CCNP Shopping Spree – What to Buy?
It’s time to wrap up the CCNP lab series from the last several weeks. Today we’ll look at some samples of what you might want to buy, depending on your budget. I’ve picked three budget levels and come up with some samples, each with pros and cons. And I’m tossing it out to all of you to suggest your better ideas for what you’d do at the same budget level. For incentive, I’ll do a small book giveaway as a prize for my favorite alternate build lists submitted by you folks Cisco CCNA Training.
As usual, let me start by setting the stage a bit. We’ve been looking at the CCNP lab gear topic for about 4 months. This 2-month series of course is focused on building a CCNP study lab, but even before that, a couple of series set up some related questions, like how many switches you need to practice Spanning Tree, and some discussions about the merits of a 2-router vs. 3-router lab topology. All those posts have some impact on what you choose for your lab. But I’m not going there today – read backwards for a few months if you want more background.
For those who’ve been following, we’ve discussed options, and now it’s time to make a shopping list, or build list, for your lab. To do so:
1. Pick a working budget
2. Make a list of the number of routers and switches you need to build the desired topologies
3. Estimate prices for each, considering things like memory plus IOS versions and feature sets
4. See if you’re within budget, and if not, take things out of the list, or increase budget
5. Make a list of pros/cons with the resulting build lists: what topologies will it support, what IOS feature support is missing, what features will be difficult to test with the topologies your gear could support, and so on.
* You may want to include prices for cables; I’ve not done so in my estimates.
The single biggest question to answer about budget relates to whether or not you plan to use Dynamips for your primary means to practice with routers. I’m not going to re-hash the pros and cons about that choice today, given that this whole series is written under the assumption that you’re interested in buying used gear. So, I’ll assume the answer to this question, at least for this blog, is that you’re buying used routers. However, if you’ve not gone down either path yet, you need to consider the options. I think its fair game to comment as part of today’s blog post as to why you’re buying routers, or why you’re using Dynamips for CCNP router practice. I don’t think the decision has changed much of late, so I’ll otherwise just leave you to read these other posts if you’re interested in the topic:
Sim Vs. Em Vs. Real
Free Hands-on Router Practice with Dynamips
Dynamips – Would you Recommend it to a New CCNA Candidate?
Analysis of the Dynamips for CCNA (or not) Decision
Back to the budget. For the sake of discussion and for reference over the coming months, I’ve collected a sample build at 3 different budget levels: $400, $800, and $1200. I chose those somewhat arbitrarily, and partly because I used those levels for a similar discussion in this blog a few years back. So, I’ve created build lists for a small under $400 build list, a medium under $800 build list, and a large under $1000 build list.
For the contest, all you have to do is propose an alternative based on any of these budgets. The following list includes the details. Honestly, my goal is to generate interesting discussion about what people would choose to buy, but I also have a few books sitting here in the office, so seems like a good trade. So, to participate:
* You can suggest any model of router or switch
* If you suggest one for which I’ve gathered sample prices, you must use those sample prices, so the comparisons are apples to apples
* If I don’t list any prices, estimate based on “Buy it Now”, on EBay, with enough memory to run the best IOS and feature set for that device.
* Consider WIC-2T’s to be $40
* Use US $ if you can, but I’m not opposed to seeing your local currency, and hearing about local prices
* I want to see the number of devices of each model, optional cards in each, and prices, similar to what’s later in this blog post
* Most importantly, tell me why you like your build better than the one I list at that budget level
* The budgets are guidelines, but if you go over or under, give good reasons why
* You must login at nww.com when posting so we know your email address, in case you win.
The winner in each gets a choice of my CCNP ROUTE Cert Guide 1E or CCIE R/S Written Cert Guide 4E.
