Using a Cisco 851 or 871 router at home to learn IOS/other

[Attic]

I'm solid on most basic network concepts but am interested in Cisco hardware.

I've never used Cisco business class hardware before. I can get the 851 for ~$100.

I'm wondering if I'll need a console cable to even get started or if I can log into a web browser to explore and setup and looking for any feedback on if it's reasonable to get setup without driving through a few days of setup at home.

The setup would be: Cable Modem ---> Cisco 851/871 ---> Apple Airport Extreme (Gen 6 newest) [bridged mode, wired to Cisco Router]

Everything in the home is wireless save for an Airwave 2.5+ (Provide cellular coverage in home), that would be hard wired into the Cisco unit.


I would likely add a Gigabit NAS (Synology vs WD?) to the Airpot Extreme and i'd like to confirm that he would operate at Gigabit speeds from the Extreme even though the Cisco 851/871 are 10/100 units. I'd be running backups from 4 systems to the Nas and storing 100gb of media stuff.

 

[XavierMace]

If you are buying used, I wouldn't risk not having a console cable. All the used stuff I've bought has needed to be reset.

Regarding the 10/100, you can get Cisco 3825's for about $120 on ebay and they have a pair of GbE LAN ports.

 

[inachu]

Cisco is no longer shipping console cables(old style)
The modern console cables now are USB.

 

[XLer8]

By default both routers come new with a web GUI and a reset switch. If your're going to learn on them then definitely a console cable is needed. Someone could have stripped the web GUI for various reasons too.

In bridge mode the Airport should do OK, just the wan on-out is 100mb or less.

 

[Attic]

Ok great.

Looks like I can get better deals on ebay than where I was looking. I'm going to put the Cisco unit behind my existing router until I get some time on it. First task will be to figure out how to get a system behind the Cisco Router to communicate on the main home network.

 

[XavierMace]

Cisco is no longer shipping console cables(old style)
The modern console cables now are USB.

Except we are talking about old hardware.

 

[alkemyst]

Cisco is no longer shipping console cables(old style)
The modern console cables now are USB.

Cisco is not really including any console cables except on the higher priced devices.

Standard Console cables can still be ordered.

Any of these little ISR routers are an excellent way to get hands on IOS experience.

Just keep in mind buying used may not entitle you to software upgrades.

I have a 819 as my home router.