I finally have the say so to make a few purchases. Here is the catch I want to make them tonight if able. I have gotten a 3rd party MSP vendor to redo our network cabling. We have all cables ran to our MDF/Demarc. They are current in a patch panel and I only got 2 rack slots left. So I am opting to get a new rack and 2 new 48 port switches. I have never hooked up these kinds before and I have NO CLUE on SFP. HELP!?!?!?!?! Basically I do want to connect the 2 switches together and while I know I could hook up a RJ-45 to each, I'm not sure that is best practice for our environment.
We have 35 staff with each having a laptop (plugged in via ethernet), and the lab size is getting closer to 30. We also will have 15 VOIP Phones (thanks NTG for the PBX) and a few printers. I'm actually thinking a 3rd switch would be in order, but I have a left over 10/100 HP Managed switches I could install as well.
First how am I gonna connect the 2 48-port switches? As far as I can tell I need 2 of these I assume...and not sure if I need a fiber cable or RJ-45.
HP J4858C ProCurve Gigabit-SX-LC Mini-GBIC 1 Gbps 1x LC 1000Base-SX port
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833316060
I am about to push the trigger finger to order the following:
(2 of these) HP J9660A#ABA Managed 10/100/1000Mbps V1810-48G Ethernet Switchhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833316380
Tripp Lite SR42UBEXP 42U Rack Enclosure Server Cabinet Doors No Sides 3000lb Capacity
http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-SR42UBEXP-Enclosure-Capacity/dp/B000BTCKWG/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&...
Lastly, Ubiquiti is on my map, I need to get a few of their wifi ap's, we are moving from Linksys E1000's hacked with DD-WRT (been good but dueces!)