We're considering relocating our VLANs and interfaces from a smaller branch campus to our main campus core switch. The two campuses are connected by 15 miles of dedicated leased fiber, and the small location has only about 10 devices and no servers. Currently, we have a Layer 3 switch at the small site, but we wonder if it would be better to replace it with a simpler, cheaper switch instead. We'll still have a few VLANs at the small site, but they would be managed from the main campus. What potential downsides should we be aware of? Are there any strategies to lessen any issues that might arise from this decision? We've heard others have made similar moves without problems, but I'm cautious as I've always been advised to keep interfaces local to their physical locations.
2 Answers
Honestly, the switch upgrade seems minor considering the infrastructure you have. With just 10 devices and no servers at the small campus, you might want to cut costs on the switch instead of over-investing. Reducing operational costs could be more beneficial in the long run than worrying about the switch setup.
You might want to check with your ISP about layer 2 connectivity, but I wouldn't recommend spanning your layer 2 across it. Generally, if you're using a leased fiber that's dedicated, like what you've mentioned, it's a different scenario than traditional ISP connections which typically involve more complexities. From my experience, we had to drop all our SVIs to access layer switches because managing STP was just too much hassle compared to simpler Layer 3 protocols.
Since it's dedicated fiber and not involving an ISP, you're mostly in the clear. Your connections will behave similar to being on a single campus, which is a plus for performance.