NetworkVeteran wrote: » For CCNP, the routers are just about right. 4 routers + an access server + a frame relay switch can do most topologies. The switches, on the other hand, are simultaneusly "overkill" and "miss some objectives". For CCNP, the switches are poorly aligned. All the CCNP SWITCH topologies I've run across require two distribution switches and two access switches. 2x3550 and 2x2950 can fill that role, leaving those extra three switches a waste. Furthermore, private VLANs requires 3560s, so you'd have been better off with 2x3560 + 2x2950 instead of those three extra switches. For CCNP TSHOOT, you need 2x2950, 2x3550, 5xrouter, 1xframe-relay switch, 2xserver, and 2xclient to match the lab topoogy. If you sub the 3550 for one router, you'll only need to scrounge up four PC-like devices. I only spent a few hours learning this topology. It's doable, but you'll have lots of overhead compared to GNS, which hopefully you'll find enjoyable / educational. For CCIP::MPLS, to run a basic (CE1/CE2)-PE-P-PE-(CE1/CE2) setup, you'd want at least 7 devices. On the plus side, if you could recruit those 3550s as LSRs/BGP-speakers, you'd be okay. The MPLS labs I'm doing are more complex, one requiring 8 devices and another requiring 15 devices. But you should be only at a slight disadvantage compared to GNS users.
blindrox wrote: » Careful with the 2620xm and the nm-1fe2w. I bought 4 of them to go in my 4 2620XM only to discover they weren't supported in the 2620 specifically. Other 2600 models can use them - but I think the 2620xm doesn't like em. This really bummed me out - because I was then stuck with 1 FastE port on each of my routers.
