My network is bigger than yours ;)

Summary

The video follows Linus Tech Tips as they upgrade their studio's network infrastructure for improved redundancy and reliability. They install new high-capacity Dell switches, reconfigure cabling, and set up dual internet connections across buildings. Despite setbacks like taking down connectivity and making a mess of cables, they persevere to complete the upgrade. The end result is a robust network that can survive equipment failure, benefiting productivity and reducing costs from potential outages.

Takeaways

• 😊 They upgraded their network infrastructure for improved redundancy and reliability
• 👨‍💻 The upgrades involved new 100Gb switches, servers, routers etc.
• 🤯 The infrastructure upgrades aim to prevent entire network failures
• 😅 They tried to be careful but still had some mishaps during the upgrade process
• 🛠️ The upgrade was complex, with many interconnections and dependencies to manage
• 🔧 They rebuilt parts of the network from scratch for better long-term management
• 🏗️ The upgrades required installing a massive new server rack and rearranging equipment
• 🤔 Figuring out configuration and connections between devices took a lot of effort
• 💡 Despite issues, they got improved redundancy working to prevent future outages
• 📶 The upgraded infrastructure enables new capabilities like internet connection sharing

Q & A

What kind of networking equipment does the studio have?

The studio has 48 ports of 25 gigabit networking for the editors and ingest stations, as well as six 100 gigabit uplinks to the servers.

What happens if the main network switch fails?

If the main network switch fails or has any issues, the entire network goes down not just in the studio but also in the lab and Creator Warehouse.

Why did they decide to build a new server rack?

They built a new taller and wider server rack to provide more rack space and to be able to rearrange the equipment to the front of the rack for easier access.

What switches did they install in the new rack?

They installed two S5248F-ON switches, which have 32 ports that run at 100 gigabit each and can be split into 4x25 gigabit ports.

What was the main goal of the infrastructure changes?

The main goal was to add redundancy and resiliency to the network by connecting all devices downstream to both core switches so that if one switch fails, connectivity is maintained.

How can the new switches act as routers?

The powerful enterprise switches have robust operating systems that allow configuring multiple VLANs and efficiently routing traffic between them at line speed.

What is virtual link trunking?

Virtual link trunking allows interconnectivity between multiple switches so that if one switch fails, traffic can still be routed through the remaining switches.

Did they achieve full redundancy by the end?

No, they did not have time to fully configure the redundancy before needing to leave, but the basic network connectivity was working.

What physical challenges did they encounter?

Challenges included limited space in the server room, difficulty accessing the back of the rack, and dealing with messy legacy cabling.

How will the changes benefit the studio?

The new infrastructure will provide greatly improved reliability, easier access for maintenance, and room to grow.