Site-wide network and Wi-Fi upgrade
Golshtech replaced an ageing, outage-prone network across a 2,500+ user, multi-building site in two phases of two weeks each, cutting the switch estate from 92 to 56 and finally unlocking the client’s new 10Gbps leased line.
At a glance
| Client | Multi-building organisation, 2,500+ users |
|---|---|
| Services | Networking, Wi-Fi, project delivery |
| Technology | Aruba 2930F switching, new wireless access points and controllers, Microsoft 365 authentication |
| Delivery | Phase one (switching) and phase two (Wi-Fi), two weeks each, on time and on budget |
| Headline result | 10× faster switch uplinks, 39% fewer switches, no failures since go-live |
The challenge
The client’s network had reached the end of its useful life, and users felt it every day. Its switches ran at 10/100Mbps to each device, with only 1Gbps uplinks back to the core. Under heavy load this caused service outages, and network services were slow for end users at all times.
- Slow, patchy Wi-Fi: coverage was weak in places, and speeds were poor where it did reach.
- An inefficient design: switches were not stacked, so every switch needed its own fibre run back to the server room.
- Wasted investment: the client had just upgraded to a 10Gbps leased line, but the internal network could not make use of it.
Our approach
We started with evidence, not assumptions. A complete site audit mapped every switch, port and fibre run across the buildings. A Wi-Fi heat map then showed exactly where coverage was weak and where access points were interfering with each other.
Those findings shaped a design built around the client’s actual usage. Port mapping showed where switches could be consolidated, so the new estate would be smaller as well as faster.
The solution
We replaced the wired and wireless network site-wide in two phases, each completed in two weeks to keep disruption to a minimum.
Phase one: switching and core network
- Every switch replaced with Aruba 2930F models, giving 1Gbps to each device and 10Gbps back to the core.
- Switches in each comms cabinet stacked together over 10Gbps links.
- Each stack given redundant links to the core switch, so a single cable or port failure no longer takes users offline.
- Spanning tree configured site-wide to prevent network loops, with SNMP for central monitoring and management.
- All VLANs rebuilt from scratch, with access control lists (ACLs) on the core switch to control traffic between them.
Phase two: Wi-Fi
- New access points installed across the site, managed by new wireless controllers.
- Separate networks for Internal, Staff and Guest users, keeping traffic segregated.
- Staff sign in with their existing Microsoft 365 accounts; guests use a pre-shared key.
- Channels and frequencies planned so neighbouring access points don’t overlap, giving a consistent connection as users move around.
The results
Both phases were delivered on time and on budget, and the network has run without a single failure since go-live.
- Much more bandwidth: ten times faster links to the core and to each device, so the 10Gbps leased line now delivers its full value.
- A smaller, simpler estate: port mapping and consolidation cut the number of switches from 92 to 56.
- Stronger security: segregated VLANs, ACLs and separate Wi-Fi networks for staff, internal and guest use.
- Full visibility: SNMP monitoring gives the IT team a live view of the whole network.
- Reduced risk: several items on the client’s risk register were fully remediated and removed.
- Affordable investment: significant cost savings, plus a five-year leasing arrangement that spread the capital cost into manageable payments.
Before and after
| Before | After | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed to each device | 10/100Mbps | 1Gbps |
| Switch uplinks to core | 1Gbps | 10Gbps, redundant |
| Number of switches | 92 | 56 |
| Switch design | Unstacked, one fibre per switch | Stacked per cabinet |
| Wi-Fi | Slow and patchy | Site-wide coverage, segregated networks |
| Leased line | 10Gbps, under-used | Fully usable across the site |