Briefly, one more tangent before the build lists. I picked 3 budget levels, but what would you spend? Here’s a poll:
If building a complete CCNP lab my budget would be:
Less than $400
$400-$699
$700-$999
$1000-$1300
$1300-$1599
More than $1600
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Finally, to my three sample build lists. You can follow this link to read more background about each. Here in the blog, I’ll focus on the larger issues and reasons why I chose that particular build list. Also, note that I purposefully chose the medium build list as an extension of the small build list, and the large build list as an extension of the medium build list, as if you were adding to the list by buying gear over time.
$400 or less (Small Build):
3 1721’s each with 1 WIC-2T ($270)
1 2950 standard ($75)
Total: $345
Philosophically, I tried to think about what combination gets me the most features from what I see in ROUTE, SWITCH, and TSHOOT. TSHOOT appears to be a little slanted towards routing topics, but that may just be perception, but I needed to save $ somewhere. So, I figured I’d skimp on switches to have 3 routers with 12.4T IOS support. This build list maybe gets you to the more basic half of what CCNP requires today. Not enough, but better than nothing.
With only 3 routers and 1 switch, this build list only supports a router triangle topology, and it ignores features that require a 2nd switch. But you get a good start on routing protocols, IPv6, some redistribution, some BGP, and a start on switch features that require a single switch.
I went with 2950 standard image because I’ve seen so many cases where these switches supported the same features as the enhanced image switches. (See this link to last week’s post for a little more detail on the 2950’s.) That’s personal preference, but I wanted to make sure you folks noticed it, so you can consider enhanced models if you like. (Standard lawyer disclaimer; no guarantees made or implied about any of the lab data listed here.)
$800 or less (Medium Build):
2 2950 standard image ($150)
1 3550 EMI or IP Base ($290)
3 1721 12.4T Adv IP Services, 1 WIC-2T ($270)
Total: $710
I purposefully chose this build list as an extension of the small build list, just so you could compare the two lists as if you started small and grew your lab. In this case, we would add 1 2950 and 1 3550 to the small build list.
This build list clearly gets you to 3 switch platforms, which seems to be the sweet spot for STP support. I think 4 router platforms is a minimum to practice the more advanced routing topics: mutual redistribution on two different routers, BGP Path Attribute manipulation, and OSPF multi-area designs. This build actually gets you to the 4-router capability with the 3550 added.
Note that one of the disappointments on pricing is that last year, the 3550 EMI switches priced out at $210, whereas they appeared to be noticeably higher at $290 today.
$1200 or less (Large Build):
2 2950 standard image ($150)
1 3550 EMI or IP Base ($290)
3 1721 12.4T Adv IP Services, 1 WIC-2T ($270)
2 1721 12.4T Adv IP Services, 2 WIC-2T ($260)
Total: $970
(For those of you enticed to suggest an alternative to try and win a free book, I left you plenty of space to spend more $.)
Building again onto the medium build, I left $230 on the table, on purpose, to give us a good place for discussion and possible improvement with that extra $.
As is, I think this build is enough to practice for ROUTE and SWITCH. Not too much gear, but enough. It has three switches for STP practice, and support for most of the other SWITCH layer 2 features. Support for a four DTE Frame Relay topology, plus a five router WAN if you prefer, or six total routers if with the 3550 EMI. And since I know some of you build the same thing you see in the books you’re studying with, I think you can match all the topologies in my ROUTE book, other than some of the BGP examples.
What’s more interesting is that this build list gets you pretty close to the topology that Cisco shows as the TSHOOT exam topology, by doing the following:
* Use one 1721 with 2 WIC-2T’s as FR switch
* Use that same router to act as the ISP router, through it’s LAN interface. As a result, the ISP Connection will be Ethernet rather than FR.
* You can build out 3 of the 4 switches in the layer 2 topology part of the TSHOOT topology doc, just missing one layer 3 switch
But we’ve got $230 left over – where would you spend it?
