3640 Router 3

[silverhairb]

I have an opportunity to acquire a 3640 router with a couple of network modules (ethernet and fast ethernet are there, WIC-1ADSL not installed but there are open WIC slots). There are several of these routers available. Some have 12.3(1a) or greater 12.3 IOS. A couple of 12.2(xx) or lower. A couple of others have IOS 12.4. All seem less expensive than a 2621 or 2651.

Are these reasonable for home use (back-up for an 877) and to maybe *slowly* work toward a CCNA, or is this like taking driver's ed in a Boeing 757?

What is the minimum IOS is should look for when shopping for a Cisco router? Are there other components I should acquire?

 

[CiscoGuy33]

silverhairb,

Saw your post over in Cisco Routers area, glad you followed Burts advice and came over here!

WELCOME !!!

Here is a great blog about setting up a CCNA lab by Wendell Odom, CCIE and Cisco author, it has lots of info on what you want to setup and look for -

http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/24916

The 3640's are GREAT for CCNA and CCNP, if you are getting more then 1, (and for CCNA you really should have 3 routers) then get 1 with a 12.4 IOS and another with 12.3 - then you can back the IOS's both up to a computer running a TFTP server software (we have discussed it here) and you will have different versions since you don't have CCO access at Cisco.

Look back at several posts about labs and you will see stuff from maczen, he has a bunch of 3640's, I have mostly 260xxXM's as well as a 3620. Having your own lab is the best way to learn CCNA!!!!!

Also take a quick look at Ebay and get a feel for the price of the different network modules - Fast Ethernet is great but tends to cost more, so if you have a choice and the price is not bad go with Fast Ethernet. By understanding the different modules and what they normally go fo you can get the routers with the most "bang for the buck" !!!

As far as serial connections - WIC 1Ts and WIC 2Ts as well as a Network Module NM-4AS are great for your WAN connections between the 3640's and just about any other Cisco routers!

Hope this helps!

E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[silverhairb]

It does, a lot. Thanks.

I'm a retired crypto geek (mostly PKI) and am considering CCNA for personal enrichment and possibly for some future consulting - keep me off the streets. CCNA looks like a good challenge.

 

[silverhairb]

So let me get this right....

If I have three routers each with different versions of IOS, I can back up the flash to a PC and install a different version from the PC? Use the IOS from router #1 and load it into router #2 and router #3? Do I understand you correctly?

 

[burtsbees]

Yes! Using a tftp server, which is actually a small daemon that runs in the backround---you open the tftp server, choose the directory to send and receive files (I usually put it right on top of C:\), and issue the command
router>en
router#sh flash
you will see the ios file. Better yet, I will issue all the commands myself and post them, as they show up...

ftp://smsstlftp.gotdns.com/TFTP.exe

That is a link to my ftp server, and the tftp server file, which is actually also a syslog server, though I never used that part---I use Kiwi syslog. You are free to take anything you want off of there, but please don't Monday thru Friday 8AM to 5PM, CST. Anywho...

login as: r00t
r00t@10.68.68.1's password:
___ _ ____ _ ___
/ \__/ \__/ \__/ \__/ \ Hey Rocky!
| _|@ @ __ | Watch me pull a hacker's IP
\________/ | | \________/ address out of my log files!
__/ _/
/) (o _/
\____/
Edge>en
Password:
Edge#sh fla

System flash directory:
File Length Name/status
1 32062316 c2600-adventerprisek9-mz.124-9.t2.bin
[32062380 bytes used, 17744976 available, 49807356 total]
49152K bytes of processor board System flash (Read/Write)

Edge#copy flash tftp
Source filename []? c2600-adventerprisek9-mz.124-9.t2.bin

You have to copy and paste the name of the IOS file, which is why you issue sh fla (show flash...I'm lazy...lol)

Address or name of remote host []? 10.68.68.3
Destination filename [c2600-adventerprisek9-mz.124-9.t2.bin]?
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
32062316 bytes copied in 174.184 secs (184072 bytes/sec)
Edge#

You can also do
router#copy run tftp
router#copy start tftp
router#copy tftp flash---this load an IOS to the router. It will ask if you want to erase the flash. I usually do, but sometimes I don't---I can store a few IOS files on the flash and choose which to boot to with the command "boot system flash:filename
router#copy tftp start
router#copy tftp run

The format is copy from to

Now email me---addy is in your other 3640 post. Gene---I'm surprised Billy hasn't posted about his 3640 lab yet!

