Performance analysis of homogenous and heterogenous network core switches

Abstract

This research paper aims to find the performance difference of 3Com Core Builder 3500 Switch and Cisco 3550 Multilayer switch at various levels. There are 5 test beds designed to test the performance of these devices at individual level and then compare against each other. The topology used to perform these tests are very simple and easy to implement. Though collecting samples is easy, however it is time consuming. The data capture in all the tests is done using network analyzer tool, Wireshark and file transfer application called as FileZilla Server and Client. These tests are conducted multiple times to reduce the error rate which could have been a random number of 2% caused due to human and technical error. The results on the tests conducted are little surprising and complex than expected Cisco has a better data rate in all the tests performed with higher variations whereas 3Com had lower variations in all the tests it had a lower data rate than Cisco, again Cisco standard deviation is higher during bandwidth utilization. So as Conclusion Cisco's should be place in Distribution layer of a network as it is able to perform better at Layer 3.