I have a new warehouse that I am supposed to design a network for.
Its a new construction and is 700' long x 160'wide. 
I need to out in a few Ap's in the middle for wifi coverage through the whole place and a few desktops on the edges for printing stuff.
 
I was thinking I would run a few switches and cat5 down the center and plug in my AP's. 
not going to go off the shelf stuff, but not high end either. After all it is a warehouse and most wifi connections are going to the some Motorola MC9500K scanners. I would like to do some of the Cisco APs, I have an old 1240 now but it doesn't handle multiple users as well as I would like.
 
my question is this. I don't like running a router to a switch to a switch to a switch. Anyone have a better method of doing a run for this situation? I am planning on about 8-10K for networking stuff with Ap's.
 
Really think that clean-air tech looks cool but don't know anything about it. not certified in anything other then life. and I have been doing this for years, granted its all self taught trial and error stuff.
 
thanks in advance for any suggestions.

not much on this huh... hehe well I thought I would ask.
 
Can anyone provide any tips or help on the AP's? 
Is the 3600 overkill?

3600 AP  for what? how much is it handling.

my suggestion would be to look into ubiquity access points.  they are very hot tech lately.

Couple questions;
 
1. Where is the MDF located?
2. What is your circuit? T1, T3, DS3, Cable, DSL
3. How many concurrent users are you requiring?
4. What is the AP for? Scanners, or for employees to Facebook all day?
 
Depending on these answers, you can formulate a rough idea of how to lay your network out. Either way, you know two things are for certain;
 
1. You will exceed max length (295ft) regardless of your location on the MDF. This goes for all terminated/AP--switches will be required in order to support the network.
2. You will need AP's that can handle the users (based on your need.)
 
If you are only using scanners, go with some low tier AP's from Cisco.
 
Just running the numbers off my head; depending on point from MDF/termination; you could be looking at least one switch per location.
 
Keep in mind AP's generally have about a 90' usable range; that is the low end of connectivity (50' can sometimes be the optimal)--this depends on mounting also and other environmental obstacles that interfere with signals.
 
Just calculating through my head quickly, full wide-scale coverage of a warehouse at your diameters with AP would put you somewhere around 21 AP's. I get AIR 1100's from Cisco for $540 each; looking at $12,000 investment.
 
If you truly need help; send me a PM and I'll be glad to offer advice.
 
I've been doing infrastructure design for years, among other IT-related things. Now I'm just a mere Technology Director who does less field and more paperwork. I still hold my CCIE certifications in S&R, Wireless, Security, and Voice; as well as a CCDE for design. The last large-scale engineering project I worked on was for the Municipal Wireless Network after the Katrina disaster.

StormCipher


Couple questions;

1. Where is the MDF located?
2. What is your circuit? T1, T3, DS3, Cable, DSL
3. How many concurrent users are you requiring?
4. What is the AP for? Scanners, or for employees to Facebook all day?

Depending on these answers, you can formulate a rough idea of how to lay your network out. Either way, you know two things are for certain;

1. You will exceed max length (295ft) regardless of your location on the MDF. This goes for all terminated/AP--switches will be required in order to support the network.
2. You will need AP's that can handle the users (based on your need.)

If you are only using scanners, go with some low tier AP's from Cisco.

Just running the numbers off my head; depending on point from MDF/termination; you could be looking at least one switch per location.

Keep in mind AP's generally have about a 90' usable range; that is the low end of connectivity (50' can sometimes be the optimal)--this depends on mounting also and other environmental obstacles that interfere with signals.

Just calculating through my head quickly, full wide-scale coverage of a warehouse at your diameters with AP would put you somewhere around 21 AP's. I get AIR 1100's from Cisco for $540 each; looking at $12,000 investment.

If you truly need help; send me a PM and I'll be glad to offer advice.

I've been doing infrastructure design for years, among other IT-related things. Now I'm just a mere Technology Director who does less field and more paperwork. I still hold my CCIE certifications in S&R, Wireless, Security, and Voice; as well as a CCDE for design. The last large-scale engineering project I worked on was for the Municipal Wireless Network after the Katrina disaster.

yeah i think with his target budget of 8-10k it is going to very hard to get good coverage depending on what the warehouse is used for, start installing high metal racking and the signal is going to nose dive and may need higher gain antennas to get better coverage. Also i see more than just cat 5 run in a area that size, i see some 50um MM fiber and gbics in the mix also with 1 MDF and 1 or maybe 2 IDF's. either way if that cost is part of the 8-10k budget then just the wiring, fiber, cabinets and network POE switches would be over that, and he would still need the AP's. 

Very sorry for the delay, I was on the road for work stuff... 
 
1. Where is the MDF located? 
2. What is your circuit? T1, T3, DS3, Cable, DSL 
3. How many concurrent users are you requiring? 
4. What is the AP for? Scanners, or for employees to Facebook all day? 

1. The MDF will be at one end of the building, where the offices are.
2. I am looking to get Fiber to the warehouse, thinking 20MB full duplex.
3. In the office area about 5 on Hardwired computers, and 8 on WIFI, plus 5-10 on the warehouse using hardwired and wireless computers, plus 10-15 using wifi scanners like the motorola MC9550K
4. the Ap's on the warehouse floor will be primary scanner use for shipping and receiving, but also for the laptops and smartphones.
The Ap's in the office will be just for PCs there and 1 or 2 scanners.
 
