"You have $600 to build your lab..."

jbrad95706

So, the little lady gave me the thumbs up to start building my lab, and she's signed off on $600.00 (Well, she gave me $500 for my birthday, and I have $100 that I scrounged up.)

Right now I'm thinking about picking up a 2950, 2x3550's, and that puts me at ~$600. The plan is to do all the actual routing w/GNS3 - I'm pretty sure that I have access to most the ios's I need.

I'm trying to build a lab that will last me past the CCNA... / get the best bang for the buck.

Good/Really Bad idea? :

My question is... with that in mind how would you spend it? ...on Cisco gear.


Thanks for your time!

captobvious

I'd buy a rack for my ever growing stack. I think a 2950 EI and 3550 EMI would be in order too!

jbrad95706

I picked up a 12u enclosed cabinet the other day to keep my 10 month old from pulling cables. So, I don't have to spend any of the $600 on that.

At the moment, I have a few 2500's and a 3512 switch that I have in a pile hehe.

Anyone else?

mikej412

jbrad95706 wrote: »

My question is... with that in mind how would you spend it? ...on Cisco gear.

1/2 on Switches. 1/2 on Beer (and maybe a few real routers).

mikej412 wrote: »

If you shop and bid patiently, I've seen the real working 3550s go for as little as $125 each and 2950s for $50.

jbrad95706

mikej412 wrote: »

1/2 on Switches. 1/2 on Beer (and maybe a few real routers).

There is currently no limit on spending when it comes to beer - w/e it takes to get the cert.

schpenxel

What routers would you guys recommend? I've got 3 old 2501's already but def looking for something a little more modern than those. Cheap is good but I want something that will be reasonable modern.

jason_lunde

I enjoy the 2600xm series routers. They will do pretty much everything you need them to with the right ios on them. You just have to make sure you dont try and put a NM-4T into them

mikej412

schpenxel wrote: »

I've got 3 old 2501's already but def looking for something a little more modern than those.

A 1721 would be cheap(er) and would do 802.1Q trunking (for router on a stick) and SDM -- but would get more expensive adding a couple WIC-2T cards to also use it as a frame-relay switch.

A 2610 with an NM-4A/S could be a frame-relay switch -- and with 12.2( 8 )T or greater IOS can do 802.1Q trunking on it's 10Mb interface. But that wouldn't give you an "SDM Solution."

A 2610XM (or 2620XM or 2650XM or 2611XM or 2621XM or 2651XM) should do SDM -- and you can add an NM-4A/S and also use it as a frame-relay switch. The 2600XMs all support 802.1Q trunking (with the proper IOS).

I'd say shop for a 2610XM (or 2650XM since a lot of people forget about them) and NM-4A/S to add to your routers for a CCNA Lab.

ColbyG

3x3550 and mips for the routing.

schpenxel

ColbyNA wrote: »

3x3550 and mips for the routing.

I wish . Maybe once I'm working on the CCNP. That's way overkill for the CCNA though.

I'm bidding on one 3550 for L3 switching but that's all I really need right now.

I enjoy the 2600xm series routers. They will do pretty much everything you need them to with the right ios on them. You just have to make sure you dont try and put a NM-4T into them

Would you believe we're using an old 1700 series router at one of the branch offices? . That thing won't quit working.. It's been up for over a YEAR straight now . So, I'm looking at 2600 series models now since that's more or less the next model up. I'd really like something I can eventually do voice stuff on though. My interests are really in VoIP but I obviously have to get the regular 'ol CCNA out of the way first.

jbrad95706

ColbyNA wrote: »

3x3550 and mips for the routing.

Are that many needed for CCNP labs?

I was rethinking the 1x2950 and 2x3550...

I was looking at getting a "WS-C3550-24PWR-SMI Switch with EMI" just in case I decide to mess with voice, but that's like $250.00. And then maybe getting 2x2950's for about $150.00 - they seem to be going for about $75 each (once you add in shipping).

That would leave me with $100 for... something. :

Still thinking / reading / asking before spending though.

ColbyG

You don't NEED 3x3550, but the 3550s are more useful than 2950s.

jbrad95706

ColbyNA wrote: »

You don't NEED 3x3550, but the 3550s are more useful than 2950s.

You think I would be ok with 2x2950's and a 1x3550 for switching through CCNP?

schpenxel

jbrad95706 wrote: »

You think I would be ok with 2x2950's and a 1x3550 for switching through CCNP?

Probably. That's what I'm going to try to do.

ColbyG

jbrad95706 wrote: »

You think I would be ok with 2x2950's and a 1x3550 for switching through CCNP?

You could probably manage, but things would be a lot better with 3x3550 and 1x2950.

ColbyG

Though, since prices keep coming down, you could just spend 1/3 on some 2950s and wait until you get to BCMSN before you buy the 3550s. They'll probably be cheaper by the time you get there.

schpenxel

Good point.

Kaminsky

The price of 3550's has dropped through the floor in the last 6 months.

48 port SMI for £51 ($83) auction currently. Although the price will shoot up in the last minute or so, I doubt they will reach the Buy It Now prices people are asking between £250-£300. ($400-$500) Not for SMI.

CISCO CATALYST 3550-48-SMI SWITCH WITH 48 10/100 PORTS on eBay (end time 20-Jul-09 10:00:24 BST)