Infrastructure
Data center networking designed around the systems it connects
Data center networking is the switching, routing and wireless that connects servers, storage, users and sites. Storcom designs, deploys and supports networks on Cisco and Dell equipment, from top-of-rack switches for a storage refresh to campus wireless, and plans the addressing, segmentation and redundancy so one failure doesn’t take down the business.
Last updated
- Built for
- IT teams adding servers or storage, replacing end-of-life switches, or fixing unreliable Wi-Fi.
- What you get
- Cisco and Dell networking
- Design, deployment and ongoing support
- Planned alongside storage and server refreshes
- 24×7×365 support line
- Delivered from
- Geneva, Illinois, for Chicagoland and customers across the U.S.
What Storcom covers
Switching
Core, distribution and top-of-rack switching, including the storage network that a new array or server cluster depends on.
Routing and WAN
Routing between sites, data centers and the cloud, with redundant paths where an outage would stop the business.
Wireless
Wireless access points and controllers designed for coverage and density, so offices, warehouses and classrooms stay connected.
Addressing and segmentation
IPv4 and IPv6 addressing plans and VLAN segmentation that keep management, storage, user and guest traffic apart.
Network security
Firewall design and segmentation that limit how far an attacker can move, with Storcom’s managed firewall service if you’d rather not run it yourself.
Cabling and installation
Racking, cabling and labeling as part of every deployment, documented so the next change is easier.
Cisco or Dell networking: which fits?
| Consideration | Cisco | Dell |
|---|---|---|
| Typical fit | Campus, branch and wireless networks, and teams already trained on Cisco | Data center and top-of-rack switching alongside Dell servers and storage |
| Product lines | Cisco Catalyst switching and wireless, and cloud-managed Cisco Meraki | Dell PowerSwitch running Dell SmartFabric OS10 |
| Support | Cisco support contracts, quoted and renewed through Storcom | Dell ProSupport, quoted and renewed through Storcom |
Many networks mix both. We design to your traffic and your team, not to a single brand.
When should you replace your network switches?
- Your switches are past end of sale, or software and security updates have stopped.
- Uplinks are too slow for the new servers or storage you are buying.
- One core switch carries everything, with no redundant path if it fails.
- The network is flat, with no segmentation between users, servers and management traffic.
- Users complain about dropped or slow Wi-Fi in parts of the building.
- A vulnerability scan flagged network devices running unpatched firmware.
- No one has current documentation of how the network is built.
How a network project runs
Discover
A discovery call, then an inventory of your current equipment, support status, configurations and pain points.
Design
We plan topology, redundancy, addressing and segmentation, and build a bill of materials across Cisco and Dell.
Implement
We stage and configure equipment in advance, then cut over in planned maintenance windows with a tested rollback plan.
Manage
We monitor the network, keep firmware and support contracts current, and provide 24×7×365 support.
Technology we deploy for this
Dell PowerStore, PowerMax, PowerScale, ObjectScale and PowerVault storage, PowerProtect Data Domain, PowerEdge servers and Dell networking, quoted with deal registration and deployed by Storcom engineers.
Cisco
Cisco switching, routing, wireless and firewalls for data center and campus networks, designed, implemented and managed by Storcom.
Frequently asked questions
Which networking vendors does Storcom work with?
Storcom designs, deploys and supports networks on Cisco and Dell equipment. If you have standardized on another platform, raise it on the discovery call and we will tell you plainly whether we are the right fit.
Can you upgrade our network without downtime?
Most changes can be made in planned maintenance windows with a tested rollback plan, and redundant designs let you replace one switch at a time. Storcom schedules cut-overs around your business so users see as little disruption as possible.
Why does networking matter for a storage or server refresh?
A new array or server cluster is only as fast and available as the network between them. Slow uplinks or a single switch can cancel out the performance and redundancy you paid for. Storcom designs storage, servers and networking together so the pieces match.
Does Storcom manage networks after deployment?
Yes. Ongoing monitoring and 24×7×365 support are part of the Manage phase, and Storcom also offers a managed firewall service for perimeter security. Firmware updates and support renewals are tracked so equipment does not drift out of coverage.
What does it cost to get started?
The first step is a discovery call about your current network, its support status and its pain points. You see a recommended design before any quote, with no commitment.
Related services
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- Managed FirewallManaged firewall services from Storcom: policy management, firmware updates, monitoring and change control for…
- Security OverviewManaged security services from Storcom: managed EDR, continuous risk scanning, managed firewall and…
Start with a discovery call.
Tell us what you run today, what is changing and what worries you. We listen, ask questions and tell you plainly whether and how we can help. No cost, no commitment.