Part Three - How to purchase your first switch
In Part One, we went over some ways to purchase your first router. In Part Two, we looked at how to access the router, HyperTerminal, TFTP software, and Token Ring setup. In Part Three, we'll tell you which switch you should purchase for your home lab. If you haven抰 read Part One or Part Two, click on the links at the end of this page.
Which switch should you purchase for your home lab?
Cisco has so many different switches available that it抯 no wonder that people get confused. However, Cisco currently only uses one type of switch in their CCIE Routing and Switching lab at this time. They use Cisco 3550 switch.
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PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING EQUipMENT CHANGES TO THE CCIE LAB:
CCIE Candidates should note the following changes to the technical content and equipment for the CCIE Lab exam. The content changes affect the CCIE Routing and Switching Lab exam, while the equipment changes affect all CCIE certification tracks.
The CCIE PRogram continually monitors the topics and technologies covered in the CCIE certification tracks. The end result of this process is that a topic may be removed from the exam to allow greater emphasis on features or technologies that are more current in the industry.
Therefore, effective November 4th, 2002, the following topics will no longer be tested on the CCIE Routing and Switching exam:
IGRP
Token Ring
Token Ring Switching
IPX
Please note that DLSw+ will remain as a valid topic on the exam.
Between September 1, 2002 and November 4th, 2002 all CCIE labs will replace the current Catalyst 5000 switches with Catalyst 3550 switches. However, the only switching features tested during this time will be those common to both devices - additional features on the Catalyst 3550 will only be tested after November 4th, 2002.
Please note that except for the change in switches, no new topics are being added to the content covered by the Routing and Switching exam. However, many features currently tested will now be able to receive more weight on the exam after November 4th.
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Now that Cisco has replaced the set-based Catalyst 5000 switch with the IOS-based 3550 switch, you need to be able to practice the IOS-based commands instead of the set-based commands. The only problem with the 3550 switch is that it is quite eXPensive for a home lab. You can expect to pay over $2000.00 for one from eBay. The following gives you some information on the 3550 switch:
The Cisco Catalyst 3550 Series Intelligent Ethernet Switches is a line of enterprise-class, stackable, multilayer switches that provide high availability, scalability, security and control to enhance the Operation of the network. With a range of Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet configurations, the Catalyst 3550 Series can serve as both a powerful access layer switch for medium enterprise wiring closets and as a backbone switch for mid-sized networks. For the first time, customers can deploy network-wide intelligent services, sUCh as advanced quality of service (QoS), rate-limiting, Cisco security access control lists, multicast management, and high-performance IP routing-while maintaining the simplicity of traditional LAN switching. Embedded in the Catalyst 3550 Series is the Cisco Cluster Management Suite (CMS) Software, which allows users to simultaneously configure and troubleshoot multiple Catalyst desktop switches using a standard Web browser. Cisco CMS Software provides new configuration wizards that greatly simplify the implementation of converged applications and network-wide services.
The Cisco Catalyst 3550 Series Intelligent Ethernet Switches are available in the following configurations:
- Catalyst 3550-24 Switch-24 10/100 ports and two Gigabit Interface Converter (GBIC)-based Gigabit Ethernet ports; 1 rack unit (RU)
- Catalyst 3550-48 Switch-48 10/100 ports and two GBIC-based Gigabit Ethernet ports; 1 RU
- Catalyst 3550-12G Switch-10 GBIC-based Gigabit Ethernet ports and two 10/100/1000BaseT ports; 1.5 RU
- Catalyst 3550-12T Switch-10 10/100/1000BaseT ports and two GBIC-based Gigabit Ethernet ports; 1.5 RU
The built-in Gigabit Ethernet ports in these switches accommodate a range of GBIC transceivers, including the Cisco GigaStack GBIC, 1000BaseT, 1000BaseSX, 1000BaseLX/LH, and 1000BaseZX GBICs. The dual GBIC-based Gigabit Ethernet implementation on the Fast Ethernet configurations provides customers tremendous deployment flexibility, allowing customers to implement one type of stacking and uplink configuration today, while preserving the option to migrate that configuration in the future. High levels of stack resiliency can also be implemented by deploying dual redundant Gigabit Ethernet uplinks, a redundant GigaStack GBIC loopback cable, UplinkFast and CrossStack UplinkFast technologies for high-speed uplink and stack interconnection failover, and Per VLAN Spanning Tree Plus (PVST+) for uplink load balancing. This Gigabit Ethernet flexibility makes the Catalyst 3550 switches an ideal LAN edge complement to the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Family of Gigabit Ethernet optimized core LAN switches.
