Help me to choose routers and switches for CCNP (Routing, switching and Tshoot).

bdepak.003

I have planned to setup CCNP lab at home for Routing, Switching and Tshoot Exam.

I am confused to choose which switch/router model to choose.

I have planned to purchase 2x2650 routers and 2x3550 switches.

Is that ok if can go with that or do I need to go for L2 and 3560 switches as well.

I will be pleased if someone can help me out with this.

Thanks,

Deepak

craigaaron

Hi, from my understanding, if you was to go for the 2650, you should use the XM versions. the 3550, there is one thing you cant do which is something involving with Vlans if i remember, so there is a model up 3560. i have both in my lab. you will need an access level switch so 2950-t. I have only just started looking at this certification

aaron0011

You need 3560s to do private vlans, 3550s do not support this feature. Everything else the 3550 can handle.

SteveO86

As mentioned above,

• 2600XM - The XM designation is important because it supports up to 256Mb of RAM. So 2610xm, 2611xm, 2621xm, 2651xm, etc. You just want to make sure 'xm' is there.
• 3550's - These are good layer 3 switches, however as mentioned they do not support Private VLANs which is on the CCNP Blue Print.
• 3560's - These are still a bit more expensive then 3550's but they support Private VLANs and will run everything on the CCNP Switch Blue Print.
• 2950G's can also be substituted but they are strict layer 2 compared to the 3550 which is layer 3.

A few callouts If you are planning to transition into some CCIE Studies:

• 1841's - These are a step up from the 2600xm's are much quicker than 2600xm's definitely not to have for CCIE studies. (And they support IOS v15 for whenever CCIE:R/S v5 gets announced and released)
• Console Server: when you have so many devices moving the console cable between between devices can get boring real fast. You might want to scope out a Digi console server or be on the lookup for an NM-16a/32a with octa cables.
• Rack & PDU's - Just to keep lab nice and neat.

Iristheangel

It all depends on how much money you're willing to spend and where you're going. Just this week, I decided to add 4x 2801s, 2x 3750s, 3x 2960s, 2x ASA 5505s since I know that I'll one day be pursuing the CCIE and I wanted to have some hardware that would run the latest code and have the features I wanted on them. The above cost me about $1000 but it'll be worth the investment since it should carry me through my CCNP R&S, CCNP Security, and hopefully combined with my existing 5 ISRs and 4 switches, it will take me most of the way through my CCIE R&S

bdepak.003

I am from United Kingdom, I am willing spend about £250 - £300 pounds. I have recently went through in ebay and found

"2 x Cisco WS-C3550-24 Switches and 2 x Cisco 2650XM 128D/32F Routers" for £250 pounds. Will that help anyway.

bdepak.003

Thanks for you reply. I believe going for 3560 will cost me more. Is that ok if I can go with 2 x Cisco WS-C3550-24 Switches and 2 x Cisco 2650XM 128D/32F Routers and can go through private vlans via blueprint.

NetworkVeteran

For SWITCH/TSHOOT, if you plan to buy physical equipment, I'd get four switches. That's because the topology they focus on has two access-layer and two distribution-layer switches. The norm is 2x3550 and 2x2950, but if you want to go all out, replacing those 3550s with 3560s will allow you to play with PVLANs.

I'm more frugal, and spent <$50 to rent a switch rack for a month. Many paths, one CCNP R&S.

iamme4eva

I have two 3550's and two 2950's. I found PVLAN's to be a pretty simple concept, and I got by without feeling like I needed to lab it.

The other thing I couldn't do on the 3550 was some of the HSRP/VRRP/GLBP stuff - but I just used some routers for that.

I'm from the UK also, and if I remember rightly, my 3550's were about £80 each off eBay. As for my routers, I don't think I've ever paid more than £20 for one (some were 99p!), because I just sit and wait for last minute collection only bargains and then go get them. I do have the advantage that my family are spread around the country and I'm on the road a bit, so it usually works out to be "on the way" somewhere.

theodoxa

US eBay Prices (Prices may vary overseas):

Note: Prices will vary from week to week. Last I checked prices were up slightly. So, you may not be able to find one for the prices I listed, but if you have time to wait and keep looking for a deal, they should be doable.