Earlier posts in this CCNP Lab series:
2010 CCNP Lab Series Overview
Layer 3 Topologies for CCNP Prep
LAN Switch Topologies for the New CCNP
The Right Router IOS for your CCNP Lab
The Best Router for CCNP Prep in 2010
The Best Switch for CCNP Prep in 2010
Wendell Odom’s CERTSKILLS
* Wendell’s products for the CCNA Certification , CCNP and CCIE
* Choosing between Sim, Dynamips, Real Gear
* How to build a home lab
* Index of series covered in my blog
Tags
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* CCIE
* CCNA
* CCNP
* CertSkills.com
* Cisco lab
* Cisco Press
* Wendell Odom
26x1XM recommendations
By Saito on Wed, 06/02/2010 – 12:19am.
DISCLAIMER
The following are only opinions & should not be
taken as a must buy. All opinions are based on a CCENT
outlook towards CCNP.
Generally there is one router that i would like to have
in all the builds, the 26x1XM model router.
Why? Well, for starters :
1. The 26x1XM model has 2 FE that comes with it.
So? You can always get FE interface cards that
when bundle with cheaper routers (i.e 1700 series)
would be cheaper than the 26x1XM model.
Well, I cannot dispute the price factor but having 1
extra FE build in is always nice since it will not take
up one slot space and you have more freedom planning
your network. Besides, you get a NM slot which is
very useful if you plan to setup a FR switch.
2. The 2600XM series all support up to IOS 12.4T
which means it is pretty much suitable for
today’s CCNP. More details on Certskills.com.
3. With 1 extra FE, one can play around with interesting
VLAN & STP variations. You can connect one to your
switch and another to a router and play around or
you can connect each end to a switch. This makes VLAN
routing approachable. Either way, the expendability and
freedom to imagine and improvise is there.
4. One can also have loads of interesting routing setups
to play around with. By connecting both FE & Serial and
setting different routing protocol on them and depending
on your topo, it’s definitely a good thing to have and
it allows you to see how the protocols react to changes.
There are times when I wish i had more connections to
play around with while doing routing labs during my CCENT/CCNA.
*
Since there was no pricing information in Certskills for 26x1XM,
I will use the 2611XM & assume it has the same price with
it’s counterpart 2610XM ($185).
Small Build ($400)
Generally I would prefer a 2 routers 2 switches topo.
While comparatively you cannot do much routing labs with just
2 routers, having 2 switches allows for VLAN/STP variations
and also etherchannel setup. I do not really know the contents
and requirements of SWITCH but from what I saw from the table
of contents a huge focus is on STP, RSTP, PVSP, etc.
So having 2 switches would definitely deal with that.
However, if one were to follow my preference of the 2611XM,
your budget is going to suffer. Price wise, Wendell’s recommendation
is good. However, following through with my recommendation,
2x 2611XM + WIC-2T = $(185*2) = $370
2x 2950 Standard = $(75*2) = $150
Cable & Misc = $50
Total = $570
Overall, price wise this is a bag of hurt but in my opinion this
topo offers loads of freedom and flexibility. It is not really
necessary to have two 2611XM and you can always subsitute one
with a cheaper router like the 2500 series or the 1700 series routers.
With a 2500 replacing a 2611XM : Total = $435
WIth a 1721 replacing a 2611XM : Total = $475
Medium Build ($800)
For this build I prefer a 3 routers & 3 switches approach.
Again if you were to have a 2611XM in this build it is definitely
going to be overbudget.
Following on Wendell’s recommendation of 3 switches, it is actually
really nice to have 2 L2 and 1 L3 switch and in my opinion
this is really what you need for SWITCH.
On the router side, any router that supports 12.4T is pretty much
okay for the budget and build. For this build I would prefer
one 2611XM and two 1721s since all supports 12.4T and to lower down
the budget.
1x 2611XM + WIC-2T = $185
2x 1721 + WIC-2T = &(90*2) = $180
2x 2950 Standard = $(75*2) = $150
1x 3550 EI or IP Base = $290
Cable & Misc = $50
Total = $855
Actually my medium build does not differ much from Wendell’s just
that I replace one 1721 with 2611XM for the benefits stated above.
By swapping the 1721s with 2500s would lower down the price but
i do not think it is worth the price since you are trading off
faster routers & 12.4T support.
