Cisco 3750x vs 3560x. This is a fifth switch, you will connect your GNS3. Catalyst 3750 Series 10/100 Workgroup Switches WS-C3750-24FS-S Catalyst 3750.
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• • • • • If you are going to study for CCNP SWITCH you’ll have to build a lab that allows you to practice all the different topics. I receive a lot of questions about CCNP SWITCH labs, stuff like: • Should I buy switches?
• What switches should I buy? • Can I use GNS3 for switching? • Can I use packet tracer for switching? This lesson will explain all of these questions. Topology Before we look at the different (hardware) options, let’s focus on the topology first. I would recommend to build the following topology: 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. So what hardware or emulators should we use? I highly recommend to buy real switches so let’s discuss this first.
Real Hardware When I’m talking about real hardware I mean real physical Cisco Catalyst Switches. You should get these on Ebay or any other online marketplace close to where you live. The reason that I recommend real switches is that emulators don’t support 100% of the protocols that you have to practice for CCNP SWITCH.
Also, switches are pretty cheap nowadays so there’s no reason not to buy them. You can always sell them once you pass the exam. So what switches should you get and how many? Att Uverse Port Forwarding Tool more. Let’s take a look. Cisco Catalyst 2950 This is a great layer 2 switch and it’s very cheap nowadays. If you look on Ebay you can probably find them for about $30.
This switch allows you to practice 90% of the CCNP SWITCH topics. Things like VLANs, trunks, spanning-tree and etherchannels are no problem. Advantages: • Cheap.
• Supports all the “core” layer 2 protocols. Disadvantages: • No routing support. Cisco Catalyst 3550 The 3550 is a layer 3 switch that is very affordable nowadays.
It’s similar to the 2950 but it also supports routing so you can use it for inter-VLAN routing and routing protocols like OSPF or EIGRP. Inter-VLAN routing is an important topic in CCNP SWITCH so you will need a layer 3 switch. The only disadvantage of this switch is that it doesn’t support private VLANs or stackwise. These are both minor topics in CCNP SWITCH but you can’t configure those topics on this switch. Advantages: • Cheap. • Supports all the “core” layer 2 protocols. • Supports routing (protocols).