Hardware for homelab, lots of questions
LimitingFactor
Registered Users Posts: 1 ■□□□□□□□□□
in CCNA & CCENT
Intro
I started looking into this CCNA stuff a week ago. Of course now I
am dreaming about getting a home lab. But what to buy: So much new
hardware. Here is what I think I learned. Please comment, I probably
got a lot of stuff wrong.
Motivation
I can play with cisco gear without buying anything: For playing with
routers, emulators like IOU, 1000V, and dynamips can be used. For
playing with switches the free switch lab can be used. This should be
more than enough for passing CCNA. But since the CCNA is just an
excuse to buy hardware, I'll have buy some stuff or course
Criteria
I looked more into CCIE-labs then CCNP-labs for equipment ideas. The
hardware should be fun, it doesn't have to be absolutely the
cheapest. I work as a programmer, don't need the CCNA. Getting it is
just an excuse to buy some Cisco hardware and mess with it.
Switches
I'd buy switches first, since routers can be emulated on my Mac. Idea
is to emulate routers in GNS3 and connect external switches to the
emulated routers in GNS3.
For most features for the money 3560 and 3750 seem interesting. So
3560 or 3750??? Here is what I found out:
Advantage of 3560 is that many cheap, mostly the non-PoE models have
32GB Flash and support IOS 15. Even some CCIE Kits contain 3560 as
switches, so I could use them for a long time.
For the 3750, most cheap models only have 16GB and only support
IOS 12. But only the 3750 and not the 3560 can do q-in-q and thus can
be used as a breakout switch supporting all features for GNS3. It seems
this would work even with a cheap 3750 running IOS 12.
Two 3750 would be needed to experiment with stackwise but this seems
to be an unimportant feature.
Conclusion: Maybe getting two or three 3560 with 32G Flash and one
cheap 3750 with 16GB flash?
Routers
First, don't buy any. Use the software routers. If I come to a point
where I need a real router, then I'll probably know better why and
for which features to look for. If I had to buy a router now:
2811 are cheap, upgradable to IOS 15, and are even used in CCIE labs
so again it would probably last me a long time. Not sure about the
difference to 2821, except for the 2U. It seems the flash/ram can be
upgraded in all 2811s and 2821s so I can just buy any 2811, then
upgrade the flash/ram and then it will support IOS 15?
Alternatively 1841 routers could be used, not sure what the difference
would be really.
Terminal Server
Terminal server would be nice, but is expensive. So a Raspberry PI,
with some usb-serial converters and ser2net will have to do for now.
Questions
Here are some things I am still unsure about:
When upgrading IOS from 12 to 15, how is the feature-set determined,
like Advanced IP services, does it depend on the hardware of the
switch, or just on which firmware image is used?
In Europe we have 220V but often interesting hardware is sold from UK
with 110V, I assume that the power supply in all Cisco hardware
mentioned works on both voltages?
I have a list which 3750 and which 3560 support IOS 15. Is there
anything else I should look out for in the version numbers when buying
3560 3750 or 2811 or 2821 ?
Can I use a 3750 as a breakout switch for GNS3 with IOS 12 or do I need
IOS 15?
Resources used:
Free switch lab: Free Cisco Catalyst Switch Lab
Switch features: https://youtu.be/VaMeL0TOfj8?t=583
Router features: https://youtu.be/VaMeL0TOfj8?t=220
List of hardware good enough for even CCIE:
INE CCIE R&S Standard Lab Kit - CertificationKits
3570 or 3650 model numbers which are upgradeable/not upgradable
http://www.techexams.net/forums/ccna-ccent/105168-3560-3750-my-ccnp-home-lab.html#post890321
Using 3570 as a breakout switch for GNS3:
CCIE R&S lab – QinQ with virtual switch option - GNS3
Using raspi as console server
Raspberry Pi as Cisco Console Server - Networklessons.com
I started looking into this CCNA stuff a week ago. Of course now I
am dreaming about getting a home lab. But what to buy: So much new
hardware. Here is what I think I learned. Please comment, I probably
got a lot of stuff wrong.
Motivation
I can play with cisco gear without buying anything: For playing with
routers, emulators like IOU, 1000V, and dynamips can be used. For
playing with switches the free switch lab can be used. This should be
more than enough for passing CCNA. But since the CCNA is just an
excuse to buy hardware, I'll have buy some stuff or course
Criteria
I looked more into CCIE-labs then CCNP-labs for equipment ideas. The
hardware should be fun, it doesn't have to be absolutely the
cheapest. I work as a programmer, don't need the CCNA. Getting it is
just an excuse to buy some Cisco hardware and mess with it.
