IT Center Blog

Source: Alexander Müller

After five months of intensive planning, preparation, and coordination, the big day finally arrived on February 24, 2026: The data center core switches, which had been in service for 16 years, were replaced by a new, more powerful generation.

This was a significant milestone for the IT Center’s infrastructure, as the core switches form the heart of our data center.

Why this upgrade was so important

Core switches play a central role in the data center: they connect network segments, control data traffic, and ensure that applications and services are reliably accessible.

Source: Own illustration

Since almost all services operated by the IT Center run on this infrastructure, the measure affected a large number of central offerings — including RWTHonline, RWTHmoodle, RWTH Single Sign-On (SSO), eduroam, and many other IT services.

The maintenance window: Precision under time pressure

A maintenance window from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. was set for the changeover. Even though work in the late afternoon and early evening would affect many active users, the goal was clearly defined: The interruptions should be kept as short as technically possible.

To this end, a detailed schedule was developed that structured each individual step:

1. Step-by-step switchover of all fiber optic connections
2. Checking each new connection for error-free functioning
3. Switching over the routing
4. Shutting down the old system

The fiber optic connections were migrated one after the other and tested before the next section followed. This allowed potential sources of error to be identified and isolated at an early stage.

The routing changeover was particularly critical – here, the team managed to reduce the downtime per network block to just a few seconds by switching directly from the old to the new system.

Reaching the goal ahead of schedule

Thanks to precise preparation, close coordination within the team, and structured implementation, the conversion proceeded without any major obstacles.

By 7:15 p.m. – well before the end of the planned maintenance window – the new data center core was fully operational and ready for use.

Looking ahead

With the successful replacement of the core switches, the data center infrastructure is now technically up to date. The new systems offer:

• Higher line reserves
• Improved stability thanks to the latest hardware
• Lower power consumption
• Futureproofing for growing requirements

After 16 years of reliable service, the old systems are being retired—and making way for an infrastructure that meets the growing demands of research, teaching, and administration.

A big thank you to everyone involved for the careful planning and professional implementation of this challenging project.

Responsible for the content of this article are Nils Neumann and Nicole Kaminski.

Kategorie: Support, Services & Updates
Schlagworte: Core-Switch, DataCenter, Netze, Switch
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