Quickly Please Help!!!

[Microbyte]

i saw 5 2500s routers on auction on ebay.
with carrying these equipment help me to pass BCRAN and CIT or even BCMSN? (i have telnet access to few cheap routers in my tech institution, but i figure i would be better off with my own because me along with everyone else are using those routers.)
Also, do i need a Multilayer switch with route processor instead? (i figure i need them for BCMSN)
please help me out, the time is ticking...
thanks in advance!

 

[Jsteve]

if its less than $90 bucks for the 2500s, than go for it.

 

[Microbyte]

hmm...i guess not then.
how much is good buy for

catalyst 5000

new and old?

 

[Jsteve]

I have rarely seen a good 5000 on ebay. I can't remember what I paid for mine, but it cost me $1000 for my RSM.

IMO

 

[Cluebird]

2500s are good for frame switches and CCNA. The boxes have difficulty supporting many of the topics in CCNP-level labs. All CAT-OS is removed from the new BCMSN except as a brief aside, so unless you really want to waste money, stay away from any switches that aren't IOS. (I say this only in the spirit of passing exams.) Personally, I prefer Cat-OS for configuring my switches.

The new CCNA/CCNP courses use 2600XMs for routers; 3550s and 2950s for switches (layer-3 images mandatory on the 3550s and highly recommended on the 2950s); a 3640 for frame-switching, and an ADTRAN 550 or 830 (depending on lab size) for the POTS and ISDN (can also be used for FR).

 

[Microbyte]

thanks guys.
now i have to gather my choices and $$$.

Microbyte