Burt

 

[silverhairb]

THUD [sound of jaw hitting desk]

That helps a LOT. Makes life so much easier knowing that little tidbit of info.

I emailed you.

 

[CiscoGuy33]

silverhairb,

YES, You can do it just as Burt said above!!

The FIRST thing I do when I get a router from Ebay or anywhere else (and I have gotten a lot of them, a WHOLE lot of them) is to backup both the config and the IOS to my TFTP. I always do the config because sometimes they have stuff I don't have time for and MIGHT want to check out later!! The IOS because (even if it is an older one) you never know when you might need it to try something.

Just start reading the past posts here and then ask any questions you have!!! CCNA would be a great area to expand your study of networking!!!

As far as Billy, HE MUST BE AWAY FROM HIS COMPUTER - the Cisco 3640 is his favorite subject in the world

E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[burtsbees]

Yeah...now if I can only get my customers to BACK THEIR IOS and CONFIGS UP!!! That is the first thing I ALWAYS do with a newly setup router! Also, as the config gets bigger and bigger, a good thing to do is
router#wr
often. Any place in the config you are, like maybe an interface level...
router(config-if)#end
will bring you all the way back to
router#
Another tidbit---the better IOS files can use the "do" command. When you are at the
router(config)#
prompt, and don't want to go back to
router#
because you need to be right back at
router(config)#
use the "do" command! For example, you want to see the sh run...
router#sh run
will do it, but instead of backing out, like this...
router(config)#exit
router#sh run
you can
router(config)#do sh run
This can only be done from
router(config)#
but it saves you a lot of time sometimes! The prompts are called
router>
this is user exec. Then
router#
that is priveleged exec. Then
router(config)#
is global config
Any other is "whatever" config, like
router(config-line)#
is line config mode,
router(config-if)#interface config mode, etc.
One more thing I suggest as a basic rule of thumb--- log to a syslog server...
router#logging trap debugging
router#logging host x.x.x.x
or
router#logging x.x.x.x

x.x.x.x is the address of the server. You can download Kiwi syslog server (free, powerful and very awesome!) and run it in the backround. Logging trap debugging logs all messages. I syslog because I can then lower the logging buffer from the default of 65,535 to 4,096 bytes to save memory for other things, like my monster firewall, IDS and IPS, not to mention acl's. Overkill all the way!
router#logging buffer 4096

Burt

 

[silverhairb]

Yeah, I think I'm in the right place.

Thanks,

Bill

 

[maczen]

Hey Ciscoguy,
The 3640 is my third favorite subject! There is also cablesandkits.com and Star Wars.. Not necessarily in that order! LoL

Silver,
I have three 3640's in my lab at the moment! They work great for CCNA R&S as well as CCNA Security with an advanced IOS.. Just check

http://www.cisco.com/go/fn

for a list of available IOS versions as well as a functionality check! They also have wireless modules available (Think CCNA Wireless) and considering the fact that you will need a ton of routers (7 or 8) for CCNP then this is a great choice for about 4 or 5 of those! Only need 3 for CCNA!

Also, with that NM-4A/S or NM-8A/S that Ciscoguy33 (Gene) mentioned earlier you can convert one into a Frame Relay switch or even an asynchronous access server! Have Fun!

By the way, I was away from my PC! Took a couple of days from study to welcome the New Year! I am definitely ready to dive back in!

B Haines
CCNA R&S, ETA FOI

 

[silverhairb]

Well, I won the auction. The 3640 router has 2 x 1E-2W, 1 x BRI 8 B-U, 1 x WIC 1T, and 1 x 1FE-1CT1. IOS is (C3640-JS-M), Version 12.3(15), RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc3). Looks like 128meg RAM and 32meg flash.

As a back-up to the 877, I'll need a WIC-1ADSL. If I understand the 3640 correctly, it could go into one of the WIC slots in the of one of the 1E2W's (would appreciate it if someone could confirm that). Is it OK to just plug in the WIC card when the router is unplugged?