Included with the Catalyst 3550-24 and 3550-48 are the Standard Multilayer Software Image (SMI) or the Enhanced Multilayer Software Image (EMI). The EMI provides a richer set of enterprise-class features including hardware-based IP unicast and multicast routing, inter-virtual LAN (VLAN) routing, routed access control lists (RACLs), and the Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP). After initial deployment, the Enhanced Multilayer Software Image Upgrade Kit gives users the flexibility to upgrade to the EMI. The Catalyst 3550-12T and 3550-12G are only available with the Enhanced Multilayer Software Image.
As you can see, the 3550 has quite a bit going for it. While you can purchase a less expensive switch to practice your IOS-based commands (such as a 2912XL, 2924XL, or 3524XL, for example), you will be losing a lot of features that will most likely show up on the CCIE Lab exam, such as advanced Quality of Service (QoS) and Layer 3 functionality. The following picture shows a 3550 24-port switch:
As a possible alternative to the 3550, you could pick up a 3524XL for a $1000.00 or less from eBay or a 2900XL series switch for $400.00 or less from eBay. However, as stated before, they won't include features, such as Layer 3 routing functionality, that are included with the 3550 and that will probably show up on the CCIE Lab. However, the IOS-based command sets on the 3524XL and 2900XL series switches are very similar to the 3550 and would allow you to practice IOS-based commands and learn the Layer 2 functionality. The following is information on the 3524XL and other switches in the same family:
The 3524XL is a member of the Cisco Systems Catalyst 3500 Series XL, a scalable line of stackable 10/100 and Gigabit Ethernet switches that delivers premium performance, manageability, and flexibility with unparalleled investment protection. With a 10.8-Gbps switching fabric and a maximum 8.0-million-packet-per-second forwarding rate, these switches are ideal for creating high-performance local-area networks. The Catalyst 3512 XL, 3524 XL, and 3548 XL offer customers tremendous benefits through Gigabit Ethernet-based configuration options, the new Cisco Switch Clustering multidevice management architecture, and integrated IP voice and telephony support.
The Catalyst 3512 XL switch has 12 10/100 switched ports and two Gigabit Interface Converter (GBIC)-based Gigabit Ethernet ports; the Catalyst 3524 XL has 24 10/100 ports and two GBIC-based Gigabit Ethernet ports; and the Catalyst 3548 XL has 48 10/100 ports and two GBIC-based Gigabit Ethernet ports. The built-in Gigabit Ethernet ports accommodate a range of GBIC transceivers, including the Cisco GigaStack GBIC, and 1000Base-T, 1000Base-SX, 1000Base-LX/LH and 1000Base-ZX GBICs. The dual GBIC-based Gigabit Ethernet implementation provides customers tremendous deployment flexibility梐llowing customers to implement one type of stacking and uplink configuration today, while preserving the option to migrate that configuration in the future.
The Catalyst 3500XL series switches are ideal for providing desktop connectivity in a variety of network applications. The 12-port Catalyst 3512 XL offers low port density at a low entry price. Catalyst 3524 XL and Catalyst 3548 XL switches deliver dedicated 10- or 100-Mbps bandwidth to individual users and servers at a low per-port price. All three desktop switches have dual GBIC-based Gigabit Ethernet ports that provide an ultra-flexible and scalable solution for Gigabit Ethernet uplinks or GigaStack GBIC stacking solutions. The switches are easy to deploy, either on a desktop or in a wiring closet, and feature Cisco IOS?
software support. Administration of Cisco desktop Catalyst switches is made even more convenient using the Cisco Switch Clustering multidevice management technology.
The following is what a 3524XL looks like. It is almost identical to the 3550 in looks:
Another alternative would be to rent rack time with the 3550. If you know what you are doing, the time you spend on a rented rack can sometimes be less expensive than purchasing a 3550 switch.
As a final note, the following is a list of Token Ring, set-based, IOS-based, and Menu-based switches:
Token Ring Switches
-Catalyst 3900 Series
-Catalyst 2600 Series
Set-based Switches (CatOS)
-Catalyst 1200 Series
-Catalyst 2901
-Catalyst 2902
-Catalyst 2926T/F
-Catalyst 2926GS/L
-Catalyst 2948G
-Catalyst 298OG
-Catalyst 4000 Series
-Catalyst 5000 Series
-Catalyst 5500 Series
-Catalyst 6000 Series
-Catalyst 6500 Series
-Catalyst 8500 Series
IOS-based Switches
-Catalyst 2912XL
-Catalyst 2924XL
-Catalyst 3550 Series
-Catalyst 3500XL Series
-Catalyst 2950 Series
Menu-based Switches
-Catalyst 1700 Series
-Catalyst 1900 Series
-Catalyst 2100 Series
-Catalyst 2800 Series
-Catalyst 2820 Series
-Catalyst 3000 Series
