Another home lab question.

dotPHdotPH Member Posts: 16 ■□□□□□□□□□
in CCNA & CCENT
Hi, everyone... First of all i want to thank you all for your contributions, this forum is a great source of info for noobs like me. Btw, im starting in my Cisco journey and i want to familiarize myself on a real equipment. Im investing on a small lab for CCENT/CCNA prep. I need some help about the getting the right equipment specially info's about the memory, IOS version and upgradable option. as of the moment here's my list.

Need some info about memory options, IOS version and upgradability...
3x Cisco 2811 Routers
2x Cisco 2960 Switch
1x Cisco 3560 Switch

Thanks in advance!
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Comments

  • SimridSimrid Member Posts: 327
    Welcome! I would recommend getting 3x 3560's if you can afford it. This would enable you to keep them for CCNP Switch as it has Layer 3 capabilty.

    In terms of memory, all of the devices you have listed will have more than enough memory for home lab purposes and shouldn't cause any issues. In terms of upgrading the IOS, for legal reasons you should download the IOS from Cisco directly, however that will cost some money. You maybe able to find some images elsewhere on Google, however Cisco are against this.

    I've had a quick look and this might be of some use: Cisco 3900 Series, 2900 Series, and 1900 Series Software Configuration Guide - Upgrading the Cisco IOS Software [Cisco 1900 Series Integrated Services Routers] - Cisco

    Good luck!
    Network Engineer | London, UK | Currently working on: CCIE Routing & Switching

    sriddle.co.uk
    uk.linkedin.com/in/simonriddle
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  • dotPHdotPH Member Posts: 16 ■□□□□□□□□□
    @Simrid- Thanks for the warm welcome and your input. Another question, whats the recommended memory for 2811's and 3560's to run the latest IOS? I see some on Ebay that has 12.2.
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  • dave_2816dave_2816 Registered Users Posts: 1 ■□□□□□□□□□
    DRAM/Flash Memory & IOS Required for Feature Support



    Model

    Max IOS Ver.

    IPv6

    CCP



    Cisco 1760

    12.4

    96/32

    Not Available



    Cisco 1841

    15.1(4) requires 256/64

    128/32

    256/64



    Cisco 2600 Series

    12.3

    64/16

    Not Available



    Cisco 2600XM Series

    12.4

    128/32

    Not Available



    Cisco 2801

    15.1(4) requires 256/64*

    128/32

    256/64



    Cisco 2811 & 2821

    15.1(4) requires 512/128

    256/64

    512/128


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  • theodoxatheodoxa Member Posts: 1,340 ■■■■□□□□□□
    The switches are not upgradable. As for the routers, RAM is cheap (on eBay). I would just max them out.

    For switches, I would go with 4 x 3560 as this will carry you through all the way to CCIE. For CCNA, I don't believe you would need L3 switches, but if you continue on to CCNP, you will need at least 4 switches, with at least 2 x 3560 or 3750, and for CCIE you would need 4 x 3560. For routers, the 2811 will serve you through CCNP. That said, unless you are planning on doing voice, the 1841 is smaller, lighter, and quieter, while supporting the same IOS (15.1M/T). The 2811 would make a good Frame Relay switch thanks to its HWIC slots and NM Slot.

    For CCNP, I used --

    1 x 2811 (4 x WIC-1DSU-T1-V2) -- Frame Relay Switch
    3 x 1841 (1 x WIC-1DSU-T1-V2)
    1 x 1841 (1 x WIC-1T)
    1 x 1841 (1 x WIC-1T, 1 x WIC-1DSU-T1-V2)
    2 x 3560-24TS (IOS 15.0SE)
    2 x 3750-24TS (IOS 12.2SE)
    R&S: CCENT → CCNA → CCNP → CCIE [ ]
    Security: CCNA [ ]
    Virtualization: VCA-DCV [ ]
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  • clarsonclarson Member Posts: 903 ■■■■□□□□□□
    that equipment is a good choice. The right models can run version 15 of the ios. So, you want to get the right models to do that. Like mentioned, you want 512/128 memory on the 2811's. For the 3560 you need models that have 32mb of flash, the easiest for this is the "ts" models, the "ps" models only have 16 and won't run version 15 of the ios. For the 2960 you want these models:
    2960-24TC-L
    2960-48TC-L
    2960-24TT-L
    2960-48TT-L
    2960-8TC-L
    2960PD-8TT-L
    2960G-8TC-L
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  • dotPHdotPH Member Posts: 16 ■□□□□□□□□□
    I appreciate your replies everyone... This would be very helpful for noobs like me.

