Reliable business networks are not created by simply purchasing duplicate equipment. True redundancy requires coordinated planning across internet connections, firewalls, switching, wireless coverage, power, cabling, phones, DHCP, DNS, cloud services, support, and recovery procedures.
This series begins with a basic network and progressively examines practical redundancy options for Cisco, Cisco Meraki, and UniFi environments. Each guide explains what the design protects, what risks remain, what costs should be considered, and which recovery scenarios still require testing.
Series Articles
Part 1:
Designing a Resilient Healthcare Network
Begin with clinical and business requirements before selecting equipment. This foundational guide examines single points of failure across internet service, firewalls, switching, wireless, cabling, MDFs and IDFs, power, DHCP, DNS, phones, support, and operating costs.
Part 2:
Cisco Network Redundancy
Follow a practical Cisco design from a single firewall and switch through dual internet, active/standby firewall high availability, independent Layer 3 switching, and wireless recovery paths for phones and computers.
Part 3:
Meraki Network Redundancy
Explore how Cisco Meraki can progress from a basic cloud-managed network to resilient high availability. This guide examines dual internet connections, MX warm-spare firewalls, switch stacking and Layer 3 alternatives, wireless recovery, licensing, warranties, cloud support, cloud dependencies, and operating costs.
Part 4:
UniFi Network Redundancy
Coming soon. This guide will examine UniFi internet failover, Shadow Mode, switching, wireless continuity, power, support, and practical redundancy options for small and mid-sized businesses.