Is the Cisco 2610 right for my application?

[Fluoronator]

In my company, control systems are maintained by the engineering dept and information systems are maintained by the MIS dept (I'm on the eng end). I’ve recently added a few PC’s as user interfaces to a PLC network via Fast Ethernet. There is now a need to pass data to the information network from the control system network. I have no experience with routers so I blindly took the advice of our systems engineer and ordered a Cisco 2610 to sit between the two networks. When I took it out of the box the first thing I noticed is that it only has one Ethernet port. Pardon my ignorance but maybe I don’t know what a router does… I guess I assumed it would be a little box with at lease two ports in which you would connect port “A” to one network and port “B” to the other and the router would only pass data intended for the other network. I realize I have a little homework to do before actually setting up the router but for now I have three questions…
1. Is my basic concept of what a router does correct?
2. Is the Cisco 2610 a usable choice for my application?
3. Why was the box it came in so BIG??? (they could have put 4 routers in it).

 

[sobak]

The cisco 2610 comes with only 1 FastEthernet port and Two serial ports. This is generally used in connecting a single LAN to a Frame Relay connection, Wan Connection or both. What you can do is order an additional ethernet prot for your router. If you look at the back of the router, on the left hand side you will see a cover. When that cover is removed it will allow a second Ethernet port to be installed thus giving you two Ethernet connections. The actual router you wanted was a Cisco 2611, this give you two FastEthernet ports and Two Serial connections. Once you get the proper configuration you connect both sides of your network to the proper ethernet port and then set up the router.

1. Yes your basic concept is correct.
2. The 2610 will work if you purchase the additional Ethernet port, or you can exchange it for a 2611
3. Makes me feel like I'm getting something for all the money I spend on Cisco Products.

Let us know if you have further questions.....

david e
*end users are just like computers, some you can work with...others just need a simple reBOOTing to fix their problems.*

 

[fynx]

Hi,
1. Your beliefs are correct - routers, well route. It is possible to route across one interface using secondary addressing but that is probably misleading. You are best to continue your thoughts that a router is a box with two ore more networks connected to it and the box in the middle decides how to get packets from one network to another.

2. The 2610 is likely to be a good choice for this implementation, it doesn't sound like there is to a huge traffic flow between the two networks, even if there is a large data flow the 2610 could handle it. The 2610 can achieve wire speed Ethernet to Ethernet routing with up to 15 thousand packets per second (Kpps) throughput capacity.
But right now you only have ONE ethernet port. The 2610 also has two WIC (for WAN interface cards), a network module slot and an Advanced Integration Module. You need to purchase an Ethernet Network Module. Available in single port (NM-1E) or four ports (NM-4E). The price difference is not that great so I'd go for the 4 port to allow for a bit of expansion.

3. LOL. I guess the reason is, they have to be so big to get all those little white polystyrene blobs in.

Cheers,
Phil. If everything is coming your way then you're in the wrong lane.

 

[Niall22]

I don't know anything about the 2611. We use the 2621 at my company and it has two ethernet ports minus the serial ports (I think). Wouldn't that be a little cheaper if he doesn't need the serial ports?

Just a thought.

Niall

 

[sobak]

Niall,
Somewhat correct, the 2621 may be better for his application due to my oversite, the 2611 comes with a 10Mbs and a 10/100. Since he is going to route between two networks he may benefit with the 2621 that comes with 2 10/100 nics. The price of the 2621 is a little higher than the 2611 (about 500) but once you add the cost of the new ethernet port they maybe quite the same price. I agree that the 2621 is a better router suited for his application.
Thanks for pointing that out.

david e
*end users are just like computers, some you can work with...others just need a simple reBOOTing to fix their problems.*