So, we've discussed routers and tradeoffs in buyed used routers for a few weeks now. So... what do you do for switches? Well, at first glance, the task can be a bit daunting if oyu're still pretty new to the Cisco world. I'll give a few opinions today about what's clutter, and what I think makes a lot of sense for CCNA prep in regards to your choices when buying switches.
First, if you go to the age old (but soon to be replaced by a less intuitive URL) doc site at www.cisco.com/univercd, and pick the switch pull down, you get a long list of switch models. In fact, for perspective, I've put a section of the list here in the blog - note that there are 10 different models listed that begin with "29".
So, how to sift through it all? Well, first let me give a little background that may help us get to a reasonable choice or two.
On routers, if you run IOS on 5 different models of routers, the commands used to configure and examine a particular feature act the same, with the same syntax, with only minor exceptions to that rule. That makes studying router topics for the exams easier, and it makes writing exam questions easier, because the syntax and show command output should be the same across routers.
Most of Cisco's switch product line runs IOS - not the exact same IOS that runs on routers, but an OS whose user interface acts like router IOS. There are slight differences in command syntax on some models of IOS switches, and in defaults for commands - and that poses a bit of a problem for exam preparation and for the people writing the exam questions. If they write a question whose answer might be different depending on the model of switch, then they'd have to tell us all that the exam is based on a particular model series of switches.
So, how does Cisco deal with those differences for the exams? They keep the switching questions sufficiently generic so to avoid the differences. The questions may still be challenging, but they avoid the differences - which means we can pretty much buy any Cisco switch that runs IOS and get some benefit for studying for the CCENT and CCNA exams.
That's the good part. The bad part is that to get the most benefit from studying the switching stuff, you'd do best with the model used in the labs suggested by Cisco for their authorized ICND1 and ICDN2 courses - namely, 2960 switches. Those switches haven't seen any real reduction of prices in the used market yet. In prior versions of the courses, Cisco specified the 2950 switch, which is very close to the 2960 switch terms of command syntax and output. So, I'll treat 2950's as the high-end of the range, and look at two popular cheaper alternatives - the 1900 series and the 2900XL series.
Here's a quick look at the "buy it now" best prices when I looked on Ebay when writing this blog entry:
1900: $13
2924XL: $90
2950: $200
In closing, when I did this with the routers, I got a lot of good suggestions for other model series to look at, particularly for price ranges and functions. Next post, I'll compare these 3, but if you have another you'd like me to consider putting in the mix, let me know!
Odom, CCIE No, 1624, splits time between writing books for Cisco Press and teaching classes for Skyline ATS. In his 25-ish years in the networking industry, he has worked as as a pre-sale and post-sale SE for a few networking vendors, as well as a network engineer implementing network technology. Wendell has spent the majority of the last 15 years teaching, consulting, and writing about networking technologies, most of which in some way relate to Cisco products. His books include titles on QoS, CCIE R/S, as well as several titles related to CCNA certification, including the September 2007 book CCNA Official Exam Certification Library (CCNA Exam 640-802) (Read a sneak peek of chapter 7). Click for the list of current titles by Wendell.
The opinions expressed in this Weblog are those of the writer and may not represent the opinions of Network World.
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2950T and 3550
In the CiscoPress CCNP lab books they often ask for one 2950T and one 3550. I understand the need for the 3550 because of layer 3 switching but what are some major differences between the 2950 and 2950T. When comparing prices between the 2950T($600) and 2950($180) there is a huge cost differential. I realize that the 2950T has two Gigabit ports to be used for trunking but is there any disadvantage to just using a Catalyst 2950 and configuring two of the 100Mb ports as a trunk.
The 2950 comes with the
The 2950 comes with the standard image SI and the 2950T comes with the enhanced image EI.
The EI image has additional features which are not supported by the SI umage see below for a comparison.
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps628/prod_bulletin09186a00800b3089.html
2950/2950T/3550
A,
G's reply to you from a day ago was right on - 2950T's have Enterprise software, and you can't field upgrade from a 2950 to a 2950T - it's a purchase time decision. The 3550, however, can be upgraded from the standard software to the enhanced software, with the most notable enhanced software feature on 3550's being layer 3 switching. The link G mentioned sums up the comparison points. But for CCNA prep, you're just fine even with the 2950 (non-T), and using the FastE ports for trunking and portchannels, IMHO.
