Switches for CCNP

I'm looking at getting some switches for my CCNP lab. I'm currently going through the ICND topics and just looking ahead for when I pass both exams. I've been looking at the 3550 and the 3550 pwr models. Will these suffice for the exam, or would I need more L3 switches? I currently have 2 2950's and 2 2950T's.

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networkjutsu

3550s will work on most of the topics but not all. 3560s are more ideal if you want to practice all of the technologies covered in CCNP SWITCH.

MAC_Addy

networkjutsu wrote: »

3560s are more ideal.

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. That's what I thought. How many do you recommend?

networkjutsu

Two should be good. I did mine with 2 x 3550 but I had access to 3560s because of Cisco Network Academy and at work.

MAC_Addy

Thanks again. I'll wait until I've passed ICND2 until I make a full commitment to purchase them. Though, I am fully confident I'll pass - just don't want them to sit around doing nothing until then.

networkjutsu

You'll be fine with your ICND2. Yea, just wait. I bought my 3560s when it was around $600s and now they're just ~$350 - basically what I paid for my 3550s back then.

Jason0352

What can the 3560's do that the 3550 EMI's cant do?

wave

Has anyone used INE rack rentals for CCNP Switch? I haven't seen this discussed for a while and the other posts have been under the CCIE forum.

alan2308

Jason0352 wrote: »

What can the 3560's do that the 3550 EMI's cant do?

Catalyst 3560 and 3550 Comparison | INE

pitviper

Jason0352 wrote: »

What can the 3560's do that the 3550 EMI's cant do?

From an exam perspective the biggest thing being private VLANs. If I didn’t already have 3560s in my voice lab I wouldn’t have spent the cash on them for CCNP studies.

QoS (queuing) and IPv6 support is different between models – but you won’t see any of that on the SWITCH exam.