2950-12

slinuxuzer

I am starting to buy my lab equiptment and am thinking of buying a couple of these and was wondering is there any reason, I shouldn't. I read from cisco's site this switch only allows Standard image and not EI, I shouldn't need the enhanced image for my ccna studies should I?


Thanks in advance guys.

miller811

The 2950 switch will work for the CCNA. An enhanced image is only used on a layer 3 device (a switch capable of routing like a 3550).

slinuxuzer

thanks, the 2950-12 doesnt have a dedicated uplink port, can I use one of the 12 FE ports to link to another switch? If so will that kind of setup make a large difference for Stp or Vtp?

Paul Boz

slinuxuzer wrote:

thanks, the 2950-12 doesnt have a dedicated uplink port, can I use one of the 12 FE ports to link to another switch? If so will that kind of setup make a large difference for Stp or Vtp?

No. Uplink ports typically exist as a single FA interface on a switch with only ethernet ports. Because the 2950 has all fastethernet ports you basically have 12 trunk-capable ports.

mgeorge

I hate to bust the bubble but EI does not support L3 functionality on a 2950. EI and SI images are determined by the platform hardware. The ios image for the 2950 series has BOTH EI and SI features, but due to the platform hardware differences, only one or the other is loaded during bootstrap.

for EI vs SI visit,
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps628/prod_bulletin09186a00800b3089.html

miller811

mgeorge wrote:

I hate to bust the bubble but EI does not support L3 functionality on a 2950. EI and SI images are determined by the platform hardware. The ios image for the 2950 series has BOTH EI and SI features, but due to the platform hardware differences, only one or the other is loaded during bootstrap.

for EI vs SI visit,
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps628/prod_bulletin09186a00800b3089.html

I did not state that it would support L3 functionality on a 2950 switch. I have installed and supported 2950 switches for years and I am fully aware of there limitations. 95 percent of the 2950 switches I work with are 2950-12 or 2950-24. Thanks for the link though, I was not aware that there was an enhanced version of IOS but after reading link, I can understand what it offers.