Lab setup advice

Essendon

A friend of mine is beginning his CCNA studies and he plans to move on to the CCNP and beyond. He's been looking at the following lab on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Cisco-CCIE-CCNA-Lab-2520-3620-WS-C2950-24-DTE-DCE_W0QQitemZ290252289812QQihZ019QQcategoryZ111457QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Seems to be a tad pricey for atleast the CCNA at $700 Australian (plus $30 postage). Here's a list of what the guy's offering:

2 x 3620 Router ( NO FACE PLATES )
1 x 2520 router 16F -16D
2 x WS-C2950-24 Switches
2 x NM-1E2W
4 x WIC-1T
2 x CAB-HD60-MMX-01 ( DTE-DCE Cables)
2 x CAB-HD60-MMX-03 ( DTE-DCE Cables)
4 x Ehternet Cables
3 x Ethernet Cross Over Cables
5 x AC Power Cables
2 x Console Cables

Need some advice from fellow geeks, would you recommend this? Is this a good start?

P.S. My friend's willing to fork out the money if this lab is good for the CCNP too.

Slowhand

That's a little pricey for what's listed. Have a look at the CCNP FAQ for some links to lab-setups and suggestions that'll apply to both CCNA and CCNP.

Essendon

Was reading the post about your lab, Slowhand. I'd say that's a pretty decent setup, and you managed to score some good deals. Maybe the friend should piece together his equipment one-by-one than buy the whole lot together, just in case something cheap comes up on eBay.

If price wasnt too much an issue, is it still a good setup for the CCNP?

scheistermeister

MobilOne wrote:

If price wasnt too much an issue, is it still a good setup for the CCNP?

Nope, for CCNA yes, not NP though. He would need L3 switches and at least one router that will do SDM and two routers with a K9 bin, unless the 3600 wouters will, but I am not sure, haven't worked with them before.

Slowhand

The switches are good, (but you'll still probably want a layer 3 switch, like a 3550, for the CCNP track,) but the routers won't cut it. They'll run the 12.3 version of the IOS, at best, and you want equipment that'll run 12.4 for the lastest features. I should say. . . those routers will work, and you'll be able to get a lot of practice on them, but if you're going to spend money, spend it on newer devices. 3640 routers, for example, will be much more suitable than the 3620s listed there. The 2520 routers are a little old, you would want one, at best, to use as an access-router to switch between devices as you work, but you'll definitely want something newer than those.

Essendon

Pardon my ignorance, schiester but what's a K9 bin? And a L3 switch would be something like a 2948G-L3 10/100 Switch ?

Essendon

The 3550's are pretty darn expensive on their own, just looked at eBay for one, the cheapest is a $575 money-sucker!

And so are the 3640 routers, at $320 each. Fair bit of investment, eh! But I guess, if one really wants to learn, this money wont hurt. If you dont want to learn, the **** are always there

Slowhand

MobilOne wrote:

The 3550's are pretty darn expensive on their own, just looked at eBay for one, the cheapest is a $575 money-sucker!

Yup, they're not as cheap as the regular ol' layer 2 switches. I've seen them for as little as $300, and that's why most people settle for one, possibly two if they're looking to really push through their Cisco switching studies. There are, of course, other layer 3 switches out there, but the Catalyst 3550 is the most common to use for studying.

scheistermeister

MobilOne wrote:

Pardon my ignorance, schiester but what's a K9 bin? And a L3 switch would be something like a 2948G-L3 10/100 Switch ?

It is an IOS image that supports encryption. For example:

c2800nm-advipservicesk9-mz.124-12b.bin
vs
c2800nm-ipbase-mz.124-3i.bin

That 2948G-L3 runs the CatOS, not the IOS. Whole different ball game there and you do not want that.

Edit: Also as Slowhand has said about the only 2500 I would buy would be a 2509 or a 2511. Both of those are will have a special interface for the console ports of other devices, but the same thing can be accomplished with the alias command and telnet. For example:

alias exec 1 telnet 192.168.2.1

That will bring me to the other device with me just pressing "1" and pressing enter.

Essendon

So, from your own lab Slowhand, and what schiester has said, can I arrive at the following conclusion?

1 x 3550 switch
1 x 3640 router
1 x 3620 router
n x 2950 switches
1 (or 2) x 2520 router

Essendon

scheistermeister wrote:

That 2948G-L3 runs the CatOS, not the IOS. Whole different ball game there and you do not want that.

Yeah, I can vaguely remeber reading about that during my CCNA prep. BTW, that was more than a year ago. Dont work on Cisco at all these days, so the knowledge is getting hazy.

scheistermeister

Personally I like the 2600XM routers with the non-XM 2600s. They are new enough to run most IOSes and the XM routers can do the SDM and run a k9 bin.

Essendon

You guys sure know your ****

scheistermeister

Forgot to mention. The 1700 or even a few of the 800 series routers can do the k9 stuff and SDM. I have actually been thinking of picking up a few 1700s to add onto my lab to keep up with my ISCW stuff even after I pass it.

Essendon

scheistermeister wrote:

Personally I like the 2600XM routers with the non-XM 2600s. They are new enough to run most IOSes and the XM routers can do the SDM and run a k9 bin.

You mean that I should replace the 2520 with a 2600XM? Correct?

scheistermeister

MobilOne wrote:

scheistermeister wrote:

Personally I like the 2600XM routers with the non-XM 2600s. They are new enough to run most IOSes and the XM routers can do the SDM and run a k9 bin.