Wendell
Good to see I something
Good to see I something right ;)
It also seems it's much more likely that you can pick up a bargain on a standard 2950-24 than a 2950T on ebay, in my recent hunt for a CCNA lab switch, I noticed it's almost impossible to get hold of a 2950T for under £100 or £200.
I managed to get hold of a used 2950T for £110 or $215 including shipping.
Is there any mileage in purchasing the 2950T's purely for the Enchanced Image feature set? i.e: if im looking ahead to potentially doing my CCNP after my CCNA is it worth spending the extra now on 2950T's ?
Regards
G Bharj
Get the enhanced image 2950 for CCNP prep
Hi G,
I'm starting a series on CCNP lab building as of today, and intend to get into the 2950 standard/enhanced issue there. Generally speaking, if you're choosing between the standard and enhanced image 2950's, and you intend to go on to CCNP, I think it's worth getting at least 1 with the enhanced image. You can look here
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps628/prod_bulletin09186a00800b3089.html
for some comparisons, but in particular, the QoS features probably make it worth the extra $100. I expect I'll get into this a little more in the next few weeks.
Wendell
3500 Series
The 3500 series switches may also be worth a look eg the 3548-XL-EN
3500 Series
I read that the 3550 is recommended for the CCNP exam study, however they're upwards of $2000!!! (or so I hear)
The 3548 seems pretty affordable (around $200-250 at first glance). I wonder if it has comparable features to the 3550...
Avoid the 3500XL series; 3550 not as expensive as it used to be
Three or four years ago, you could spend $2000 on a used 3550 with PoE and a couple of hundred dollars less for one without PoE. Today, with the 3560 having replaced the 3550, you can easily get 3550 SMI switches (sans PoE) for less than $1000. It's a lot of switch for those dollars. But it's way overkill for the CCNA; it's much more appropriate for CCNP and CCIE study.
Given the choices out there, and how cheap but close-to-current the 2950-series switches are, I think the CCNA candidate should get at least one of them for a home lab. You can get the older, cheaper 3500XL series or 2900XL series if you're really pressed for cash, but I don't recommend it as a replacement for the 2950. If you can, get two switches to practice trunking, spanning tree features, VTP, and so forth. But make sure at least one of them is a 2950. It's worth the extra money to have a switch model (2950) that's so similar to the current models.
Switch Labs are the budget killers
I've found that the switch labs are the budget killers
1 x 3550-24-SMI alone would buy a pretty damn good little routing lab
Buy it now prices from Ebay Stores typically do not represent the true market price for items on Ebay.
These are my off the cuff prices based on what things typically go for in Australia on Ebay.
Cisco WS-C3550-24-SMI Switch $700-$800AUD (The hardware is identical to a EMI switch the only difference is the IOS)
Cisco Catalyst 2950T-24 (100x24 + 2x1Gb Ethernet) $300-$400AUD
Be careful of some 2950 models. The IOS cannot simply be upgraded from SI to EI to get extra functionality like you can with the 3550's.
So for $2000AUD you can get a 4 Switch (2 x 2950 + 2 x 3550) switching Lab suitable for CCNP and probably CCIE as well.
Most of the Cisco Network Academy Program labs for the CCNP BCMSN require a 4 switch network with these exact class of switches.
Hope this helps.
Thanks - I agree on the CCNP part especially
Shaun,
thanks for the post. Just wanted to list my agreement that for CCNP, the 2 x 2950/2960 and 2 X 3550/3560 would be a nice place to start. Only significant caveat is that the 3550's with the standard image, which look like the ones you mentioned based on price, don't do layer 3 switching. They are field upgradable, though.
Also, FYI, I'm looking at buy it now for all available products, not for just Ebay stores. It's still not as realistic as if you were bidding, but it's a pretty good way to estimate without having to watch bids finish! ;-)
Thanks
Wendell
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