BCMSN Switches

I will be starting on my BCMSN studying soon. I currently have two 3550 switches but was wondering if that should be enough to get me through. Should I get another switch? Possibly a 2950?

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mwgood

A 2950 is probably not a bad idea. That way, spanning-tree should be a little more interesting.

miller811

buemae808 wrote:

I will be starting on my BCMSN studying soon. I currently have two 3550 switches but was wondering if that should be enough to get me through. Should I get another switch? Possibly a 2950?

Wow, how did you end up with 2 3550's?
I was able to make it through BCMSN without a 3550, but only becuase I could not afford to buy one.

buemae808

I bought the two 3550s off of ebay to play around with and to use once I start studying for the BCMSN. I kind of went on a shopping spree before starting my CCNP studying.

If I bought a 2950, is there a specific model that I should look at?

tiersten

2950 with the enhanced image as you can't upgrade from SI to EI. Up to you about how many ports.

tiersten

miller811 wrote:

Wow, how did you end up with 2 3550's?
I was able to make it through BCMSN without a 3550, but only becuase I could not afford to buy one.

3550s have significantly dropped in price recently. Not 100% sure why to be honest. The 3560 was already out.

miller811

tiersten wrote:

miller811 wrote:

Wow, how did you end up with 2 3550's?
I was able to make it through BCMSN without a 3550, but only becuase I could not afford to buy one.

3550s have significantly dropped in price recently. Not 100% sure why to be honest. The 3560 was already out.

I have been watching them and they are still about $500.
too much for me at this point.

tiersten

miller811 wrote:

I have been watching them and they are still about $500.
too much for me at this point.

Lots of them have been going for about $300 on eBay.

miller811

tiersten wrote:

miller811 wrote:

I have been watching them and they are still about $500.
too much for me at this point.

Lots of them have been going for about $300 on eBay.

I guess, I need to flag a few and see what they are closing at. I typically look at the buy it now listings.

tiersten

Yeah. You don't normally get a very good deal with Buy It Now. I've snagged a few pieces of equipment for way less than they'd usually go for just by carefully watching the auctions and sheer determination. Patience is the key I guess. You'll eventually get a good cheap switch

kpjungle

Does it matter if the image is EMI or SMI for BCMSN? And is the 3550 already at EOL for current CCIE studies?

kryolla

if you want to do inter-vlan routing between switches than you need the EMI image for 3550.

APA

tiersten wrote:

miller811 wrote:

Wow, how did you end up with 2 3550's?
I was able to make it through BCMSN without a 3550, but only becuase I could not afford to buy one.

3550s have significantly dropped in price recently. Not 100% sure why to be honest. The 3560 was already out.

I thought it was due to the CCIE R&S Labs now containing 3560's hence the price drop on 3550's.....

w4nn4b1337

I just picked up a Cisco 4006 chasis for $199 which comes with the Supervisor and 3 powersupplies to get started on the BCSMN. .
http://(edited link - don't buy it - they lied to me)

It's a Layer2/3 switch and I know it is end of life and so on but is this a good idea? I guess it doesn't matter at this point but I also had to find a switch blade for the chasis. I'm not sure if I recommend the site I bought it from as everytyhing should be here on the 10th. All in all I was able to find all parts for around $400.
Do we reallly need 1Gig swtiches for a lab? There is a 10/100 3548 at cables and kits for a couple hundred. Just thought I would pass that along.

Netwurk

The engine that comes with your 4006 only runs CatOS. The BCMSN only tests you on IOS commands.

You can replace the engine with a 4013+ or a 4014. That will allow you to run IOS on the box.

Problem is, those engines are hard to find for under $400

w4nn4b1337

Netwurk wrote:

The engine that comes with your 4006 only runs CatOS. The BCMSN only tests you on IOS commands.

You can replace the engine with a 4013+ or a 4014. That will allow you to run IOS on the box.

Problem is, those engines are hard to find for under $400

Crap - I asked them what it was running and they said IOS. Looks like I may need to send it back. Thanks for the info.

update - just checked the site and it comes with the WS-X4013

Netwurk

w4nn4b1337 wrote:

update - just checked the site and it comes with the WS-X4013 -

Yeah, the X4013 is CatOS only

Needs to be X4013+ or X4014 to do IOS

They'll probably let you return it, but you might be stuck paying for the shipping

w4nn4b1337

Netwurk wrote:

w4nn4b1337 wrote:

update - just checked the site and it comes with the WS-X4013 -

Yeah, the X4013 is CatOS only

Needs to be X4013+ or X4014 to do IOS

They'll probably let you return it, but you might be stuck paying for the shipping

I just spoke with them and now they can't confirm one way or the other what the switch is running. Ironic -

Live and learn as usual. I'm just trying to live up to my name!

Netwurk

Next time you see a deal on a switch or router, post it here before you buy. Someone should be able to tell you if it is a good deal or not.

JohnDouglas

My switching lab will probably consist of

2 x 3550
1 x 3560
1 x 2950

I've got the option to borrow a couple of 2924s. Is there any point in having them?

Netwurk

JohnDouglas wrote:

My switching lab will probably consist of

2 x 3550
1 x 3560
1 x 2950

I've got the option to borrow a couple of 2924s. Is there any point in having them?

Not really. They don't do RSTP or MST, and they use a lot of old commands that might be confusing. For instance, root guard is set up with "spanning-tree rootguard" on a 2924, but the newer command (the one they would test you on) is "spanning-tree guard root".

Four switches will allow you to set up all kinds of different STP scenarios, so you should be good to go.

JohnDouglas

Netwurk wrote:

JohnDouglas wrote:

My switching lab will probably consist of

2 x 3550
1 x 3560
1 x 2950

I've got the option to borrow a couple of 2924s. Is there any point in having them?

Not really. They don't do RSTP or MST, and they use a lot of old commands that might be confusing. For instance, root guard is set up with "spanning-tree rootguard" on a 2924, but the newer command (the one they would test you on) is "spanning-tree guard root".

Four switches will allow you to set up all kinds of different STP scenarios, so you should be good to go.

thanks netwurk. if figured they might be more trouble than their worth.

fonque

im actually in the market for 3550's right now.
I wish I could take some home from work, they have them laying around in lan closets all over the place, like pieces of trash.
I have seen some really good deals on 24port POE 3550s lately on ebay, but Iam still trying to save up cash.

I need 2 3550s and 1 2621, that way I can play around with all kinds of stp, and intervlan routing.

w4nn4b1337

Netwurk wrote:

Next time you see a deal on a switch or router, post it here before you buy. Someone should be able to tell you if it is a good deal or not.

Good advice. I actually came across this site as I was hunting around for gear. Thanks again for your response.