC SX Transceivers) to the existing HPE 1810 (equipped with 2 x J4858C HP X121 1G SFP LC SX Transceivers).
• 2nd Uplink: between the new HPE 1920-48G (2 x J4858C HP X121 1G SFP LC SX Transceivers) to the new-to-come HPE 1810 (equipped with 2 x J4858C HP X121 1G SFP LC SX Transceivers).

Doing so you end up with the "core" switch 1920-48G equipped with 4 x J4858C HP X121 1G SFP LC SX Transceivers, each pair (so 2) of J4858C Transceiver is used to uplink (LACP) to a single 1810 in a star topology avoiding any daisy chaining through another 1810 to reach the new 1810.

Each 1810 equipped with a pair of J4858C Transceiver is so connected to the 1920 at core with a 2 Gbps Full-Duplex Port Trunk (LACP) over 2 LC/LC Fiber Optic cables.

This is for resiliency against (a) cable/transceiver failure and you will gain in throughput keeping the 1810 separated each other but connected to the core only (OK, it's going to be a SPoF but better than having the existing 1810 that, once failed, cut down its own users and those managed by the new 1810 if a daisy chained topology is chosen).

Consider also that the 1810 v2 switching capacity is a fraction compared to the (same port) 1920 one...so it's better to have each 1810 v2 directly connected to the new 1920 than having a chain of 1810 connected together ending to the 1920 at Server Room.

It's a matter of providing two F.O. multi-mode cables per each uplink (so a grand total of 4 cables...3 if one is yet actively used between the Server Room and the 1st Floor).

Same about Transceivers...it all depends on how many you're actually using (if you're using just two for the actual single fiber optic link uplink...you are going to need six more to complete the whole picture).

To check which Transceivers are actually installed on the exising 1810 Switches without removing/rebooting anything it should be sufficient to carefully examine the Home -> Diagnostics -> Support File looking for any textual reference of them.

[kreso]

Thanks for the advice, I allready proposed star topology but it's an old building (every modification must be approved by the curator) so I have only this option I mentioned before ... But I know if my idea won't be good enough I would have to connect via star topology ... 

In support file there is only generic name:Transceiver type SFP_1000_BASE_SX

[kreso]

Also an idea ... Since I have a limited budget, if I put cat6 or cat7 cable, remove the need of transceiver ... what are pro's and cons?

Because, 6 transceivers are approx. 500-600€ ...

[parnassus]

Yep, that's totally possible. Since you started about Fiber Optic cables and SFP F.O. Transceivers I didn't mention that alternative.

If you have (enough) free Gigabit Ethernet ports on all involved Switches...and if copper cables' distances are within the known 90 meters limit...and all the involved cabling is correctly certified...it's a way to go.

You can aggregate them as adviced above (in both cases I mean) or just end up using single (copper) link uplinks between all your daisy chained switches (or, again, better do that but reproposing a star topology configuration...if you can).

There isn't a big difference between using a 1Gbps Fiber Optic uplinks and 1Gbps Copper uplinks when those are considered in your scenario.

[kreso]

thanks for advice ...

I can setup trunking via web management on both switches?

[parnassus]

Yes, you can. Absolutely.

Please, refer to HPE OfficeConnect 1810 v2 and 1920's User Guides (That's important because you must familiarize with Port Trunking configuration procedures, restrictions and requirements) to see how to configure Port Trunking by aggregating more physical GE ports together and then choosing LACP.

There are also some recent threads on the Community (Comware section) about how to setup Port Trunking between Switches so you should be basically fine.

[kreso]

Thanks for everything! :)