SANReN - South African Research Network

SANReN Equipment Specifications

This document has been written to assist future Beneficiary Institutions in deciding which equipment to buy so that connecting to the SANReN network can happen as easily as possible.

In terms of hardware interfaces, the following interfaces are required:

1. A standard 1 Gig copper Ethernet connection OR
2. A standard 1 Gig single mode fiber Ethernet connection OR
3. A standard 10 Gig single mode fiber Ethernet connection

Please note that all SR (short range) fiber modules are multimode. This means that only LR (long range) fiber modules can be used, even if the connection is only a few metres.

The SANReN and TENET teams would like to advise institutions to procure switches that support both 10 Gig and 1 Gig connections. While all sites may not be receiving a 10 Gig SANReN connection, if they manage to use 1 Gig or multiple 1 Gig connections they will become eligible for upgrade to 10 Gig interfaces at which point in time a 10 Gig port on the switch will be very helpful.

There are three different ways to connect to the SANReN network:

1. Standard connection to the network, no BGP
2. Standard connection to the network utilising BGP
3. Sites split national and international traffic - recommended

For each of the following connections, different equipment set-ups can be used. A short discussion on each of them will now follow.

Standard connection to the network, no BGP

To connect to the SANReN network in this manner, no smart equipment is needed. A standard switch that can take the described physical interfaces will suffice.

Standard connection to the network utilising BGP - not recommended unless site is to be multi-homed

To connect to the SANReN network in this manner any device that adheres to the above mentioned physical interfaces and supports BGP will suffice.

Sites split national and international traffic - recommended

This manner of connection is the preferred method of interconnection to the SANReN network. Current configurations that have been tested consist of 2 switches. The first switch should be a switch that has the above mentioned physical interfaces, the switch should also be able to do VLAN splitting. Out of this switch two physical cables (or multiple copper cables depending on the switch) will be connected to a second switch. This second switch must be able to support BGP and routing. See the brief diagram below for clarification.

For any further clarification, SANReN or TENET personnel can be contacted.