auteched + apc 2011 Network Design

By: David Connors
Date: 20 August 2011 | Category: Australian Partner Conference 2011, tech•ed 2011 | Tags: cabling,codify,jomablue,networking,power,telstra,wireless

People often ask me for more information about the network design and implementation for tech•ed and APC.

I finished off the physical design for the MDF and IDFs a while ago and thought I would take the time to post these in case you wanted to build your own 3000 person corporate conference at home. I am only covering off the network side of things below – there is a massive HP + Microsoft private cloud solution going in at the event that will need post(s) in its own right.

In terms of fast Internets

• 1000 mbps of Internet connectivity provided by Telstra Internet Direct. This is a high performance e-line service back to Telstra Internet Direct in the Charlotte St exchange (i.e. it is a wholesale/service-provider quality service, uncontended back to their core).
• An additional 500 mbps of Internet connectivity from Over The Wire as a redundancy option.
• BGP routing under our own AS9984 to make the best use of the combined link.
• IPv4 and IPv6.

In terms of WiFi

• Cisco 5508 WLC
• 50 x Cisco Aironet 1252 access points
• Each AP has 2 x radio interfaces (2.4 and 5GHz) for a total of 100 radios supporting 802.11a, b, g, and n

In terms of physical infrastructure

• 2 x Brocade CER units for core routing
• 2 gbps LACP core trunking between the routers, core switches and wireless LAN controller
• 1 gbps distribution network
• 77 switches deploying 2000+ ports of connectivity

IDF Physical Design

MDF Physical Design

Also available as a PDF export of the original VSD:

Project 3031 – Tech·Ed 2011 Network Design and Implementation (Microsoft Pty Ltd) – Network Design

If you have any questions then post them below.