Switches
I'd buy switches first, since routers can be emulated on my Mac. Idea
is to emulate routers in GNS3 and connect external switches to the
emulated routers in GNS3.
For most features for the money 3560 and 3750 seem interesting. So
3560 or 3750??? Here is what I found out:
Advantage of 3560 is that many cheap, mostly the non-PoE models have
32GB Flash and support IOS 15. Even some CCIE Kits contain 3560 as
switches, so I could use them for a long time.
For the 3750, most cheap models only have 16GB and only support
IOS 12. But only the 3750 and not the 3560 can do q-in-q and thus can
be used as a breakout switch supporting all features for GNS3. It seems
this would work even with a cheap 3750 running IOS 12.
Two 3750 would be needed to experiment with stackwise but this seems
to be an unimportant feature.
Conclusion: Maybe getting two or three 3560 with 32G Flash and one
cheap 3750 with 16GB flash?
Routers
First, don't buy any. Use the software routers. If I come to a point
where I need a real router, then I'll probably know better why and
for which features to look for. If I had to buy a router now:
2811 are cheap, upgradable to IOS 15, and are even used in CCIE labs
so again it would probably last me a long time. Not sure about the
difference to 2821, except for the 2U. It seems the flash/ram can be
upgraded in all 2811s and 2821s so I can just buy any 2811, then
upgrade the flash/ram and then it will support IOS 15?
Alternatively 1841 routers could be used, not sure what the difference
would be really.
Terminal Server
Terminal server would be nice, but is expensive. So a Raspberry PI,
with some usb-serial converters and ser2net will have to do for now.
Questions
Here are some things I am still unsure about:
When upgrading IOS from 12 to 15, how is the feature-set determined,
like Advanced IP services, does it depend on the hardware of the
switch, or just on which firmware image is used?
In Europe we have 220V but often interesting hardware is sold from UK
with 110V, I assume that the power supply in all Cisco hardware
mentioned works on both voltages?
I have a list which 3750 and which 3560 support IOS 15. Is there
anything else I should look out for in the version numbers when buying
3560 3750 or 2811 or 2821 ?
Can I use a 3750 as a breakout switch for GNS3 with IOS 12 or do I need
IOS 15?
Resources used:
Free switch lab: Free Cisco Catalyst Switch Lab
Switch features: https://youtu.be/VaMeL0TOfj8?t=583
Router features: https://youtu.be/VaMeL0TOfj8?t=220
List of hardware good enough for even CCIE:
INE CCIE R&S Standard Lab Kit - CertificationKits
3570 or 3650 model numbers which are upgradeable/not upgradable
http://www.techexams.net/forums/ccna-ccent/105168-3560-3750-my-ccnp-home-lab.html#post890321
Using 3570 as a breakout switch for GNS3:
CCIE R&S lab – QinQ with virtual switch option - GNS3
Using raspi as console server
Raspberry Pi as Cisco Console Server - Networklessons.com
Comments
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clarson
Member Posts: 903 ■■■■□□□□□□
well as far as switches, your better off just buying a couple of 2950 switches until you've completed your ccna.
Two 3750 would be needed to experiment with stackwise but this seems
to be an unimportant feature.
the stackwise technology was added to the new ccnp certification.
routers:
the difference between 1841/2811/2821 is mostly weight, noise, and interface expandability.
the 1841 is light (less shipping cost), quiet, only two wic slots, the least amount of memory, and no pdvm slots for voice.
the 2811 weights 14 pounds, noisier, 4 wic slots and an nm slot, supports more memory, pdvm slots, and two aim slots.
the 2821 weights 25 pounds, even noiser, 4 wic slots and 2 nm slots, supports even more memory, more pdvm slots, and gigabit ethernet ports.
it would be cheaper to buy a router with the amount of memory you need already installed along with the version of the ios you want.
When upgrading IOS from 12 to 15, how is the feature-set determined,
like Advanced IP services, does it depend on the hardware of the
switch, or just on which firmware image is used?
it's yes and yes. it all depends on what model of hardware your dealing with.
I have a list which 3750 and which 3560 support IOS 15. Is there
anything else I should look out for in the version numbers when buying
3560 3750 or 2811 or 2821 ?
Some model numbers indicate a package of hardware and software items. But, when you buy used equipment your only going to get what they say is included. So, if it isn't mentioned, ask about it. Never assume you'll just get it.