CNS Wall Plate While my on-campus node count for IFAS is still incomplete (so far ~2300 active nodes), I have estimated that it will cost IFAS nearly $140,000/year to have all on-campus nodes participating in the CNS wall plate initiative ($5/port). This count only reflect active nodes that have been enumerated via DHCP logs and active ping sweep of the DHCP excluded ranges. For example; McCarty D has 406 ports but only 278 active hosts. The reason for this is due largely to the IFAS "Classrooms" that exist in that building, G001. If you count the ports instead of the active nodes, the costs will only increase. So consider this to be the minimum entry price tag for the wall plate initiative. For more details see: O:\ = \\if-srv-file01\it O:\Server_Administration\Budget\NS Budget 2005-2006\Wallplate-mccarty-port-estimate.xls O:\Server_Administration\Budget\NS Budget 2005-2006\Wallplate-IFAS-Active-port-estimate.xls What does this mean for IFAS? If you accept the premises that an HP 2650 48 port layer 3 switch is as funcational as a CISCO 2950 or 3550 switch, I can have 7905 active ports ( or 3.5 times extra ports I really need) on HP equipment (that is replaced every year) for the same price as that of 2300 active ports on Cisco equipment (that is replaced every 5 years). However, the premise is faulty because it doesn't account for any network management that is included with the CNS package. Consider this, If we were to replace the HP equiment every 5 years, instead of every year, IFAS should save $560,000. How many dedicated FTE can this savings buy IFAS? Or How much network infrastructure overhauling can be done for IFAS? I believe, this needs to be communicated to the VP for his thoughts on how we should proceed, Unit managed? or CNS managed network? Note: Above documents are located at: http://itsa.ifas.ufl.edu/wallplate.htm