Large Build ($1200)
This is where the 2611XM truly shines (I think).
Topo wise, 5 routers and 3 switches should cut it.
By equiping a NM-4A/S to the 2611XM, the router can
act as a FR switch to the other 4 routers. Furthermore,
by interconnecting each router one would have a very good
topo to experiment with routing protocols.
Furthermore, one can partition routers into their respective vlans
when connected to switches and experiment configuration with L3
switches and routers and also makes a very nice bed to play with
for SWITCH.
1x 2611XM + WIC-2T = $185
4x 1721 + WIC-2T = &(90*4) = $360
2x 2950 Standard = $(75*2) = $150
1x 3550 EI or IP Base = $290
Cable & NM-4A/S &Misc = $150
Total = $1135
If you are feeling adventurous and can go overbudget,you can
actually replace a 1721 with a 2611XM, with that extra FE, it
makes STP & routing config even more interesting.
One can also replace the 2950 with a 3550 and have another L3 switch
but I do not think the cost justifies the benefits.
Sorry if I am unable to provide any constructive input as I am
still pursuing my CCNA and i am not familiar with CCNP topics.
Regards,
Saito
Thanks much!!!
By wendell on Thu, 06/03/2010 – 9:32am.
Saito,
Excellent options and reasons. I think for those picking up the story with CCNA, having one router with 2 LAN interfaces can help. Probably not required, but it gives you more options, anklets you avoid trunking config on routers while getting 2 LANs to play with.
At first impression, I thought that the idea of getting 2611XMs for the same price as 2610XMs was a stretch, but a quick look at ebay.com shows several buyitnow at just a few bucks more.
Just an observation, your medium build doesn’t have enough serial ports for the router square topo that has 1 cross-link. Not a big deal at all, just pointing it out for others who may have latched on more to the topos at certskills.com.
Nice post. You’re in the running for a book! Thanks again.
Wendell
Nice Constructive Feedback
By Saito on Thu, 06/03/2010 – 9:23pm.
Wendell,
Thanks for the constructive feedback. I was kind of worried I would make a fool out of myself since I have literally no
real life experience designing networks other than my rack.
Comparing my medium build with the topos at Certskills.com,
I guess my medium build would just fall under the router triangle topo. Guess i was too focus on the extra FE on 2611XM and forgotten about serial connectivity.
I am not too sure but i do not think this contest expands outside USA right?
Regards,
Saito
Global contest – yes!
By wendell on Fri, 06/04/2010 – 11:11am.
Hi Saito,
Yep. I figured with only 3 books to send, the postage to the far reaches of the Earth probably wouldn’t be too bad. So you’re in the running!
Wendell
Some Same, Some Different
By DanC on Thu, 06/03/2010 – 1:49am.
My thoughts are similar to those of Saito. This blog series concentrates on the Route and Switch CCNP. However, I would like to have a lab that also can be used for Security and for Voice. Some 2651XM routers with Adventerprisek9 12.4T IOS help there. A terminal server becomes more important as the number of devices in a lab increases.
To stay close to budget my solutions do not add to the previous build.
SMALL BUILD
3 1721’s each with 1 WIC-2T ($270)
1 2950 standard ($75)
2 2900XL ($60)
Total: $405
The inexpensive 2900XL switches add a lot for little money. In a pinch just buy one.
MEDIUM BUILD
2 2950 standard image ($150)
1 3550 EMI or IP Base ($290)
2 1721 12.4T Adv IP Services, 1 WIC-2T ($180)
1 2651XM 12.4 T Adv Enterprise 1 WIC-2T ($200)
Total: $820
Two LAN interfaces on the 2651XM are useful. We can do a 6in4 tunnel to HE and make the turtle dance.
