NIH Enterprise Architecture Home

Distribution Router/Switch Brick

Description

Distribution routers and switches connect the access layer to the backbone network. The distribution layer directs and filters traffic between access layer and the core layer.
Brick Information

Tactical

(0-2 years)

Strategic

(2-5 years)

  • Cisco Systems
  • Foundry Networks
  • Enterasys Networks
  • Extreme Networks
  • Cisco Systems
  • Enterasys Networks
  • Extreme Networks

Retirement

(To be eliminated)

Containment

(No new development)

  • 3Com
  • Asante
  • Cabletron Systems
  • Marconi
  • Networth (now HP Compaq)
  • HP Compaq

Baseline

(Today)

Emerging

(To track)

  • 3Com
  • Asante
  • Cisco Systems
  • Cabletron Systems (now Enterasys Networks)
  • Extreme Networks
  • Foundry Networks
  • HP Compaq
  • Marconi
  • Networth (now HP Compaq)
  • Juniper Networks

Comments

  • All new network elements at NIH must support Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6).
  • Each network layer has required features for routers and switches  for a given OSI layer. The following features are required for routers and switches in this network layer:
    • OSI Layer 4: SIP and H.32x       
    • OSI Layer 3: Multicast, HSRP, Port Channel, OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, Native AppleTalk, Native IPX, SNMP, Device Security, Tunnels, and QoS
    • OSI Layer 2: 802.1q, 802.1d, 802.1s & 802.1w, Ether Channel, and 802.1p
    • OSI Layer 1: Copper (1G/Full), MMF (100/Full and 1G/Full), and SMF (1G/Full and 10G/Full)
    • Other Features: RMON
  • Tactical and strategic products were selected to leverage NIH's investment in products that are a proven fit for NIH's known future needs. Leveraging baseline products in the future will minimize the operations, maintenance, support and training costs of new products.
  • Some baseline products have been designated retirement and containment. These products are either not as widely or successfully deployed at NIH, or they do not provide as much functionality, value, or Total Cost of Ownership as the selected tactical and strategic products.

Time Table

This architecture definition approved on: February 8, 2005

The next review is scheduled in: TBD