CCNP Lab Hardware?

I decided that I want to build a lab for the CCNP.

Thinking of buying the following:
3x 3750 Switches
3x 1841 Routers

Would these devices be sufficient for objectives?

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Comments

networker050184

Sufficient yes, but I always prefer to run larger topologies than that personally. Especially for routing labs, but you can get by with GNS3 for that.

Concerned Water

Good point, I'll probably hold off on the routers and just use GNS3. As far as I know GNS3 still doesn't support switch emulation. This would give me reason to at least get the switches. I probably should try to get more switches.

How many switches would you recommend?

networker050184

For switches three is pretty standard. Can see most STP things as long as you have a path to block. More switches the more you can mess around with complex topologies obviously though.

Routers I usually prefer more to get into things like multiple areas, ASNs etc. Starts to get a bit harder to work all that in with three routers though certainly not impossible.

Concerned Water

Very helpful. Thanks.

siggnation

Try to grab some 3560s as they will provide useful features like private vlans.

koz24

The CCNP SWITCH Lab Manual v7(http://www.amazon.com/CCNP-SWITCH-Lab-Manual-Companion/dp/1587134012/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1429665790&sr=8-6&keywords=ccnp+switch) doesn't come out until Jun 4th 2015. I'm curious as to what hardware they will recommend for those labs.

theodoxa

I would suggest at least 4 switches and 4 routers for CCNP. Both the 3750 and 3560 will support all the CCNP objectives (PVLANs were added in 12.2(20)SE IP Services for the 3560 and 3750).

[EDIT] The 642 Series TSHOOT topology used 4 Switches (2 Access Layer, 2 Distribution Layer) and 6 Routers (R1, R2, R3, R4, ISP, and a Frame Relay Switch).

DKempeneers

Concerned Water wrote: »

As far as I know GNS3 still doesn't support switch emulation.

Yes he supports.
You can see in CBT nuggets videos of GNS3 that you can make a Switch with a 3750 & 16x switch ports

theodoxa

DKempeneers wrote: »

Yes he supports.

Doesn't that require IOU which is only available to Cisco employees?

networker050184

siggnation wrote: »

Try to grab some 3560s as they will provide useful features like private vlans.

The 3750s he has already supports PVLANs.