What can I do with this equipment?

I have two 2500 Cisco routers, one 2900 XL switch, two 2900 switches (three switches total), and two computers. I wanted to be able to practice some exercises with my home equipment to prepare for the 640-801 test, but I feel like I'm a computer short, having three switches. I suppose I could practice STP and root port election, as well as trunking. Anyone else have any suggestions? Also, I'm going to need to buy a few extra straight-through and crossover cables; does anyone know if any of the chain electronic stores sells them so I won't have to mail off for them? My experience has been that the regular retail electronics stores have no idea what cables I'm talking about, and their eyes glaze over when I mention "networking."

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dtlokee

Tricon7 wrote:

I have two 2500 Cisco routers, one 2900 XL switch, two 2900 switches (three switches total), and two computers. I wanted to be able to practice some exercises with my home equipment to prepare for the 640-801 test, but I feel like I'm a computer short, having three switches. I suppose I could practice STP and root port election, as well as trunking. Anyone else have any suggestions? Also, I'm going to need to buy a few extra straight-through and crossover cables; does anyone know if any of the chain electronic stores sells them so I won't have to mail off for them? My experience has been that the regular retail electronics stores have no idea what cables I'm talking about, and their eyes glaze over when I mention "networking."

First don't buy cables from the local stores, they charge a fortune for them.

For the routing I would suggest getting 2 DB-60 back to back cables (DTE to DCE) so you can connect the 2500's together by their serial interfaces. I would also cable the switches together so you can practice with STP, it would be good if you could make a couple redundant connections so you can mess around with root bridge elections and priorities. You have lots of options.

Tricon7

Do you have any recommendations for an online business that sells straight-through/crossover cables reasonably? I could get them expressed shipped to me.

Webmaster

Here's one I and several others here have used and offers cables at very low prices: www.anthonypanda.com

spike_tomahawk

Also, if you feel your a computer short get Microsoft Virtual PC and an extra nic and you can set up another machine with physical networking without buying a whole new box.

tech-airman

Tricon7 wrote:

I have two 2500 Cisco routers, one 2900 XL switch, two 2900 switches (three switches total), and two computers. I wanted to be able to practice some exercises with my home equipment to prepare for the 640-801 test, but I feel like I'm a computer short, having three switches. I suppose I could practice STP and root port election, as well as trunking. Anyone else have any suggestions? Also, I'm going to need to buy a few extra straight-through and crossover cables; does anyone know if any of the chain electronic stores sells them so I won't have to mail off for them? My experience has been that the regular retail electronics stores have no idea what cables I'm talking about, and their eyes glaze over when I mention "networking."

Tricon7,

Didn't you have to make straight-through and crossover cables in your Semester 1 hands on final?

Tricon7

tech-airman wrote:

Tricon7 wrote:

I have two 2500 Cisco routers, one 2900 XL switch, two 2900 switches (three switches total), and two computers. I wanted to be able to practice some exercises with my home equipment to prepare for the 640-801 test, but I feel like I'm a computer short, having three switches. I suppose I could practice STP and root port election, as well as trunking. Anyone else have any suggestions? Also, I'm going to need to buy a few extra straight-through and crossover cables; does anyone know if any of the chain electronic stores sells them so I won't have to mail off for them? My experience has been that the regular retail electronics stores have no idea what cables I'm talking about, and their eyes glaze over when I mention "networking."

Tricon7,

Didn't you have to make straight-through and crossover cables in your Semester 1 hands on final?

Used 'em already.

Tricon7

This may be a dumb question, but is a Cat5 UTP cable a "straight-through" cable? The aforementioned website for cables lists it, but doesn't list any cables as "straight-through."

Netstudent

straight through and crossover depends on the pinouts, not the category or grade. For ethernet, pins 1,2,3,and 6 are crossed over. Another way of looking at it is a crossover cable is 568-A on one end and 568B on the other.

Tricon7

So would "Cat-5 patch cables" fit the description for a straight-through? The site doesn't mention pinouts, obviously.

dtlokee

Yes, a Cat 5 patch cable would be a straight through cable.

drainey

I like www.deepsurplus.com

A 'straight thru' cable is usually just refered to as a cat5, cat5e, cat6, etc. or sometimes as a patch cable. Crossover cables are usually refered to as crossover cables.

hope that helps.

Tricon7

Duhhh.....CompUSA sells cat5 cables.

I had asked for "straight-through" before, and the sales folks were stumped. No need to mail order at all.

dtlokee

Tricon7 wrote:

Duhhh.....CompUSA sells cat5 cables. I had asked for "straight-through" before, and the sales folks were stumped. No need to mail order at all.

I was messing around with one of their sales people before asking them is a CompUSA mouspad would be compatible with my Microsoft mouse, that got me some interesting reactions. CompUSA should also have crossover cables. You'll pay a premium for them, $10-15 each when you can get them online for $5 or less.

Tricon7

dtlokee wrote:

Tricon7 wrote:

Duhhh.....CompUSA sells cat5 cables. I had asked for "straight-through" before, and the sales folks were stumped. No need to mail order at all.

I was messing around with one of their sales people before asking them is a CompUSA mouspad would be compatible with my Microsoft mouse, that got me some interesting reactions. CompUSA should also have crossover cables. You'll pay a premium for them, $10-15 each when you can get them online for $5 or less.

Just talked with a salesman there; both straight-throughs and crossovers - 7 ft. - go for $7.99 each. And I don't have to wait for them to be shipped to me. It's the way to go.

Netstudent

DANG! It might be better to buy a spool and some RJ-45's

itwannabe007

Why can't you make your own cables, not being funny.

Tricon7

Watch out for CompUSA!!! What a bunch of incompetent idiots, including the management! It's like this every time I go there!

I needed some cat-5 and crossover cables, and I found out on the phone that they had the cables I needed - I called and the salesperson said he said "we have this and this cable at this price and length." Great. I drove over and went the the aisle where the cables were. No sign of those cables at those prices. I saw those cables at DOUBLE those prices, however. I asked a salesperson about it, and he said, "No we don't have those cables at those prices - who did you talk to? Well, he must have quoted you online prices, not in-store inventory."

But they guy said he'd check. So I waited - and waited - and waited. No sign of said employee. I finally threw up my hands and grabbed the cables I needed at double the price. I also picked up a mouse and a printer cartridge while I was there. I tromped up to the front counter, and the vanished employee was there, and said he'd discount my cables somewhat for my trouble. Great, I said. Something's finally going right. He marked them down in price and wandered off again, leaving the cashier to ring it all up. The total came to almost a hundred dollars, and I handed her my VISA. She inspected it cautiously and asked for ID, mentioning that the name on the card - my wife - wasn't me. Was she here? I said, no, but I"ve never had a problem before (and I have an unusual last name, so it's not like I sneak around, stealing credit cards from ONLY people with my last name). She said, well, sorry, she couldn't process the card, as I wasn't the name on it. I asked for the manager, who also said "so sorry." Next customer, please. So - I spent almost two hours with CompUSA with nothing to show for it and a long drive home, empty handed - again. Like I said, some variation of this happens every time I go to buy something from them. I'm going back today to get those cables, only because I don't have the time to wait for shipping from an online business, cuz I have to get this practice in! But after that, I'll never shop at CompUSA again if I can help it. Beware of CompUSA!!!

Darthn3ss

you can buy cable on ebay fairly cheap and it usually comes with a crimper/stripper, some rj-45 plugs, and some even come with a basic cable tester.

ie: i bought 300ft of cat-5e for like $35.