Since WirelessTrakker requires switches that support 802.1q VLan trunking, some people may have to replace some of the switches on their network. This article will provide some recommendations on equipment to purchase.
WirelessTrakker
First, you should evaluate the switches you have and make notes of how many ports you need, and what types of ports are needed. For example, answer these questions for each switch you want to replace:
- How many copper / RJ45 / Cat5 ports am I currently using?
- How many access points (or other new devices) will I also need to plug in over copper / RJ45 / Cat5?
- What speed are the copper ports (10/100Mbps or 10/100/1000Mbps)?
- If the switch has 10/100 copper ports, do you want to upgrade to 10/100/1000?
- Are there any fiber ports (or GBIC or SFP ports) on this switch?
- If there are fiber optic ports:
- What speed are they (100Mbps or 1000Mbps)?
- What connection do they use (ST, SC, LC, MT-RJ)?
- Are they single-mode or multi-mode fiber?
- How many of each of the above?
- If there are GBIC or SFP ports that are used with fiber optic cables:
- Is it a GBIC or SFP converter?
- What speed are they?
- What connection do they use (ST, SC, LC, MT-RJ)?
- Are they single-mode or multi-mode fiber?
- How many of each of the above?
Once you know all the details about what you currently have, you can proceed with figuring out what you need. Start with the number of ports you need. Most switches come in 24 port models and 48 port models. The number of GBIC or SFP slots vary between the models, as well as which type of slot is on a switch (some use GBICs, others use SFPs). If you currently use one type of adapter (for example, GBICs), you may want to stick with that so that you don't need to replace them. However if you need to add ports or upgrade the speed on the copper ports, sometimes it's not possible to use the adapters you have.We typically recommend Cisco switches, as they are simple to configure since Cisco switches are very common. They can be purchased new through various vendors and distributors, or refurbished with warranties through resellers. If it's possible for your school or business, we recommend using refurbished switches since you can get a lot more for your money. If you'd like a recommendation on a vendor to use for refurbished Cisco equipment, please call us at 877-225-0100 and we can refer you to someone that can help you get what you need.
There are lots of different models of Cisco switches available, both current and "retired" models, that will work. Just about any Cisco Catalyst switch will work with WirelessTrakker, but here's a list of some common ones to help you narrow down your search. If you need something different, you can contact a reseller and they will help you find a model that meets your needs.
| Model | Port Speed | Number of Ports | SFP Ports | GBIC Ports | Copper 1000Mbps Uplink Ports |
| 2950G 48 | 10/100 | 48 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2950G 24 | 10/100 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2950T 24 | 10/100 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2960-24TC | 10/100 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 2 (SFP OR Copper can be used, not both) |
| 2960-48TC | 10/100 | 48 | 2 | 0 | 2 (SFP OR Copper can be used, not both) |
| 2970G-24T | 10/100/1000 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2970G-24TS | 10/100/1000 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 3560G-48TS | 10/100/1000 | 48 | 4 | 0 | 0 |