Two voices are often heard at renovation review meetings: simply start over, or start with a partial approach. The basis for making decisions should not be based on preference, but on comparing the four costs on the same table, and then giving a route based on network layering.

The equipment purchase fee is only the first payment

Reconstructing the entire network requires buying new switches, modules, and wiring; component replacement only affects the bottleneck section, for example, using10G DAC high speed cableBy integrating the interconnections in the cabinet and completing the corresponding modules according to the port margin, the purchase amount can often be reduced. But the premise is to first check the ports, performance and power margin of the existing network host. Failure to check clearly will leave hidden dangers.

Downtime costs and human training are often underestimated

• Reconstruction requires overall cutover, and the business interruption window is often measured in days; component replacement is promoted on a hierarchical basis, and single-segment interruption is generally measured in hours;
• Reconstruction is accompanied by re-planning of addresses, routing and security policies, operation and maintenance must be learned again, and the probability of errors increases simultaneously;
• The disposal of old equipment, cable removal and garbage removal also incur costs. Before dismantling the old equipment, it is necessary to establish an asset and line ledger.

Only by stratifying risks can plans be implemented.

It is recommended to split the network into three sections: core, aggregation, and access for separate evaluation: priority is given to the reliability of the core section, and replacement should be carried out and cutover drills are retained; in the aggregation section, the bandwidth margin is considered, and ports are replenished and modules are tended to be upgraded; in the access section, priority is given to component replacement and reuse of old lines. Similar toSmart factory industrial network transformation for an auto parts manufacturerThe best approach is to strengthen the main body and replace parts at the end, rather than tearing everything down and starting over.

After all four costs are calculated, most projects end up on the hybrid route. Wolflight can provide current status verification suggestions for ports, links, and device parameters during the program evaluation phase to help ensure the transformation is settled.