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what series router/switch should i buy to prep CCNA?
- Thread starter shalun
- Start date
I think ebay is about the best for price on secondhand routers. As far as model, I think something to ask is if you are going to want to go beyond just the CCNA. If you are just looking at CCNA, then probably a 2600xm series and a couple of 1800/1700 series routers would be fine. You'll want to get them all with serial interfaces and pick up the necessary dce/dte cables to interconnect them all. The 2600 could be used as a frame-relay switch, or you can use them all as point to point connections.
If you are thinking beyond CCNA and thinking CCNP, I'd look at getting 3-4 2600xm series switches, or bigger. Just depends on the funds you have available.
If you are thinking beyond CCNA and thinking CCNP, I'd look at getting 3-4 2600xm series switches, or bigger. Just depends on the funds you have available.
CiscoGuy33
Instructor
shalun,
Read this post by Wendell Odom, Cisco author and CCIE about setting up a CCNA lab -
This is a GREAT post and he goes into models - both routers and switches as well as IOSs and other things to consider!!
I have setup 2 CCNA labs over the past 8 years and I have bought most of the routers and switches on Ebay - BUT you MUST read between the lines and look at feedback, what else they are selling (and have sold in the past) as well as any DOA guantees and cost of shipping! Just remember - IF IT IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE - RUN AWAY VERY FAST
If you don't want to deal with Ebay - I (and others here at Tek-Tips) have bought from Cables and Kits in Atlanta - they also sell on Ebay and prices online are not that much more then what most auctions go for in the end
Hope this helps!!!
E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +
Read this post by Wendell Odom, Cisco author and CCIE about setting up a CCNA lab -
This is a GREAT post and he goes into models - both routers and switches as well as IOSs and other things to consider!!
I have setup 2 CCNA labs over the past 8 years and I have bought most of the routers and switches on Ebay - BUT you MUST read between the lines and look at feedback, what else they are selling (and have sold in the past) as well as any DOA guantees and cost of shipping! Just remember - IF IT IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE - RUN AWAY VERY FAST
If you don't want to deal with Ebay - I (and others here at Tek-Tips) have bought from Cables and Kits in Atlanta - they also sell on Ebay and prices online are not that much more then what most auctions go for in the end
Hope this helps!!!
E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +
CiscoGuy33
Instructor
Burt,
Anthony Panda is very good for router cables and router memory, however his router costs are very high!!!!!
E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +
Anthony Panda is very good for router cables and router memory, however his router costs are very high!!!!!
E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +
Finally, CiscoG has been assimilated. The Matrix has you!
Shalun, cablesandkits is a great place to look for hardware and cables.. So is anthonypanda for memory and cables! Lots of good information in the link that CiscoG gave you.. If you can find a decently priced 26xx XM series router (ie. 2610XM, 2621XM, 2650XM et. al.) then that would be a good place to start! I would also recommend the 3640 series with a minimum of 64DRAM/16FLASH (minimum required for 12.4 IOS).. Would be better to have 128D/32F as you can accomodate the enterprise IOS's and do a lot more with the router..
As far as switches go the 2950 is a great place to start for CCNA topics but I would recommend researching this area as well.. I bought 3x 2950's... For CCNP or CCSP you will definitely want a 3560 or two but these are really expensive so you will want to wait on these until you absolutely need them as the price will eventually drop!
My Current Lab:
ROUTERS:
3x Cisco 3640
1x Cisco 2511 (Access Server)
NETWORK MODULES:
3x NM-4A/S (There are other options for serial)
The rest of my NM's are basically toys that provide ISDN BRI/PRI, ATM and other functionality for experimentation so I won't list here..
SWITCHES:
3x Cisco 2950 (Two are EI models one is an SI)
SERVERS:
1x Sun SunFire VT100 (Solaris 8)
1x Sun SunFire VT120 (OpenSolaris 2008.11)
1x Dell PowerEdge 6650 (Still between OS's.. LoL)
B Haines
CCNA R&S, ETA FOI
Shalun, cablesandkits is a great place to look for hardware and cables.. So is anthonypanda for memory and cables! Lots of good information in the link that CiscoG gave you.. If you can find a decently priced 26xx XM series router (ie. 2610XM, 2621XM, 2650XM et. al.) then that would be a good place to start! I would also recommend the 3640 series with a minimum of 64DRAM/16FLASH (minimum required for 12.4 IOS).. Would be better to have 128D/32F as you can accomodate the enterprise IOS's and do a lot more with the router..
As far as switches go the 2950 is a great place to start for CCNA topics but I would recommend researching this area as well.. I bought 3x 2950's... For CCNP or CCSP you will definitely want a 3560 or two but these are really expensive so you will want to wait on these until you absolutely need them as the price will eventually drop!
My Current Lab:
ROUTERS:
3x Cisco 3640
1x Cisco 2511 (Access Server)
NETWORK MODULES:
3x NM-4A/S (There are other options for serial)
The rest of my NM's are basically toys that provide ISDN BRI/PRI, ATM and other functionality for experimentation so I won't list here..
SWITCHES:
3x Cisco 2950 (Two are EI models one is an SI)
SERVERS:
1x Sun SunFire VT100 (Solaris 8)
1x Sun SunFire VT120 (OpenSolaris 2008.11)
1x Dell PowerEdge 6650 (Still between OS's.. LoL)
B Haines
CCNA R&S, ETA FOI
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