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F E A T U R E

Shoot for the Moon

March 17, 2003
By Peter Morrissey

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	In this article
	Introduction
	CYA Strategy
	Gorilla vs. Guerrilla
	Executive Summary
	Can Infrastructure ROI Be Calculated? Maybe
	Epoll Results

It doesn't take an astrologer to know the planets are in alignment now for those building new networks or doing major end-to-end upgrades. But given the financial outlay involved and the myriad options and standards in play, you may be seeing stars. Should you go for 10 Gigabit at the core? VoIP? Maybe, but that means QoS (Quality of Service) concerns. How about Power over Ethernet? The possibilities appear endless.

To help you narrow down the choices, we sent out an RFI for an end-to-end network infrastructure for our fictional company, CradletoGrave (see "Premium Network, Four Ways"). We also polled readers on the networking technologies you're using and your purchasing approaches.

Our RFI specified a single-vendor network, but the results of our reader survey make it clear that not all of you would take this route. In fact, the poll showed you are evenly divided, with 48 percent buying into the best-of-breed approach versus 52 percent favoring single vendors, which we defined as one vendor providing 90 percent or more of your Layer 2 and Layer 3 routing and switching equipment. We threw in the 90 percent qualification to ensure

that we didn't skew the results by putting readers who occasionally stray to fill a specific need in the best-of-breed camp.

Among the advantages we see to the single-vendor approach are:

• It's easier, logistically, to deal with one provider, and this can impact TCO.

• It eliminates finger-pointing. When there are problems in a multivendor environment, one vendor tends to blame another. Sure, a skilled network-engineering staff can cut through the bull, but there are more productive goals toward which they should be devoting their energies.

• It alleviates support and training woes. Supporting multiple platforms means added training costs, and dealing with multiple vendors' support organizations can make life more difficult.

• It can save you money. Spending more money with a single vendor may mean big discounts.

• It streamlines network management. Unfortunately, standards aren't even in sight to make management possible across multiple vendors. If you use GUI-based network management to configure equipment, updating software and setting up QoS, you're going to have to run multiple providers' management products.

Still, even those who swear by the single-vendor approach should not be too rigid--there are many good reasons to roam, including:

• Gaining the flexibility to find the exact feature set and best price that fit your needs at any given time. Many vendors provide high-quality point solutions that are superior enough to justify adding other providers to your mix.

• Getting the technology you need, when you need it. Sometimes your preferred source simply can't get a needed technology out the door quickly enough.

• Keeping yourself current on what's available. It's good business to evaluate other companies' equipment periodically so you are positioned to make a switch if you become dissatisfied with your current vendor. Your knowledge of other companies' products may help keep your vendors on their toes, too.

Although our fictional company sought one vendor for its end-to-end infrastructure, it's keeping its options open for future adds, such as VoIP (voice over IP). Simplifying your network configuration whenever possible and sticking to standards will minimize the disadvantages of dealing with multiple vendors.