New guy here *lab checkup*

PhildoBaggins

What up everybody. I found this forum while looking for info to build my CCENT/CCNA lab. I have been studying for my CCENT for a couple months and started my own lab but I ended up moving and all my equipment has been boxed up. I'm dying just reading and watching CBT vids....lol...I need my lab back.

Anyways, I currently have

Routers
2514
3810
2611
2611
831
3640 w/ FE and 4 slow serial ports (Frame switch whattttt)
3662 with 6 NM slots and 2FE ports (for future expansion)

Switches
1900 (too old, probably should have scratched these and the 2900's and just went for a few 2950s, live and learn)
1900
1900
2900XL
2900XL
2900XL

I started getting into Cisco based LAN/WAN about 8-9 years ago but then I stopped doing it and pursued programming. I burned out like crazy after 5 years of PHP coding. It hit me a couple months ago that I love networking and I was thinking to myself "WHY DID I STOP" so I picked up the Cisco official ICND1/2 books, CBT Nugget vids etc.. and bought a cheap little $100 CCNA lab on ebay to start. I love it.

Anyways If anyone has any cheap equipment suggestions that I could add, I would greatly appreciate it.

Netwurk

Get a 2950 switch and your lab should be OK for CCNA

The 2900's are OK secondary switches, and of course the 1900's are good for boat anchors (you need at least 3 to have enough weight for an anchor)

alan2308

You're good on routers assuming they have enough memory to run a good enough IOS, but you're switches are a bit rough. The 1900's aren't really of any use since the commands aren't the same. The 2900's are good in cases where you want a 3rd or 4th switch, but I'd really suggest picking up a 2950 or two. In the mean time, while the 2900's are missing features, they will get you started.

alan2308

Netwurk wrote: »

the 1900's are good for boat anchors (you need at least 3 to have enough weight for an anchor)

The 1900's can still be used if you're building an elaborate frame relay cloud. Though I can't imagine that you'd ever need more than one switch there.

Netwurk

alan2308 wrote: »

The 1900's can still be used if you're building an elaborate frame relay cloud. Though I can't imagine that you'd ever need more than one switch there.

You know, you don't really need to run a 1900 to tunnel multiple FR routers - assuming you have enough ports, just use one of your good switches and put the FR's on their own vlan

Just trying to save you on the electric bill, buddy

alan2308

I know, I really do need to decommission the thing. But I've had it for years and for some reason I keep coming up with excuses to keep using it for something.

PhildoBaggins

I got those 1900s for super cheap, less than 10 bucks a switch shipped.

I keep getting outbid on 2950's on ebay.

I just won 3 2620's I will use for Vlan routing. Less than $40 for all 3.

So I will make my next purchase a few 2950's. I see some lots of 2 or 3 2950's going for less than a hundred so I will just have to keep bidding

mikej412

Don't forget a router that supports SDM.

alan2308

PhildoBaggins wrote: »

I got those 1900s for super cheap, less than 10 bucks a switch shipped.

I keep getting outbid on 2950's on ebay.

I just won 3 2620's I will use for Vlan routing. Less than $40 for all 3.

So I will make my next purchase a few 2950's. I see some lots of 2 or 3 2950's going for less than a hundred so I will just have to keep bidding

That's the beauty of ebay if you don't have to have it right away. I was looking for a 2950 or two for myself, and found somebody selling off a stack of 3550's for $25 each because he thought they all had bad power supplies. I called BS on his diagnosis and bought one and it works just fine.

And as far as SDM, that 831 is listed as supporting it.

tha_dub

Just sell 4 of your switches on ebay and you should net enough to buy at least one 2950!

PhildoBaggins

I just won a 2950 12 port for 18 bucks. Woo hoo. I have another auction for a 12 port going for the same price +/- shipping cost.

I canceled the order on 2 routers.

Here is my setup now.

Routers
2514 2serial 2enet
3810 2serial 1enet
2611 2enet 1 csu/dsu
2611 2enet 1 csu/dsu
831 1fe 4enet
2620 1fe
2620 1fe
2620 1fe

Switches
1900
1900
1900
2900XL
2900XL
2900XL
2950
2950 (auction ending in 1 hour)

I found some really good prices on NM-4T's so I canceled the 3600 series orders and I will use one of my 2600's as a frame switch. Buying 2 NM-4T's at $25 a pop is cheaper than buying a single 3640 with an included NM-4T. That way I can have a dedicated frame cloud and plug in my 2500/3800 and 2 26xx's.

I would really like a lab that will encompass 95% of the LAN/WAN configuration the CCNA will cover. Once I get proficient enough and to a level i'm acing all my practice exams I plan I turning all this equipment around back on ebay as a kit with all the cabling and upgrading to just a few 26xxXM's , a couple Layer 3 switches, and get into some newer IOS stuffs.

I have spent less than $350 on all this so far. I will need some more DCE/DTE cables though lol. It never ends.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a decent free/opensource network diagram software? I have tried quite a few and they are fail somewhat short of my expectations. Any help/feedback is awesome

alan2308

No, it never does. Welcome to the addiction.

tha_dub

Okay I'd say you have damn near enough gear for a CCIE lab less ebay more study

lol

PhildoBaggins

i know i'm dying to play with the equipment. everything is on hold because i got married and moved into the wifes apartment. we are now moving to a 2 bedroom apt today and tomorrow. so i can finally unload all my boxes of gear lol

mikej412

PhildoBaggins wrote: »

I found some really good prices on NM-4T's so I canceled the 3600 series orders and I will use one of my 2600's as a frame switch.

Did you verify that they are supported by your 2600's? Or find someone who's running one "unsupported" on a 2600?

I don't think the NM-4T is supported on the 2600 series except for the 2691 -- check the Module Cross Reference PDF (under the NM/WIC/VWIC Compatibility section) on the Cisco Partner Central Portable Product Sheets web page: Portable Product Sheets - Partner Central

PhildoBaggins

Its getting there. I have upgraded all the IOS to max the flash will allow, I still have three 2620's coming in at some point this week or next.

Dangit, you are right. Those NM-4T's are not supported by 2610-11-20-21 etc... Why are peeps are ebay selling it for them, thats just cruel lol.

Netwurk

mikej412 wrote: »

Did you verify that they are supported by your 2600's? Or find someone who's running one "unsupported" on a 2600?

I don't think the NM-4T is supported on the 2600 series except for the 2691 -- check the Module Cross Reference PDF (under the NM/WIC/VWIC Compatibility section) on the Cisco Partner Central Portable Product Sheets web page: Portable Product Sheets - Partner Central

The picture is small but I think he has some 3640's there so he should be OK

At least I think so

PhildoBaggins

I keep running through configs and labs, right now i'm average dead on 80% for the Cisco Press/BOSON exams. I will keep at it until I average 95-100% then I'll go take it. I'm getting exciting, alot of stuff is starting to click.

Somnipotent

lookin' good. now add a 20U rack . you should sell off those 1900s and 2900s and get a 3550 so you'll be ready for CCNP when you get to that point.

Somnipotent

mikej412 wrote: »

Did you verify that they are supported by your 2600's? Or find someone who's running one "unsupported" on a 2600?

I don't think the NM-4T is supported on the 2600 series except for the 2691 -- check the Module Cross Reference PDF (under the NM/WIC/VWIC Compatibility section) on the Cisco Partner Central Portable Product Sheets web page: Portable Product Sheets - Partner Central

I have an NM-8A/S running on my 2650 for frame-relay switching... Mike is correct, the NM-4T is NOT supported by 2600/2600XMs. You should go with a NM-4A/S if you're going that route.