Cisco NM-8A/S card + 2811 or Cisco 2509-RJ 16/16 Terminal Server Router

I was looking at Ebay to swap out my current access server for one of these two options.

Cisco NM-8A/S card + 2811 : For that I am seeing on Ebay this fits my budget.

Cisco 2509-RJ 16/16 Terminal Server Router <---Cisco certification kits works with by budget.

I am thinking about going with the 2811/nm-8a option. I get the Voice router plus the card.
It has just enough ports for all my equipment and I get to play with a voice router.
However, I don't plan on doing voice for a bit and the 2509 is a straight access server and get's what I need done right now.

Thoughts ?

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Nafe92014

I'm going with the 2509 to save cabling space and for convince. Also, my 2811 router has the WIC slots taken up already with 2 serial cards.

theodoxa

How about a DigiCM32? Cheaper and you use regular old Cat. 5 patch cables instead of Octal cables.

Digi CM32 | eBay

beatfreaker

Another vote for the Digi CM32 here as well.

HAMP

Ok!!!!
Why am I just hearing about this 'Digi CM32' device now? lol

what is the difference between it an the 2509?

JeanM

Well, one big difference to start with is one is using ios and one doesn't

theodoxa

HAMP wrote: »

Ok!!!!
Why am I just hearing about this 'Digi CM32' device now? lol

what is the difference between it an the 2509?

It's a 32-port console server that I believe runs on *nix (some distro of Linux or Uinx). It has a menu based CLI and a web interface. I use the web interface to configure everything. It is also designed to use regular patch cables to connect to the console ports of devices.

HAMP

Is that it? Once I use a console cable from my PC/desktop to the digi, I can use regular patch cables instead of console cable from the digi to each cisco device? Besides the digi and patch cables are there any other things I need to buy?

I do have a Cisco 2509 8-port access server, which I ran out of ports and getting tired of always losing sessions.

Can someone tell me something bad about the digi? It sounds to good to be true. If not, I believe I will have to buy one.

theodoxa

You don't even need a console cable to the Digi. You can configure it to allow Telnet or SSH connections. I connected mine to my ASA 5505 allowing me to access it from any PC on my network or remotely (using VPN).

HAMP

Hummm!! I wasn't considering it, but remotely does sound like something I wouldn't mind trying/doing when I want to mess around while at work.

but, my whole idea was something simple and easy to connect into the console ports 99% of the time to configure and mess around with commands, instead of having to unplug and plug again.

Although I haven't taken the 2nd part of the test for my CCNA, I was buying and preparing my rack for the CCNP.

I was going to buy another cisco access server, but since this device and handle all of the cisco devices just with a load of patch cables, then this is the way to go. Makes me think what will I do with my cisco access server now... lol

mgmguy1

My Digi 32 access server gave me issues from day 1. The documentation on it was not very good in my opinion. I decided to get a Cisco 2811 512/128 router with a Cisco NM-8A/S card. I get the benefit of adding the 2811 to my setup and I know I am going to be tackling CCNA VoIP at some point.
I would have loved the Digi 32 to have worked out but i guess it was not meant to be. With my new access server I really bang out some labs without wasting time trying to troubleshoot why my Digi is not working.
[h=1][/h]

HAMP

mgmguy1 wrote: »

My Digi 32 access server gave me issues from day 1. The documentation on it was not very good in my opinion. I decided to get a Cisco 2811 512/128 router with a Cisco NM-8A/S card. I get the benefit of adding the 2811 to my setup and I know I am going to be tackling CCNA VoIP at some point.
I would have loved the Digi 32 to have worked out but i guess it was not meant to be. With my new access server I really bang out some labs without wasting time trying to troubleshoot why my Digi is not working.

I suppose I didn't give people enough time to reply with the bad, because I already ordered it. By the tracking number, I should have it next week.

I have 13 separate routers and switches, and hopefully I can have it running nice and smoothly. If not, I will add another 2509

theodoxa

HAMP wrote: »

I suppose I didn't give people enough time to reply with the bad, because I already ordered it. By the tracking number, I should have it next week.

I have 13 separate routers and switches, and hopefully I can have it running nice and smoothly. If not, I will add another 2509

I've had no issues with mine. The biggest issue was resetting it and configuring it how I wanted. I was able to find that information by Googling.

Steps to Factory Reset a Digi CM unit - Digi International

I reset mine and plugged the LAN port on the Digi directly into my laptop. I set the IP address on my laptop to something on the same /24 as the Digi's default IP Address and then plugged the Digi's default IP Address into my web browser.

http://ftp1.digi.com/support/documentation/90000300_E.pdf
ftp://ftp1.digi.com/support/cabling/90000301_d.pdf

HAMP

Ok, this is the coolest add-on to my rack. Yet, I am a little mad, because I spent twice as much on the cisco 2509 with only 8 ports.

I happen to buy the cm-48.

YES!!!!!! A 48 port for less than half the price of a lousy 8..

I haven't completely set it up yet, I just simply tested a few things.

But, so far, its more then I expected

HAMP

@ theodoxa

Thanks for answering my questions about the Digi CM. Just like I previous post, I feel this is the BEST add-on to my rack. I am so glad to have gotten this device, it has far more options than the 2509.

I don’t know about you, but two things I love about the digi over the 2509, is first the ability to have multiple windows open. When I’m at work, most of the time I log into multiple devices at once. That originally bothered me at first that I couldn’t with the 2509. That could be a pro/con when people talk about using packet tracer over real equipment. Using the 2509 with only one window, while with packet tracer you can have a window for all devices. They can’t say that when they talk about the digi.

The other is location. I haven’t just yet, but if I wanted my equipment placed elsewhere, I’m not restricted to the length of the console cable or having to spend extra for wireless. Using a simple cat5 to my home network is a really great benefit to it.

Honestly I can go on with other things I have learnt about it since I played with it.

@ mgmguy1
You post almost gave me a little doubt about getting the Digi, but it works very well. Just the ability to have multiple windows is the number one seller for me.

mgmguy1

Glad it works for you. My Digital 32 gave me too many issues. I just got my cisco 2811 last week with the nm32 card and my new access server works great. I can telnet into each of the devices on my lab rack with no issues. This was a better move for me. Again others may have better luck then I did With the Digi.

nikalis

just bought a digi 48, ill let everyone know what i think when it finally arrives

nikalis

So i am making cables now. if i post again in a couple hours it works pretty well, if not its being a pain or i got side tracked

HAMP

nikalis wrote: »

So i am making cables now. if i post again in a couple hours it works pretty well, if not its being a pain or i got side tracked

I remember reading that someone had to make a cable for the CM. Actually using the device is so much simpler. Just plug a into the network port instead of the console port, find the IP addy for the device. I only have 1 patch cable going to the CM, and that is running from my home network switch.

nikalis

i actually meant the patch cables to the devices. lol thanks though