I usually block Facebook at locations unless directed otherwise. But yes streaming music and such will suck up a lot of juice.
 
I have tried the multiple AP's before at one warehouse, and had some Cisco people come in to configure them. But they overlapped so bad that the scanners were unable to pick an AP and hold it long enough to transmit and receive without locking up or erroring out.
 
As far as the 3600's I just picked it on a whim. Since we don't update our networking stuff until it breaks. our current 1240 is 5 years old.
 
And I might end up PMing you Storm to see what else you can offer for advice.
 
Thanks again for the input on this everyone, I will continue to follow-up with answers and questions as I get them.
 
 

StormCipher


Couple questions;

1. Where is the MDF located?
2. What is your circuit? T1, T3, DS3, Cable, DSL
3. How many concurrent users are you requiring?
4. What is the AP for? Scanners, or for employees to Facebook all day?

Depending on these answers, you can formulate a rough idea of how to lay your network out. Either way, you know two things are for certain;

1. You will exceed max length (295ft) regardless of your location on the MDF. This goes for all terminated/AP--switches will be required in order to support the network.
2. You will need AP's that can handle the users (based on your need.)

If you are only using scanners, go with some low tier AP's from Cisco.

Just running the numbers off my head; depending on point from MDF/termination; you could be looking at least one switch per location.

Keep in mind AP's generally have about a 90' usable range; that is the low end of connectivity (50' can sometimes be the optimal)--this depends on mounting also and other environmental obstacles that interfere with signals.

Just calculating through my head quickly, full wide-scale coverage of a warehouse at your diameters with AP would put you somewhere around 21 AP's. I get AIR 1100's from Cisco for $540 each; looking at $12,000 investment.

If you truly need help; send me a PM and I'll be glad to offer advice.

I've been doing infrastructure design for years, among other IT-related things. Now I'm just a mere Technology Director who does less field and more paperwork. I still hold my CCIE certifications in S&R, Wireless, Security, and Voice; as well as a CCDE for design. The last large-scale engineering project I worked on was for the Municipal Wireless Network after the Katrina disaster.

 
What is your CCIE R&S number? 
 
My on-topic response would be to learn to embrace fiber. 2x 3750's with fiber SFP's, 2911 with NME-AIR-WLC25-K9 would probably do you right. As for adhering to that budget, best of luck. ^_^

Have you considered running a mesh topology for the APs to eliminate cabling?  It might drop BW if they are streaming, but it could help with cost (less switches).  If you want to go that route, Proxim makes a semi-decent low end AP that meshes well.  Around $270 per.  More than a few large malls and hotels use this particular AP, just which ones I can't say
 
Also, Xirrus arrays are good for wide coverage from my experience.

I agree with moose.  We use ubiquity equipment and it works great.  And the pricing is very good compared to competitors.

Cantennas and windsurfers everywhere!
 

EVGATech_ZachN

StormCipher


Couple questions;

1. Where is the MDF located?
2. What is your circuit? T1, T3, DS3, Cable, DSL
3. How many concurrent users are you requiring?
4. What is the AP for? Scanners, or for employees to Facebook all day?

Depending on these answers, you can formulate a rough idea of how to lay your network out. Either way, you know two things are for certain;

1. You will exceed max length (295ft) regardless of your location on the MDF. This goes for all terminated/AP--switches will be required in order to support the network.
2. You will need AP's that can handle the users (based on your need.)

If you are only using scanners, go with some low tier AP's from Cisco.

Just running the numbers off my head; depending on point from MDF/termination; you could be looking at least one switch per location.

Keep in mind AP's generally have about a 90' usable range; that is the low end of connectivity (50' can sometimes be the optimal)--this depends on mounting also and other environmental obstacles that interfere with signals.

Just calculating through my head quickly, full wide-scale coverage of a warehouse at your diameters with AP would put you somewhere around 21 AP's. I get AIR 1100's from Cisco for $540 each; looking at $12,000 investment.

If you truly need help; send me a PM and I'll be glad to offer advice.

I've been doing infrastructure design for years, among other IT-related things. Now I'm just a mere Technology Director who does less field and more paperwork. I still hold my CCIE certifications in S&R, Wireless, Security, and Voice; as well as a CCDE for design. The last large-scale engineering project I worked on was for the Municipal Wireless Network after the Katrina disaster.

What is your CCIE R&S number? 

My on-topic response would be to learn to embrace fiber. 2x 3750's with fiber SFP's, 2911 with NME-AIR-WLC25-K9 would probably do you right. As for adhering to that budget, best of luck. ^_^

 
Oh, I am not Cisco Certified by any means. Just a guy with to much on his plate... LOL
 
I will check on the Fiber and see what I can do with it. I really think that going fiber is the best route, since they want to add onto the building and make it longer yet.
 
I will dig into the ubiquity equipment as well and see if I can wrap my head around it.
 
thanks again for the nice feedback on this.