You mean that I should replace the 2520 with a 2600XM? Correct.

That would work, but if you are going to connecting them with serial cables you would have to buy the WICs or a router with the WICs already in it.

Slowhand

MobilOne wrote:

So, from your own lab Slowhand, and what schiester has said, can I arrive at the following conclusion?

1 x 3550 switch
1 x 3640 router
1 x 3620 router
n x 2950 switches
1 (or 2) x 2520 router

Skip the 2520 and the 3620. I'd say, the best bang for your buck would be to pick up a couple 1721 routers, which would do everything those can, plus run the 12.4 IOS. As scheistermeister, you'd want a 2509 or a 2511 for your access router.

Essendon

Seems to me like it's going to be a project in its own right, piecing together a lab for the CCNP. Thanks for that last tip, scheister.

P.S. I'll make sure I spell your name correctly

Essendon

So in the end, with all your recommendations, the following list is satisfactory?

1 x 3550 switch
1 x 3640 router
2 (or 3) x 1721 routers
n x 2950 switches
1 x 2511 router
+ a rack (would look cool)

You said that the 2511 let's you switch between devices, is that being like a KVM switch, where you can have more than 1 computers on the one monitor?

scheistermeister

It is an Access Server. Honestly I don't know how they work since I have never used one. If you are going to have 8 or fewer devices you might want a 2509 instead since they are cheaper and they support 8 devices while the 2511 supports 16. I do not use one though since they are like $100 and I can accomplish the same thing with an alias.

tiersten

scheistermeister wrote:

I can accomplish the same thing with an alias.

With an alias? Eh?

The access server is used so you can access the console port on each device via the network. The access server lets you plug in a cable which terminates in RJ45 plugs that go into each of the console ports of your devices.

scheistermeister

tiersten wrote:

scheistermeister wrote:

I can accomplish the same thing with an alias.

With an alias? Eh?

The access server is used so you can access the console port on each device via the network. The access server lets you plug in a cable which terminates in RJ45 plugs that go into each of the console ports of your devices.

Yes, that I know, but in a lab instead of buying that you can make an alias command for each device so all you have to do to jump from device to device is press a key and press enter.

Essendon

tiersten wrote:

The access server is used so you can access the console port on each device via the network. The access server lets you plug in a cable which terminates in RJ45 plugs that go into each of the console ports of your devices.

So that's exactly like a KVM switch.

But is the lab setup ok (from my last post)?

Slowhand

MobilOne wrote:

So in the end, with all your recommendations, the following list is satisfactory?

1 x 3550 switch
1 x 3640 router
2 (or 3) x 1721 routers
n x 2950 switches
1 x 2511 router
+ a rack (would look cool)

You said that the 2511 let's you switch between devices, is that being like a KVM switch, where you can have more than 1 computers on the one monitor?

It looks good to me. Anything else you'd need would be add-in cards and cables, or particular devices as you find need for them. I'd say that two 2950 switches should be plenty, but you can pick them up for cheap. And a rack will also help keep your devices cool and running in working order, so it's good for more than just looks.

Essendon

Thanks for the confirmation, Slowhand. Here goes $1600...

P.S. The rack sure lets the equipment breathe easy.

Netwurk

You can always hold off on the access server, as it really only saves you from moving your console cable(s) from one device to the other. Once you have telnet access set up, you won't need to use the console a lot.

Essendon

I had actually decided that, Netwurk but thanks for the tip anyways. Guess it makes sense to save money there and spend it somewhere else where it's needed more, maybe like an extra 2950 or something or another 3550 somewhere down the track.

dynamik

You can also add NM-16A and NM-32A to routers that have an NM slot.

http://www.petri.co.il/how-to-configure-cisco-router-as-terminal-server.htm
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/routers/ps274/products_tech_note09186a00800a93f0.shtml

I love my access server. Telnet/SSH are good as long as you don't mess something up. I have my rack wedged into a tight space, so the console ports on my switches aren't easily accessible. I got my 2511 up and running this weekend, and it's slick!

Essendon

I guess you've got to make a trade off between saving some money or accidently messing things up. But if a $100 on an access router can save considerable headache reconfiguring, I guess it's worth it.

How far you into the CCENT, dynamik? Can we expect you to be a CCNP in about 6 months? Well, atleast I certainly think that it's very doable for you. Sometimes, I wonder if the guy just sits at home, gets paid to be at home, gets paid to get certs in record time and pace and make the rest of us mortals go

BTW, your my latest motivation.

Mishra

dynamik wrote:

I got my 2511 up and running this weekend, and it's slick!

I still need those Cisco Serial cables. Where did you get yours?

dynamik

I just searched ebay for cisco octal cables, but it looks like Monoprice is cheaper: http://www.monoprice.com/products/search.asp?keyword=octal&x=0&y=0

I feel like an idiot because I've lost one of them. I searched my apartment all weekend, and I can't find it anywhere. I only have two devices left to connect! Argh!

I have my CCENT scheduled for next Monday, but I'll probably push it back a week. I still haven't really labbed anything. I can only do very basic configurations at the moment. Transcender sucks for this one. They clearly rushed it out. There are errors all over the place, and it seems like some questions are for ICND2 content because I haven't seen some of the things in any of other resources. It's been pretty frustrating.

Also, keep in mind that if you get a 25xx or other router with one of the NM modules, you'll still be able to use it as a router. It's not like it can only be used for an access server.