Lab Upgrade

qplayed

Hi TE,

I'm looking to upgrade or just add to my existing lab. I currently have the following.
5x 3640
2x 3620
2x 2611XM
3x 2514
2x 2950G-24
2x 3550(POE)-24
1x 6509

I plan on getting the following either to replace parts of the lab or add to the current lab.
2x 2811
2x 1841
2x 3560

ajmatson

That's one impressive lab.

earweed

This would prob get more resonse in a cisco forum

ColbyG

2811s and 1841s are too expensive, IMO. You can get (almost all) the same functionality (for R&S) with a 3725, 3640 or 2600XM.

mikej412

Get some 3560 or 3750 switches -- but you're fine on routers for the current CCIE R&S. Spend the "router money" on workbooks AND/OR a BootCamp.

Worry about new routers when ever they announce a change to IOS 15 -- hopefully at least a couple years down the road.

yuriz43

Qplayed, this is what I suggest you do.

SELL: 5x 3640's
SELL: 2x 3620's
SELL: Only 1x 2518

KEEP: all of your switches, 1 terminal server, and the 6509 ( you're very lucky to have this ).

Build a Quad-Core Dynamips server: <$500 depending on hardware used.
Buy: 3x Sun QFE ( Quad ethernet nics ): around $50 on ebay.
The Dynamips server will be able to run 12x 3725's with IOS 12.4. You can bridge the virtual router interfaces to the quad nics, giving them phsyical ports to connect in your switching fabric. You'll have a Hybrid style lab, and I am telling you this is the way to go. ( Frame relay can be done in dynamips. )

Optional: Buy 1x 3560 ( this would be good for PVLANS and some other features the 3550 doesn't have. However the 6509 can do this stuff, so you don't even really need a 3560 ).


My lab consists of:

2x 3550
1x 3560 ( still thinking about this )
3x 2950
1x 2509 (term server)

Dynamips Server: Core 2 Duo 2ghz, 2 gig of ram, Debian linux. I can run 12x 3725 however its really pushing it. 1 Quad-Core with 4gig would be perfect, but I alread had thix box laying around and I am cheap.

notgoing2fail

yuriz43 wrote: »

Qplayed, this is what I suggest you do.

SELL: 5x 3640's
SELL: 2x 3620's
SELL: Only 1x 2518

KEEP: all of your switches, 1 terminal server, and the 6509 ( you're very lucky to have this ).

Build a Quad-Core Dynamips server: <$500 depending on hardware used.
Buy: 3x Sun QFE ( Quad ethernet nics ): around $50 on ebay.
The Dynamips server will be able to run 12x 3725's with IOS 12.4. You can bridge the virtual router interfaces to the quad nics, giving them phsyical ports to connect in your switching fabric. You'll have a Hybrid style lab, and I am telling you this is the way to go. ( Frame relay can be done in dynamips. )

Optional: Buy 1x 3560 ( this would be good for PVLANS and some other features the 3550 doesn't have. However the 6509 can do this stuff, so you don't even really need a 3560 ).


My lab consists of:

2x 3550
1x 3560
3x 2950
1x 2509 (term server)

Dynamips Server: Core 2 Duo 2ghz, 2 gig of ram, Debian linux. I can run 12x 3725 however its really pushing it. 1 Quad-Core with 4gig would be perfect, but I alread had thix box laying around and I am cheap.

Do you think the 6509 is really necessary for CCIE studies?


I might have to hit you up later on the GNS3 stuff....

ColbyG

A 6509 is definitely not necessary, lol. It would be cool to have, if you don't care about power usage and you have a decent Sup.

notgoing2fail

ColbyG wrote: »

A 6509 is definitely not necessary, lol. It would be cool to have, if you don't care about power usage and you have a decent Sup.

Thank God!!!

I don't have the desire to call my electrician to setup a dedicated circuit as well as taking out a second mortgage to pay the bills....

yuriz43

I don't think a 6509 is at all necessary. HOWEVER, if you have one just laying around, why not play with it a little?

notgoing2fail

yuriz43 wrote: »

I don't think a 6509 is at all necessary. HOWEVER, if you have one just laying around, why not play with it a little?

Don't these things need like 6,000 watts of power?

