Cisco 2500 series router questions

[wyvrn]

Thinking about buying a couple of 2501's and/or a 2514 to do labs and stuff for the CCNA. I will prob take the exam at end of May when I am done with my class. I have a basic coupla ?s. When you buy a router (new and/or used), does it come preloaded with an IOS? Or do you have to purchase it from Cisco? How much does it cost? What about tranceivers and DCE cables and stuff? Good places to buy the routers and extra doo-dads?


Yeah I know these are noob questions, but can't find a good answer to my questions anywhere else, so any help would be appreciated.

 

[toshiba3020]

Your router should come with some version of the IOS installed. Upgrading is dificult though, cisco gives you updates when you pay for service, but I doubt you will be forking over several thosand dollars a year to keep a lab up for education use. A db60 back to back cable you can get for about $20, look at yahoo shopping, do a search. Transeivers arent too expensive either.

 

[Garion]

In all honesty, for the CCNA, the router simulators are probably adequate. It's certainly a heck of a lot cheaper and less frustrating. You won't learn as much, as you won't have to deal with the hardware, the cables, etc. but it will certainly get you through the test.

- G

 

[dbx]

I can't stand the sybex router sim. I'm looking to get a couple switches and routers to practice with also. wouldn't the 1900 series switches be your best bet? they are selling on ebay for a pretty low cost. the 2900 series are nice because the ports are 10/100 autosensing, but of course they cost more. as far as routers go, would a 2600 series router be the best to get in terms of price/usability?

 

[usmc666]

Yes, the 1900 series is adequate for CCNA, as a matter of fact they are the only switch covered. Yes, the 2600 series would be a better tool as they are modular and can do much more than the 2500 series; such as voice, MPLS, and Fast Ethernet (to trunk ISL). But because they are so much more vesatile they are much more expensive. Yes, to get new IOS and to be legal you have to license the IOS from Cisco, but at the same time if you get ios 12.x.x or higher I would just leave it even that that "technically" isn't legal. Also like Garion mentioned a sim is enough for ccna, you would save your self a lot of expense and head aches.

Dan

 

[wyvrn]

I didn't plan on buying a sim because my school purchased RouterSim license. That is a pretty good simulator for the CCNA, in my opinion. I really wanted a router (or two) with at home to practice setting up a network. There are plenty of things you have to know about a router that are not covered in any of the sims. And it would be nice to have the router at home to keep fresh on while I am searcing for a job. Once my Netacad classes are over at school, I loose access to the router!

What we have in the lab are Cisco 2514's and some switches. I don't think the Cisco CCNA curriculum goes over the extra features you mentioned on the 2600 series router, so I think that would be overkill at this point. And I don't need a switch because they are pretty basic compared to a router, at least as far as the CCNA is concerned. I am not worrying about anything past the CCNA at this point, because I don't have a job working on routers yet.

Thanks for your advices

 

[usmc666]

Thats good, just keep in mind that having one router lets you see the commands and syntax...but you don't get to see if you did it right or how it works exactly. I've currently got:

2 2501'S
1 1912-EN
1 2621 with wic-1t and vwic-t1
1 4500 with 4 serial 2 ether

And i'm still not happy, I want a catalyst switch that runs the cat os

Also if anyone needs NP-1FE (trunks ISL on 4500 or 4700) or NP-8B (8 BRI ISDN) or NP-2T (two serial) lemme know i'm about to ebay them.

 

[Nutz]

usmc666,

I'd seriously start looking at ebay for the 2900XL's. Now that they're at the end of their product cycle their pretty cheap. I wouldn't be surpised to start seeing 2950s soon.

 

[usmc666]

Yeah, but i'm on a budget, and the 1912 was only 250 shipped =). If i get another switch it will be a 2901 since it runs cat os.

 

[wyvrn]

Ok so I think I want one switch and two routers. Now can anyone recommend a good place to get them? Most people I contact have routers with no IOS :disgust:

 

[Nutz]

sadly, ebay is about the only place they're affordable. Its also where I picked up my gear: 2501, 2502, and a 2900XL-EN

 

[usmc666]

Go search on the other forums...somebody has around 6 2501's that he's selling for 250 each...that is a really good price.

 

[toshiba3020]

Anyone know where to pick up a pix firewall? I would like to add that to my lab(and a switch someday too). They are expensive on ebay.

 

[spidey07]

pix 501 can be had for 400 dollars. not bad.

 

[pcmark]

There is suprisingly little router configuration on the CCNA exam. You could get by with just using a router simulator. However, if you want to go on to the CCNP, a few routers could come in handy. The CCNA exam is mostly OSI model, subnetting and switching basics.

 

[wyvrn]

<< There is suprisingly little router configuration on the CCNA exam. You could get by with just using a router simulator. However, if you want to go on to the CCNP, a few routers could come in handy. The CCNA exam is mostly OSI model, subnetting and switching basics. >>



Well in class our final exam is just configuring the router. Regardless of what is on the exam, I want to take advantage of what I am learning in class, and the router sim will not accomplish that goal.



<< Go search on the other forums...somebody has around 6 2501's that he's selling for 250 each...that is a really good price. >>



Yeah but he quit answering my emails

 

[Nutz]

I emailed him yesterday and haven't heard anything either...

 

[amgine]

I've got 5 2500's, 1 2600 and a cat 5000, with tons of v.35 male(dte) cables, but I need v.35 female(DCE) cables, anyone got spares they wanna trade? Got all kinds of stuff in my basement to trade for.

 

[wyvrn]

Are you offering to trade your routers, or do you just want to trade for a cable for your routers? If you want to trade a router, then I am interested!

 

[amgine]

What you got to trade Wyvern?