CCNP Switch equipment

Equipment to get for the CCNP Switch lab

When you plan to study for CCNP SWITCH you’ll have to build a lab that allows you to practice all different features available in Cisco Switch.

• Should I buy switches?
• How to connect them?
• What switches should I buy?
• Can I use GNS3 for switching?
• Can I use packet tracer for switching?
• Should I need rack rental in the future for my labs?

We will have  three switches connection

This topology allows you to practice anything without having to re-cable:

• The switches are connected in a triangle so that there is a loop. This allows you to practice all spanning-tree related topics.
• Two links between each switch pair allows you to play with Etherchannels.

You wont be able to use all the features using emulators or simulators.Even with real equipment you will need certain specific details..You can buy them very cheap in Ebay and Amazon.

Real Cisco switches

Cisco Catalyst 2950
 The Cisco Catalyst 2950 Series is an affordable product line that brings intelligent services, such as enhanced security, high availability, and advanced quality of service (QoS), to the network edge-while maintaining the simplicity of traditional LAN switching.Great for a layer 2 switches

• Cheap 
• Perfect for layer 2 protocols

• Don't have layer 3 features
• No routing capabilities

Cisco Catalyst 3550

 The Cisco 3550 series is a layer 3 switch that offerthe ability to deploy a cost effective, port-dense fast Ethernet switching solution to their small to medium size businesses. Advanced QoS, GBIC Gigabit up-links, and cheap as well

 

• Cheap.
• Supports all the “core” layer 2 protocols.
• Supports routing (protocols).

• No Private VLAN support.
• No Stackwise support.
• Limited support for IPv6.

 It got some limitations for layer 3 as you could see in our exercise  of POE and LLDP (Check here to see the example)


Be aware to get the one with proper ports..I initially bought this one , and them I realize I needed more port  for  Fast Ethernet cables capabilities..

Cisco Catalyst 3560

Cisco3560 is a line of fixed configuration switcht  that include IEEE 802.3af and cisco prestandard POE. Cisco catalyst 3560 is an ideal access layer 3 switch for small enterprise . It also combines the both 10/100/1000 and PoE configurations for maximum productivity and investment protection while enabling the deployment of new applications like the wireless access, IP technology, video surveillance, building management systems and remote video kiosks.
 Cisco catalyst 3560 is  more scalable family of cisco catalyst switches than 3550

• Supports all layer 2 and 3 protocols.
• Supports private VLANs.
• Great if you want to study QoS.

• A little bit more expensive than the 3550.
• No Stackwise support.

Cisco Catalyst 3750
  This switch can enable  flexibility, application optimization and superior resiliency. This switch comes with the Cisco Network Assistant which is an  application that simplifies the administration tasks for Cisco switches, routers, and wireless access points.
 This switch also employs certain Cisco apps like  Cisco EnergyWise Technology and Cisco Smart Install software and  Advanced Quality of Insurance
  It supports stackwise which is a technique to combine multiple switches into a single virtual switch, that you can use in the CCNP switch studies

 It have everything you will need  for the CCNP switch exam

• More expensive
• You will need two   units of 3750 to practices stackwise

What equipment should you get

You can practice most of the topics of CCNP Switch  with this  set

• 2x Cisco Catalyst 2950 (layer 2 switch)
• 1x Cisco Catalyst 3560 (Layer 3 switch)

 You can practice full features of switches  for CCNP labs  with these devices

• 1x Cisco Catalyst 2950 (layer 2 switch)
• 2x Cisco Catalyst 3750 (layer 3 switch)

For CCNA using emulators and simulators are great to start, but eventually you will need  real Cisco equipment. So my suggestion is to stick with to the real hardware for the switches. Emulators are great for routing but for switching it’s best to buy some real hardware. You can always sell them on Ebay or Amazon once you are done in your CCNP Switch, CCNP TSHOOT and CCIE studies

 Before you buy anything I suggest that you check the Cisco web site to see the features and capabilities of each one of the devices.