Sepiraph

notgoing2fail wrote: »

Don't these things need like 6,000 watts of power?

Here's a live one:

sh power status all
                        Power-Capacity PS-Fan Output Oper
PS   Type               Watts   A @42V Status Status State
---- ------------------ ------- ------ ------ ------ -----
1    WS-CAC-3000W       1171.38 27.89  OK     OK     on 
2    WS-CAC-3000W       1171.38 27.89  OK     OK     on 
                        Pwr-Allocated  Oper
Fan  Type               Watts   A @42V State
---- ------------------ ------- ------ -----
1    WS-C6509-E-FAN      150.36  3.58  OK
                        Pwr-Requested  Pwr-Allocated  Admin Oper
Slot Card-Type          Watts   A @42V Watts   A @42V State State
---- ------------------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ----- -----
1    WS-X6724-SFP        125.16  2.98   125.16  2.98  on    on
2    WS-X6724-SFP        125.16  2.98   125.16  2.98  on    on
5    WS-SUP720-3B        282.24  6.72   282.24  6.72  on    on
6    (Redundant Sup)       -     -      282.24  6.72  -     -
9    WS-X6748-GE-TX      325.50  7.75   325.50  7.75  on    on

So ~ 3000W total

notgoing2fail

Sepiraph wrote: »

Here's a live one:

sh power status all
                        Power-Capacity PS-Fan Output Oper
PS   Type               Watts   A @42V Status Status State
---- ------------------ ------- ------ ------ ------ -----
1    WS-CAC-3000W       1171.38 27.89  OK     OK     on 
2    WS-CAC-3000W       1171.38 27.89  OK     OK     on 
                        Pwr-Allocated  Oper
Fan  Type               Watts   A @42V State
---- ------------------ ------- ------ -----
1    WS-C6509-E-FAN      150.36  3.58  OK
                        Pwr-Requested  Pwr-Allocated  Admin Oper
Slot Card-Type          Watts   A @42V Watts   A @42V State State
---- ------------------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ----- -----
1    WS-X6724-SFP        125.16  2.98   125.16  2.98  on    on
2    WS-X6724-SFP        125.16  2.98   125.16  2.98  on    on
5    WS-SUP720-3B        282.24  6.72   282.24  6.72  on    on
6    (Redundant Sup)       -     -      282.24  6.72  -     -
9    WS-X6748-GE-TX      325.50  7.75   325.50  7.75  on    on

So ~ 3000W total

ok so I was off by 50%. LOL....


Wow, that is still a lot.....3000 watts? My HDTV is about 200 watts and I know when I watch TV all day, my bill goes up. It's been off for awhile since I've been studying a lot and the power bill has gone down quite a bit....

qplayed

Thanks for the input.

@mikej412

I'm signed up for INE CCIE program already. The reason I want to upgrade was to at least use the same IOS. I'm not able to source 12.4T images for the 3640's, digging around 12.4T isn't supported on the 3640's unless I'm wrong. Can you enlighten me on this?

@ColbyG

I might just go with the 3725's, they seem to be be at least $100 cheaper than the 1841/2811. Unless mike has some more input on the IOS versions for the 3640's.

6509 has dual sup2 w/ msfc2

@ng2f and @yuriz43
You are correct the 6509 is not necessary for the lab, eBay can make you do things ;P and it was dirt cheap. Playing with it is extremely fun

I use GNS3/Dynamips on occasions, I like it, real gear is better. It is expensive but I don't like to waste time tinkering with GNS3/Dynamips quirks. Don't get me wrong each has its pro's and con's, I just prefer real gear

6509 doesn't need a dedicated circuit for lab work


I'm already saving up for the 3560's, ebay prices on the 3725 is in my budget. 3560's are still out of reach.

This is what I have loaded on the 3640/2611xm's
c3640-jk9o3s-mz.124-10b.bin
c2600-advipservicesk9-mz.124-17

SysAdmin4066

As far as I know, you dont need 12.4T correct? All of the INE stuff is for 12.4 mainline. At least the stuff I have, which I downloaded in January I believe. If that's changed, I'm screwed.

I stand corrected, just looked up the version for the lab and it's 12.4T. INE still uses 12.4 mainline though.