New VLAN, Meraki Setup and hardware suggestions

[netstat]

Hi All,

I am trying to create a new network from the ground up. I am looking for some suggestions on which aspects needs to be taken care of while designing. We have users across the office, with 2 floors, which uses the following applications, File Share, RDP and Web access. I am thinking to divide the network to separate VLan's for Meraki appliance, Servers, Cameras, Printers, Conference room equipment, VPN. 

Do you think it would be an overkill to deploy 6 Layer 3 Meraki Switches, or  4 Layer-2 and 2 Layer-3 switches for each floor, since I would be deploying multiple VLAN's which might need to communicate between each other? I am new to networking and would like your suggestions and guidance.

[alemabrahao]

Yes, that's an exaggeration, not to mention that managing and troubleshooting the network can become difficult.

A design with core, distribution and access would be enough.

https://ipcisco.com/lesson/network-topology-architectures/

[netstat]

Thanks @alemabrahao for your suggestion. The Inter-VLan traffic can be communicated on Layer 3 switches, Would the Firewall be useful in this scenario and eliminating Layer 3 completely and running all VLAN's Traffic and routing from Firewall?

[cmr]

@netstat if you have more traffic between VLANs onsite then route on the switches, if there is more traffic out to the internet then route on the firewalls.

[netstat]

Hi @cmr  Thanks! It makes sense. We are thinking to create a network similar to below network. 

We have few servers in Azure, which is behind an Azure VMX. and we have few other servers as well on-prem which would be under Layer 2. Office 1 and Office 2 are connected with Fiber and each department would be siloed to a Separate VLAN, so we could manage policies for accessing the servers accordingly. Do you you have any recommendation on optimizing the network.