As businesses across Canada expand their digital operations, the demand for fast, reliable, and scalable networking infrastructure is higher than ever. Whether you’re supporting VoIP communications, multi-floor offices, or cloud-based applications, your network backbone needs to be rock solid.
In this blog, we walk you through a real-world fibre optic uplink configuration using the FS S3900 series switch—a powerful yet accessible solution for Canadian businesses aiming for 20 Gbps inter-switch communication. Plus, we’ll explore how other industry leaders in Canada structure their services and content, and what you can learn from them.
Objective: Simplified Yet Scalable Switching Infrastructure
The goal was clear:
- Connect up to 90 VoIP phones and user workstations
- Isolate VoIP traffic via VLAN for quality control
- Provide 10Gbps uplinks for high-speed data access between servers
- Maintain cable and port management clarity in a rack environment
Hardware Used in Deployment
We selected equipment that’s widely supported, flexible, and easily sourced:
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Switches | FS S3900-48T6S (48x1G ports + 6x10G SFP+ ports) |
| NICs (Server) | Dell 0C63DV Intel X520 – Dual 10G SFP+ + Dual 1G RJ45 |
| SFP+ Modules | FS 10GBASE-SR (Switch) + Intel-Compatible (Server) |
| Patch Cables | 3ft OM3 LC-LC Multi-mode fibre |
| Firewall Optics | Generic SFP+ modules compatible with SonicWall |
VLAN Strategy: Segregation with Simplicity
The deployment involved both untagged VLANs for user devices and a tagged VLAN for VoIP traffic. Voice VLANs were dynamically assigned using MAC-based recognition, allowing Polycom phones to automatically join the correct VLAN without manual setup.
Simplified Configuration:
interface GigaEthernet0/1-48
switchport trunk vlan-untagged 1
switchport mode trunk
switchport voice-vlan mode vlan
switchport voice-vlan 100
MAC Identification for Polycom Phones:
voice-vlan mac-address 0004.f200.0000 mask ffff.ff00.0000
voice-vlan mac-address 6416.7f00.0000 mask ffff.ff00.0000
Result: Phones automatically pulled IPs from VLAN 100, while workstations defaulted to VLAN 1 — with zero manual VLAN tagging.
Creating a 20Gbps Fibre Uplink Between Switches
To handle internal LAN and server-to-server traffic efficiently, we created a Link Aggregation Group (LAG) using 2x10Gbps SFP+ ports, resulting in a 20Gbps aggregated uplink between two FS switches.
Uplink Configuration (FS CLI):
interface TGigaEthernet0/49-50
switchport trunk vlan-untagged 1
switchport mode trunk
channel-group 1 mode active
We used OM3 LC-LC multi-mode fibre for short, high-performance links within the rack—delivering consistent performance with minimal signal loss.
Explore More: How to Migrate Workloads to AWS Cloud
Server and Firewall Architecture
Each Dell server used dual-port Intel X520 NICs:
- 2 x 10G SFP+ (LAN) → FS Switches for high-speed access
- 2 x 1G RJ45 (DMZ) → SonicWall firewall
Note: DMZ configuration was not routed through these switches it remained isolated via the firewall setup.
Firewalls were dual-stacked in an active/passive setup, with redundant SFP+ links to ensure uninterrupted connectivity. Clean VLANs and port mapping allowed for faster troubleshooting.
Results: Full Functional Test
- VoIP phones and workstations received correct DHCP leases instantly
- Fibre uplinks synced at full 10Gbps per channel — no negotiation issues
- VLAN segregation worked flawlessly across trunked ports
- Firewall failover testing showed zero packet loss
- Bandwidth tests confirmed 18–20Gbps throughput between servers
Deployment Snapshots
Switch + Patch Panel Setup
Server with Intel SFP+ NIC Installed
Key Takeaways
- FS switches offer enterprise-grade reliability at an affordable cost
- OM3 fibre is ideal for high-throughput, short-distance rack setups
- Voice VLANs via MAC streamline phone provisioning dramatically
- LACP bonding provides both speed and redundancy in fibre uplinks
- Clean VLAN and cabling strategy can save hours during troubleshooting
Need Help Designing Your Network?
At Convergence, we specialize in performance-first network infrastructures — whether you’re upgrading a legacy system or building new. From VLANs and VoIP to LAG and fibre setups, we’ve done it — and we can help you do it better.
Reach out today and let’s build a solution tailored to your business.