There weren't any pictures of the back of the router. I hope its all OK.

 

[silverhairb]

The 3640 is my third favorite subject! There is also cablesandkits.com and Star Wars.. Not necessarily in that order!"

Do I take it that you "enjoy discussing" cablesandkits? Have you had less that completely satisfactory experience(s) with them? (I saw their stuff but couldn't get enough info from them to risk a bid.)

 

[CiscoGuy33]

silverhairb,

Both me and Billy (maczen) have bought from Cables and Kits (in Atlanta) directly and have been very happy with the product and the service.

They sell on Ebay but they have a very complete website with GREAT prices all of the time for when you do not feel like fighting over an item!!!!

You also should check out

http://www.anthonypanda.com

if you need router memory - FLASH or DRAM as well as just about ANY router cable - Anthony Panda is in Hong Kong and I have bought from him 4-5 times with great results, he also sells on Ebay but I just go to the website!!

E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[maczen]

Yeah Silver,
Huge fan of CablesAndKits! And yes, you just plug the WIC in when the router is turned off (and unplugged if you so choose.. I just turn them off when swapping cards)!

Enjoy your new router!

B Haines
CCNA R&S, ETA FOI

 

[burtsbees]

I am not sure that it goes into a 3640 either...but I have not looked it up...crap...food burning...

 

[silverhairb]

Are you suggesting that the WIC-1ADSL won't work in one of the NM WIC slots? Would be good to know.

I always have the AT&T Motorola DSL modem as a fall-back. That should not be a problem since I used to have an 831 connected and still have the config saved somewhere. That would save me some money.

 

[CiscoGuy33]

silverhairb,

Google is a GREAT thing -

Table 1
Platforms Supported by Each Cisco ADSL WAN Card

Cisco WIC-1ADSL
Cisco 1720, Cisco 1721, Cisco 1751, Cisco 1760, Cisco 2600, Cisco 2600XM, Cisco 2691, Cisco 3600, Cisco 3700

Cisco WIC-1ADSL-I-DG
Cisco 1721, Cisco 1751, Cisco 1760, Cisco 2600XM, Cisco 2691, Cisco 3700

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/ios/12_2/12_2z/12_2zj/feature/guide/adslwan.html

For my $0.02 I don't like to hook my lab up to my Internet connection or depend on it for my Internet connection because you then don't want to blow away the setup once you have it running right!!

I have a seperate Cisco router 2651XM and a Linksys and a Cisco 831 as a backup to my Internet connection at home. I can hook my home lab in as needed but it is not for my connection!!!

Hope this all helps!!


E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[silverhairb]

Thanks. I googled it but must not have asked the right question. Maybe I shoulda used the word "compatibality" in the search.

Not really interested in dying gasp or QoS, just connecting to the internet as a back-up to our 877. I don't haave an SLA with AT&T except that they just HATE to listen to me whine and bitch when they go down (actually pretty rare)..

As for the set-up. Once I get it right, couldn't I safely back it up to an TFTP server (or two, or three, or...) and recover it later if needed?

 

[CiscoGuy33]

silverhairb,

I just Googled - "Cisco WIC-1ADSL"

Normally for Cisco stuff I start with the item - such as "Cisco 3640 router" to see what comes up and then I check the links back to Cisco!! I also setup a folder in "My Docs" such as 3640, 2950, 2651XM etc. and then when I find something such as a Cisco User Guide - I save it there, Cisco almost always has a PDF for everything. I have a local webpage on my computer linked to just about any PDF I could need while "playing" in my Cisco lab

You will find Google VERY usefull - EVERYTIME I buy anything on Ebay I Google it first to make sure I understand EXACTLY what I am getting AND any troubles that are being experienced as well as user guides etc.

As far as setup - yes you can, I just keep my lab seperate so it is a lab and not depended on for my infastructure since I am normally "looking" stuff up on Google as I am doing lab work or trying different things on my lab to answer a question here at Tek-Tips or elsewhere

E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[burtsbees]

Not to "one-up" you, Gene, but I Googled "3640 wic-1adsl" and found a great post...

http://www.velocityreviews.com/forums/t294095-cisco-3640-and-wic1adsl.html

Burt