Cisco
C9200-48P-A
C9200-48P-A is the Catalyst 9200 48-port PoE+ Switch, with Network Advantage software. Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series switches extend the power of intent-
Checklist · 9 min read
Network Refresh Planning Checklist for Multi Site Estates
Refresh programmes fail on supply far more often than on design. This is the sequence that keeps a phased rollout on its dates.
Start With What Is Actually Deployed
Most estates do not have an accurate record of their own hardware, and every plan built on the inaccurate one inherits the error. The audit is unglamorous and it is the step that cannot be skipped.
- Part numbers deployed per site, taken from the devices rather than the register
- Software trains running and which sites differ from the majority
- Support entitlement status and expiry per serial
- Known end of sale and end of support dates for each platform present
- Physical constraints per closet: rack space, power, cable terminations
The output is one list. Until it exists, scope is an estimate.
Fix the Target Standard Before Pricing Anything
The saving in a refresh comes from consolidating onto one standard, not from the unit price of any individual switch. One access model, one distribution model and one branch model is the goal.
The standard has to be available for the length of the programme, which means availability horizon is part of the selection criteria rather than a question asked after the design is signed off.
A model that cannot be re-ordered in eighteen months is not a standard. Confirm the availability horizon before fixing it.
Group Sites Into Waves With Real Change Windows
Phasing is where most programmes lose time, because waves are planned against an ideal calendar rather than against the change windows the business will actually grant.
| Wave Attribute | What To Confirm |
|---|---|
| Site list | Which sites, in what order, and why that order |
| Change window | The actual window each site can offer, booked not assumed |
| Kit list | The complete hardware list for that wave including accessories |
| Crew capacity | How many sites the available crews can complete per window |
| Rollback | What happens if a site cannot complete inside its window |
Assemble Per Site Rather Than Per Part Number
A consignment organised by part number is convenient for the warehouse and expensive for the install crew. A consignment organised by site is the opposite, and the install crew is where the cost sits.
Each site kit should contain the switches, optics, rails, patch leads and mount kits that site takes, with a serial list for that site. The crew opens one carton and reconciles it against one list.
Allocate the Whole Quantity Early
A phased delivery does not require a phased purchase. Allocating the full programme quantity up front holds the price, protects against a mid programme discontinuation and removes the risk that wave seven is quoted against a different market than wave one.
Delivery can still be staged against the wave calendar. What is fixed early is the supply position, not the logistics.
Plan the Decommission Before the First Install
Retired assets have to be written off, and that requires serial level records reconciled against what was removed. Estates that leave this to the end discover the records do not close.
- Serial list of removed hardware captured per site at the point of removal
- Reconciliation against the asset register before the site is signed off
- Support contracts on retired serials cancelled or transferred
- Disposal route agreed in advance where data bearing devices are involved
The Short Version
- Audit what is deployed before scoping anything
- Fix one standard and confirm it will stay available
- Group sites into waves against real booked change windows
- Allocate the full quantity early and stage the delivery
- Pack per site with a serial list per site
- Reconcile removals as you go rather than at the end
Products Covered
Hardware This Guide Applies To
Cisco
C9200-48P-E
C9200-48T-E is the Catalyst 9200 48-port Data Switch, with Network Essentials software. Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series switches extend the power of intent
Cisco
C9200-48T-A
C9200-48T-A is the Catalyst 9200 48-port Data Switch, with Network Advantage software. Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series switches extend the power of intent-
Cisco
ISR4221/K9
Cisco 4221 Integrated Services router is design to deliver advanced services to the small enterprise branch environment. It delivers 35Mbps thoughtput
Cisco
ISR4321-AX/K9
ISR4321-AX/K9 intelligent WAN bundle combines security features, application experience and Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) features together in
Cisco
ISR4321-AXV/K9
Cisco 4321 Integrated Services router is design to deliver advanced services to the small enterprise branch environment. It delivers 50Mbps thoughtput
Knowledge Center
Related Guides
Access Switch Selection for Campus
Five decisions set the part number. Getting them in the right order prevents most of the changes that happen late in a project.
Support Contracts Explained for Buyers
A support contract is bought once and used on the worst day of the year. The level and the name it is registered under both matter.
Reference
Programmes and Cases
Network Refresh Programme
Most refresh projects fail on supply rather than on design. A phased programme only works if every phase arrives complete on the date the change window was booked.
Global Logistics and Drop Shipping
Hong Kong is a practical despatch point for most of the world. Consignments go to the site, not to a central store and then out again.
Procurement for System Integrators
An integrator carries the risk between quoting a client and receiving the hardware. Firm pricing and a written lead time per line is what makes that risk manageable.
Regional Bank Branch Refresh Across 140 Sites
The branch edge had reached end of software support and the estate had drifted into four different router models bought across eight years
Manufacturer Multi Site Network Standard
Each site had bought its own network hardware locally, so no two plants ran the same equipment and no spares could be shared
FAQ
Questions About This Guide
How Far Ahead Should Hardware Be Allocated
Far enough that the last wave is not exposed to a different market than the first. Allocating the full programme quantity early holds the price and the availability.
Should Delivery Be Phased if Purchase Is Not
Usually yes. Fixing the supply position early and staging delivery against the change window calendar gives the benefits of both.
What Is the Most Common Cause of Refresh Delay
An incomplete bill of materials. The switch is available and the uplink module, rail kit or patch lead is not.
Why Pack Per Site Rather Than Per Part Number
Because the install crew is the expensive resource. A carton per site that reconciles against one list saves crew time at every site.
Still Not Sure Which Part Number You Need
Send the design constraint rather than a part number. An engineer will come back with options and the trade offs.