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.

Find more posts tagged with

Free for TechExams community: Cybersecurity salary guide

Compare cert salaries and plan your next career move

Button

Comments

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.