Switch for CCIE INE Lab

jobinjvjobinjv Member Posts: 6 ■□□□□□□□□□
Would a Cisco catalyst 2960 be sufficient instead of the C3550 for the Dynamips based CCIE RS lab ?

I presently have 2 C3560 and 2 C2960. Or will 4 C3560 be enough for the lab ?

Comments

  • ZartanasaurusZartanasaurus Member Posts: 2,008 ■■■■■■■■■□
    2960 is insufficient. Most go with 2x3550 and 2x3560 or 4x3550. I have 4x3560.
    Currently reading:
    IPSec VPN Design 44%
    Mastering VMWare vSphere 5​ 42.8%
  • mapletunemapletune Member Posts: 316
    Yup, just as zartanasaurus (is this a dinosaur themed name? that's kickass...) most go with 2x 3550 + 2x 3560. Many get 3750 instead of 3560... but be aware that 3750's are known to have more failures than 3560's.

    Here are some resources you can read up on:

    INE site: comparison of features between 3550 vs 3560
    Catalyst 3560 and 3550 Comparison | INE

    Another comparison site organized in a nice table
    http://routeswitchlabtips.com/switching/rs-ccie-home-lab-cisco-3550-vs-3560/

    Mostly notably, 3560's can do Private VLAN and IPv6.
    Studying: vmware, CompTIA Linux+, Storage+ or EMCISA
    Future: CCNP, CCIE
  • jamesp1983jamesp1983 Member Posts: 2,475 ■■■■□□□□□□
    I would just follow their lab build.
    "Check both the destination and return path when a route fails." "Switches create a network. Routers connect networks."
  • jobinjvjobinjv Member Posts: 6 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Thanks for the replies.

    Well, the reason why I asked was the 3560's and 2960's are lying around in office and can fit into my lab. I would have to otherwise purchase 3550 if 2960 cannot be used or even 3560.

    But like Zartanasaurus has mentioned, would an all 3560 be capable to carryout all the requirements in the Lab
  • mapletunemapletune Member Posts: 316
    Yes, 3560 are like... more feature "full" than 3550's

    so, a 4x 3560 lab would also work =)
    Studying: vmware, CompTIA Linux+, Storage+ or EMCISA
    Future: CCNP, CCIE
  • spiderjerichospiderjericho Registered Users, Member Posts: 890 ■■■■■□□□□□
    Hmm, it's up to you. For what you want to do, 2 3560s are fine, but if you have the money, make it rain private VLANs and ipv6.
  • ZartanasaurusZartanasaurus Member Posts: 2,008 ■■■■■■■■■□
    jobinjv wrote: »
    Thanks for the replies.

    Well, the reason why I asked was the 3560's and 2960's are lying around in office and can fit into my lab. I would have to otherwise purchase 3550 if 2960 cannot be used or even 3560.

    But like Zartanasaurus has mentioned, would an all 3560 be capable to carryout all the requirements in the Lab
    3560s are what is used in the actual lab, so go with that if you have them lying around. :)
    Currently reading:
    IPSec VPN Design 44%
    Mastering VMWare vSphere 5​ 42.8%
  • jobinjvjobinjv Member Posts: 6 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Thanks a lot for all the replies.

    Indeed I shall make use of the "free" 3560 :D
  • MickQMickQ Member Posts: 628 ■■■■□□□□□□
    3560s are the newer 3550s, just as 2960s replaced 2950s... I think
  • routergodsroutergods Member Posts: 66 ■■□□□□□□□□
    make it rain private VLANs and ipv6.

    I gotta remember this quote... make it rain indeed.

    Another option is just to do rack rentals, PacketLife and Brendan Choi's switch lab.
  • down77down77 Member Posts: 1,009
    routergods wrote: »

    Another option is just to do rack rentals, PacketLife and Brendan Choi's switch lab.

    +1 on this. I have gear at the house but am using Rack Rentals on the road for lab access. There are plenty of quality rental places and PacketLife has built a nice little set up as well. For the cost of 2 3550 + 2 3560, you can get around 1000 tokens of rack rental (100hrs give or take).
    CCIE Sec: Starting Nov 11
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