LARGE BUILD
1 2950 standard image ($75)
1 2900XL ($30)
1 3550 EMI or IP Base ($290)
1 3550 SMI ($250)
2 1721 12.4T Adv IP Services, 1 WIC-2T ($180)
1 1721 12.4T Adv IP Services, 2 WIC-2T ($130)
2 2651XM 12.4 T Adv Enterprise 1 WIC-2T ($400)
1 2509 16/16 12.3 IOS Term Svr with octal cable ($200)
Total $1,555
Buy a 3550 SMI and upgrade it with the EMI image from the other 3550. Savings = $40. Purchase a 2900XL if you want a second access switch in a switch block. The Terminal Server can also act as an ISP source. This lab has eight layer three devices. The two 3550s can test routing protocol max-paths and EIGRP variance. I’ll keep a 1721 with two WIC-2T high speed serial interfaces as the Frame-Switch.
Follow up
By wendell on Thu, 06/03/2010 – 9:42am.
Hi Dan,
As usual, thanks for the useful thoughts. Follow up questions below:
“HE” – it did t click for me. What’s it stand for?
On the large build, you went noticeably past $1200, which I allowed for the contest. I’m just curious as to what you’d lose or change if you just had to shave a little.
I agree on the CCVP and CCSP lab – the mix would change, but advanced security or advanced enterprise would need to be available for the CCSP. I’ve not looked at IOS versions for CME support in a while.
Thanks again!!
Wendell
Cost Shaving
By DanC on Thu, 06/03/2010 – 12:14pm.
HE stands for Hurricane Electric. Go to www.ipv6.he.net and check out the tunnelbroker link. For those whose local ISP does not yet support IPv6, you can create a free 6in4 tunnel to HE. They will give you a routable /64 or even a /48 if you ask. The turtle is on www.kame.net. It dances if you connect via IPv6.
If I had to save money – first to go would be the 2900XL switch. I can’t imagine a lab without a terminal server; but it would go and be replaced by a manual switch or a Livingston Portmaster 2e (30 serial ports). I’ll put the PM at $60. (I know folks have used PMs in labs. I have not.) Next the 3550 SMI would be replaced by a second 2950.
The Large Build cannot do a router WAN square without another WIC-2T – so add $40. Total $1,250.
The 2651XMs have Adv Enterprise – so we are two routers towards CCSP. CME 4.1 runs on 12.4(15)T13. There are vendors on eBay selling 26xxXM routers with CME installed. I would be curious to hear from anyone who bought such a box. As purchased could you get CME working? I’m assuming one has Cisco phones.
The 2600XMs support the NM-2V so FXO and FXS modules can be used. It supports the NM-2W for a total of four WIC slots. I don’t know how many high speed serial ports can be supported. Potentially eight. Other modules include NM-16ESW (switch), NM-4A/S, NM-16A, NM-4E, etc.
What I Would Really Buy
By DanC on Fri, 06/04/2010 – 12:43am.
What I would really buy if I had the budget. For context ten years ago 2501s sold on eBay for $1,000.
LARGE BUILD
2 2950 enhanced image ($230)
2 3550 EMI or IP Base ($580)
5 2651XM 12.4T Adv Enterprise 2 WIC-2T ($1,200)
1 3640 12.4 Adv Enterprise with NM-2FE2W & two NM-4T ($250)
3 2514 used for substitute PCs ($150)
1 AS2511-RJ 16/16 12.3 IOS Term Svr ($250)
Total $2660
The enhanced 2950s have two GigE ports. The 3550s have two GigE ports.
Each 2651XM has four serial ports.
The 3640 can be used as a Frame-switch. The only topic that I know it will not cover is EIGRPv6. Cost of 3640 based on prices I have recently paid.
Add $200 for GBICs, jumpers and serial cables.
unreal price for 2651XM
By Anon (not verified) on Tue, 06/08/2010 – 9:16am.
I recently purchased 3 2651XM on ebay for $50, $100, and $150.
How did you come up with $1200 for 2 2651XM?
5 x 2651XM
By esimms26 (not verified) on Wed, 06/09/2010 – 10:55am.
He stated 5 x 2651xm for 240 ea. I would assume that is with Max Mem