3550 SMI - $65 (Buy It Now, I won a lot of 2 3550-48-SMI for $65 a couple months back because the auction ended at 5 AM. I bid $65 on multiple auctions [by the same seller] and managed to win one. If I'd won more than one, I figured I'd just turn around and resell the extras. Standard Disclaimer: Be prepared - monetarily - to win all the auctions you bid on simultaneously.)

1760 - $30
2651XM - $75
3550 PoE - $75
1841 - $100
2801 - $100 (I won one for $80 something)
2811 - $110 (I won one for $93ish)
2821 - $120 (Got one for $100 because the seller was local and I didn't have to pay shipping)
3750 SMI - $195
3560 SMI - $200
3750 PoE - $240

Personally, if you are on a really tight budget, I would get 1760s. They can run 12.4T Advanced IP Services (which supports IPv6) as long as you max out the RAM, and a 128 MB DIMM only costs about $6.50 (US Bidders: Pay a few cents more and buy from the guy in SC, never from China). If you're willing to buy 2651XMs, just spend a little extra and get an 1841 or 2801/2811. You get a much better router [that can run IOS 15, uses CF Cards, and supports more memory] for $25-35 more than a 2651XM.

shodown

Have some caution with 28xx series routers. The Voice CCIE already went to 15.2 code which means that you can't use them for the lab. I'm not sure what the next route/switch lab will use, but if I had to bet it will be 15.2 code as it allows for some pretty cool features that I know cisco wants to push. So I would stick tot he 2600xm routers as they are cheap and won't set you back vs paying for 2800 and they be of no use when the new lab rolls around. Also expect a new CCIE R/S to be announced in November of this year, which means 6 months after the new lab will go live.

theodoxa

shodown wrote: »

Have some caution with 28xx series routers. The Voice CCIE already went to 15.2 code which means that you can't use them for the lab. I'm not sure what the next route/switch lab will use, but if I had to bet it will be 15.2 code as it allows for some pretty cool features that I know cisco wants to push. So I would stick tot he 2600xm routers as they are cheap and won't set you back vs paying for 2800 and they be of no use when the new lab rolls around. Also expect a new CCIE R/S to be announced in November of this year, which means 6 months after the new lab will go live.

2800s start at about $25-35 ($100) more than a 2600XM ($75). There's no real reason not to get at least one. As for the CCIE possibly going to ISR G2s, why get a 2600XM and put yourself 2 generations behind? If you're worried about spending money on ISRs only to have to buy ISR G2s, note that single ISR G2 costs more than most folks' entire CCNA/CCNP Lab put together.

shodown

Good info, didn't know the price of the 2800's had come down so far in the past few months. When I last checked they were still over 200 bucks. I guess at those prices it doesn't matter.


I've started to buy ISRG2s and your right they are pretty expensive. I have 1 now. I hope to have 3 total before the year is out .

SteveO86

Wow, I didn't realize the price of the 2800's did drop so much as well

How much the G2 run you Shodown?

Cyanic

3550's don't support IPv6 so you may have some gaps if you use them to build-up the TSHOOT lab.

I used 2 2950s, a 3560 and a 3550. I then used GNS3 on a PC with 2 NICs to bridge the virtual routers to the physical switches. The only thing I could not do for the CCNP was build the TSHOOT lab 100% because of the IPv6 limitation of the 3550.

bdepak.003

Thanks guys for all your response, I have setted up my lab a month before but forgot to post it. I am just loving it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ande0255

Here is my lab^
From top to bottom (stacked odd per the form factor):
1 x 2511 Access Server
1 x 1841 running IOS 15.1 with a WIC-2T
2 x 2950 catalyst switches
1 x 3550 running advanced EMI image
1 x 2620XM frame relay router
3 x 2611XM running 12.4T IOS with Advanced IP Services

Still need another 3550 switch, but otherwise I think that will complete my lab until I go to the voip side, don't think I'm going to try building a CCIE lab beyond what I have already.

That lab setup set me back about $1100 give or take.

FloOz

Nice lab man. Goodluck!