    Thanks again!
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  • gncsmithgncsmith Member Posts: 459 ■■■□□□□□□□
    To piggyback on this thread, I have:

    3x Cisco 2811 Routers
    2x Cisco 2950 Switches
    1x Cisco 2611 Router (came in the package with the 2950s)

    Any thoughts on what else I should add or use? Thanks.
    Connect With Me || My Blog Site || Follow Me
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  • theodoxatheodoxa Member Posts: 1,340 ■■■■□□□□□□
    gncsmith wrote: »
    To piggyback on this thread, I have:

    3x Cisco 2811 Routers
    2x Cisco 2950 Switches
    1x Cisco 2611 Router (came in the package with the 2950s)

    Any thoughts on what else I should add or use? Thanks.

    A couple of 3560s (3560-24TS and 48TS can run IOS 15.0SE) if you plan on doing CCNP. An extra router or two (1841 or 2811) would allow for larger topologies. You could use the 2611 as a Frame Relay switch by installing an NM-4A/S ($10) or NM-8A/S ($20). Note that the 2600/2600XM Series does not support the NM-4T module.
    R&S: CCENT → CCNA → CCNP → CCIE [ ]
    Security: CCNA [ ]
    Virtualization: VCA-DCV [ ]
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  • MasterearlyMasterearly Registered Users Posts: 1 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Hey guys, I am building a lab, and I am starting with ccent and am working all the way to ccnp.

    I have:
    4 x 2811 iOS 15.3 (5 wic-2t cards, one will be used for frame relay)
    2 x 3560 iOS 15.0

    I was considering purchasing 2 x 2960-24TC-L… i found two for $80, however I am not sure if I should go with Lan lite, Lan base or if I should buy them at all. Should I buy these? Should I stop here and work with what I have? Any recommendations?
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  • clarsonclarson Member Posts: 903 ■■■■□□□□□□
    2960's can only run the version of the ios that they came with. So, if it came with lan lite, it will only run lan lite. Lan base will not work on it.
    Lan base is the preferred ios. And, of course, that makes the switches that run lan base more expensive.
    What i'd recommend is work with what you have, but keep an eye out for a couple of cheap 3560s that will run 15. Because you don't need them for the ccna but will for ccnp
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  • GDainesGDaines Member Posts: 273 ■■■□□□□□□□
    dotPH wrote: »
    Hi, everyone... First of all i want to thank you all for your contributions, this forum is a great source of info for noobs like me. Btw, im starting in my Cisco journey and i want to familiarize myself on a real equipment. Im investing on a small lab for CCENT/CCNA prep. I need some help about the getting the right equipment specially info's about the memory, IOS version and upgradable option. as of the moment here's my list.

    Need some info about memory options, IOS version and upgradability...
    3x Cisco 2811 Routers
    2x Cisco 2960 Switch
    1x Cisco 3560 Switch

    Thanks in advance!

    That's almost exactly what I started with. The 2811 routers are great, and like it's been said if you want to do voice (which I think is part of collaboration now) then you can add a 2851 later when you get there. Your switches depend on what models you have as I spotted clarson has said when I read through the thread a second time, as unlike routers you cannot upgrade the flash, so some can be upgraded and some cannot. For example I bought WS-C3560-24PS-S PoE switches before I learnt that the PoE's can't be upgraded to IOS 15, so I'm gonna end up looking for a 'T' (rather than a 'P') model at some point.
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