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Cheap Practice

CoolhandlukeCoolhandluke Member Posts: 118
in CCNP
Hi,

I just started my SWITCH studies and can't afford to shell out for some 3550's at the minute. Does anyone have any cheap alternatives to practice with (sim suggestions etc)

I know I will need to get a lab up eventually but my financial commitments are elsewhere atm.

Any advice appreciated !
[CCENT]->[CCNA]->[CCNP-ROUTE]->COLOR=#0000ff]CCNP SWITCH[/COLOR->[CCNP-TSHOOT]
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    vinbuckvinbuck Member Posts: 785 ■■■■□□□□□□
    It isn't Cisco but the CLI is similar and the concepts are the same...fire it up if you have GNS3

    Linux Switching Appliance
    GNS3 • How to run Linux MLS switch in GNS3 : HOWTOs
    Cisco was my first networking love, but my "other" router is a Mikrotik...
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    tndfrtndfr Member Posts: 110
    Coolhandluke wrote: »
    Hi,

    I just started my SWITCH studies and can't afford to shell out for some 3550's at the minute. Does anyone have any cheap alternatives to practice with (sim suggestions etc)

    I know I will need to get a lab up eventually but my financial commitments are elsewhere atm.

    Any advice appreciated !

    just bear in mind that even with 3550s you cannot do much apart from MLS, just get 2950s and a 2 1721 or 2620, that way you can practice the following:
    VLAN & Intervlan routing
    TRUNK
    Etherchannel
    portsecurity and VACLs
    STP
    VRRP HSRP and GLBP
    IP SLA (RTR), SYSLOG and SNMP

    i firmly believe you can get away with it just learning commands and output of CEF, save your money for something much beefier than 3550s, you gonna need them when you get to TSHOOT.
    Working on CCNP 642-813 and finishing off MCSA.
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    shodownshodown Member Posts: 2,271
    Packet Tracer
    Currently Reading

    CUCM SRND 9x/10, UCCX SRND 10x, QOS SRND, SIP Trunking Guide, anything contact center related
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    alan2308alan2308 Member Posts: 1,854 ■■■■■■■■□□
    packetlife community lab

    Packet Life
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    chmorinchmorin Member Posts: 1,446 ■■■■■□□□□□
    tndfr wrote: »
    just bear in mind that even with 3550s you cannot do much apart from MLS, just get 2950s and a 2 1721 or 2620, that way you can practice the following:
    VLAN & Intervlan routing
    TRUNK
    Etherchannel
    portsecurity and VACLs
    STP
    VRRP HSRP and GLBP
    IP SLA (RTR), SYSLOG and SNMP

    i firmly believe you can get away with it just learning commands and output of CEF, save your money for something much beefier than 3550s, you gonna need them when you get to TSHOOT.

    I think you may have been miss-informed on a few things. Or I am.
    VLAN & Intervlan routing
    How can you practice SVI based intervlan routing without a L3 switch? 3550 fits that.
    3550s you cannot do much apart from MLS
    A good few chapters of the SWITCH book focus on L3 switching concepts and applications in environments between them.
    VRRP HSRP and GLBP
    I have never tried to configure HSRP or the like in a L2 device, but I am pretty sure that is only available from a multilayer switch, like a 3550. That is what has been implied on every bit of documentation I have read(IE: the switch book). I have only configured it on L3 switches in lieu of this.

    I'm sorry, but the 3550's are a fantastic investment. Packet tracer and GNS3 using FE-NM's will get you through 80% of the SWITCH subject matter. But to get it all, you would be in a perfect world with two 3550's, and two 2950's. So I suggest looking into GNS3 router emulation and putting switch network modules in there, and Packet Tracer for other stuff too.

    I'm all for being corrected.
    Currently Pursuing
    WGU (BS in IT Network Administration) - 52%| CCIE:Voice Written - 0% (0/200 Hours)
    mikej412 wrote:
    Cisco Networking isn't just a job, it's a Lifestyle.
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    CoolhandlukeCoolhandluke Member Posts: 118
    Thanks for all the suggestions, seems like some GNS3 may be the way to go for now.

    I think what tndfr was getting at was that VRRP HSRP and GLBP can all be used on the router side of things (hence the 1721 or 2620). I already have a 1751 which is great for that, SLA, SNMP etc could do with another though.

    Not sure where VACLs/Private VLANs fit into it all yet though (L3 switch only ?).

    Thanks again

    Back to the books icon_study.gif
    [CCENT]->[CCNA]->[CCNP-ROUTE]->COLOR=#0000ff]CCNP SWITCH[/COLOR->[CCNP-TSHOOT]
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    tndfrtndfr Member Posts: 110
    Coolhandluke wrote: »
    Thanks for all the suggestions, seems like some GNS3 may be the way to go for now.

    I think what tndfr was getting at was that VRRP HSRP and GLBP can all be used on the router side of things (hence the 1721 or 2620). I already have a 1751 which is great for that, SLA, SNMP etc could do with another though.

    Not sure where VACLs/Private VLANs fit into it all yet though (L3 switch only ?).

    Thanks again

    Back to the books icon_study.gif

    VRRP and GLBP and HSRP can be practised with a 1721 and 2620 (GNS3 even), VACL are not supported in a 2950, Private Vlan are not supported in 3550/2950.
    Working on CCNP 642-813 and finishing off MCSA.
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    chmorinchmorin Member Posts: 1,446 ■■■■■□□□□□
    tndfr wrote: »
    VRRP and GLBP and HSRP can be practised with a 1721 and 2620 (GNS3 even), VACL are not supported in a 2950, Private Vlan are not supported in 3550/2950.

    Ah okay, gotcha.
    Currently Pursuing
    WGU (BS in IT Network Administration) - 52%| CCIE:Voice Written - 0% (0/200 Hours)
    mikej412 wrote:
    Cisco Networking isn't just a job, it's a Lifestyle.
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    CoolhandlukeCoolhandluke Member Posts: 118
    Just a quick update for anyone interested ....

    I just got myself a 2950 and put the latest IOS on.
    Private VLANs are supported.

    yay :)
    [CCENT]->[CCNA]->[CCNP-ROUTE]->COLOR=#0000ff]CCNP SWITCH[/COLOR->[CCNP-TSHOOT]
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    jason_lundejason_lunde Member Posts: 567
    Coolhandluke wrote: »
    Private VLANs are supported.

    qua? since when? protected ports maybe.
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    millworxmillworx Member Posts: 290
    Coolhandluke wrote: »
    Just a quick update for anyone interested ....

    I just got myself a 2950 and put the latest IOS on.
    Private VLANs are supported.

    yay :)

    That latest IOS is 12.0.5 and it does not support private VLANs per-se. It is just edge support, so the private VLANs cannot extend to other switches. But if that is all you need you could even go with a 2924 to play around with it.

    The cheapest you can get away with and still get true PVLAN functionality is with a 3560.
    Currently Reading:
    CCIE: Network Security Principals and Practices
    CCIE: Routing and Switching Exam Certification Guide
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