Need a new toy

[theorignalAMD Overclocker]

So I need a new networking/storage toy. Ive done scsi, scsi raid, GB networking, and domains.. but now I need a new project. I was looking into getting a fiber network going just to mess with and use. That or something like a good watchguard firewall so I can get to know them better. Any ideas of good projects?

BTW, I do not have the word "overkill" in my vocabulary.

 

[nweaver]

need a project to burn time/money? I would say get your CCIE cert, that is good for a whole slew of Cisco stuff, and lots of time. I hear nobody passes the lab the first time. it's made more then a few grown men cry

 

[Boscoh]

Originally posted by: theorignalamdoverclocker
good watchguard firewall.

Isnt that an oxymoron?

Get you some Cisco and Juniper gear and start playing with it.

You can get you a few IPS's from a few different vendors, and play around with attacking whatever network you end up building.

 

[Atheus]

If you want overkill how bout a big cluster systemText... or why not write some network software and find out how it all _really_ works.

 

[RedCOMET]

how about this as a Cluster

 

[Goosemaster]

buy a soekris and go to school

Or buy a cisco rotuer AND and soekris and fall in love like me

 

[theorignalAMD Overclocker]

yeah I was thinking about clusters.. but more on fiber.

Can you use fiber swtiches for normal network ues rather then SAN applications?

 

[Boscoh]

Are you talking about fiber, or fibre channel?

I think you can use fibre channel for networking applications as long as the switch supports IP.

You can definitely use fiber for networking, it's done all the time.

 

[spidey07]

Just for reference...

There is nothing special about fiber. It is exactly like copper, but longer and higher speed.

There is nothing special about fiber - its just another port/interface.

Get 3 used cisco 2500 series routers and play. Or buy spidey's lab.

 

[theorignalAMD Overclocker]

Well I got an older 16 port GB fiber (channel?) switches from SANS for $95. I couldnt find much on it but it supports IP. I think I just want to jack around with this thing. If it works for what I want, good, if not, oh well. It will be a good learning experience. I hope it will for in place of cat5.. humm all fiber lan parties? hehe

 

[Atheus]

I think you will be disappointed by fibre gear... your speed will be limited by hard disks and such before the physical limit of copper wire, so it won't speed anything up.

 

[theorignalAMD Overclocker]

uhmm lol... that would be great if my hdds were the limiting factor... I boot from:

Intel SRCU42X (Dual U320 SCSI RAID)
8 x Seagate 18GB 15K.3 drives in RAID 0

Storage:
6 x Maxtor 300GB Diamond Max 10+
4 x Seagate 36GB 15K.3 in RAID 10

(I should add this to my sig).. "I do not have the word 'overkill' in my vocabulary"

 

[InlineFive]

Learn something useful instead of flaunting buzz words like "eight hard drives in RAID-0, teh power!"

 

[Boscoh]

Someone who is an expert on the topic, please correct me if I am wrong.

From the knowledge I have, "Fibre Channel" (note the 're' at the end) and "fiber IP network" are not the same thing. Fibre Channel is a standard, and it can run over fiber optic cable or copper just like an ethernet network can. However, you cant exchange IP over a Fibre Channel SAN unless your equipment is capable of doing so.

I think iSCSI is the next big thing for SAN's, since it is IP-encapsulated and can be integrated with a standard IP network. You might want to learn that instead.

As Spidey said, fiber is just another medium like copper. It just has different attributes which can make it more applicable in certain situations. Fiber can actually be a huge pain in the ass to deal with sometimes...but hey, so can copper.

 

[VeXeD]

Originally posted by: Atheus
If you want overkill how bout a big cluster systemText... or why not write some network software and find out how it all _really_ works.

Originally posted by: RedCOMET
how about this as a Cluster

OMG!! I've never seen such tech beauty.

You need this in your lab... you do.

Edit: Sorry don't mean to thread crap.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Boscoh
Someone who is an expert on the topic, please correct me if I am wrong.

From the knowledge I have, "Fibre Channel" (note the 're' at the end) and "fiber IP network" are not the same thing. Fibre Channel is a standard, and it can run over fiber optic cable or copper just like an ethernet network can. However, you cant exchange IP over a Fibre Channel SAN unless your equipment is capable of doing so.

I think iSCSI is the next big thing for SAN's, since it is IP-encapsulated and can be integrated with a standard IP network. You might want to learn that instead.

As Spidey said, fiber is just another medium like copper. It just has different attributes which can make it more applicable in certain situations. Fiber can actually be a huge pain in the ass to deal with sometimes...but hey, so can copper.

You're pretty much dead on.

Ethernet is Ethernet, a layer 1 technology that has taken over the communication world.

fiber channel (fibre channel) is a technology to move SCSI commands over fiber optic due to the limitations of copper at the time it was developed.

OSI - live it, learn it, love it.

IP is IP.
FC is FC.

there are FC to IP gateways, but the market is moving to IP.

 

[Goosemaster]

8 x Seagate 18GB 15K.3 drives in RAID 0

ARE YOU FVKIGN MAD?!:CONFUSED:

 

[theorignalAMD Overclocker]

Yes.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: theorignalamdoverclocker
Yes.

:laugh:

 

[Boscoh]

Originally posted by: theorignalamdoverclocker
Yes.

I'd like to know....in addition to being mad, are you just naturally filthy rich, had/have an extremely successful career, or seriously in debt?

You seem to have a lot of money to fuel your madness .

 

[theorignalAMD Overclocker]

Well Im still in college. I have a network admin job that pays well. Ive only spet $250 or so for this entire project. Thats not bad for a learning experience.

 

[Boscoh]

Originally posted by: theorignalamdoverclocker
Well Im still in college. I have a network admin job that pays well. Ive only spet $250 or so for this entire project. Thats not bad for a learning experience.

Jeez. Where'd you get your hard drives? Those alone should have cost well over $250 for 8 of em.

 

[theorignalAMD Overclocker]

LOL. They are about $70 each off of ebay. Look at sig.

 

[theorignalAMD Overclocker]

BAH! What the hell? I cant change my sig... oh well.. here it is anyways..

Tyan K8WE
2 x Opteron 250 E4
4 x 512MB OCZ PC3200 Server Series
Intel SRCU42X
8 x Seagate 18GB 15K.3 in RAID 0
3 x Seagate 36GB 15K.3
3Ware 8506-8
4 x 300GB DM10
2 x 2500JD
7800GT
PCPC 850 SSI PSU

 

[Boscoh]

$70 * 8 = $560