| Author |
2501 Vs 4500M Modular Router, Which is better?
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| djjit 2003-08-24, 10:57 pm |
| Can someone please give me a bit of guidance with this one. I am trying to purchase a router from an online auction. I have a choice between;
2501 which consists;
2 x Serial
1 x Ethernet (AUI)
8 Mb Flash
16 Mb DRAM
Power Supply
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4500M Modular router consists;
1 x NP-2T (2-Port Serial)
1 x NP-2E (2-Port Ethernet)
3 x Modular slots (in total)
16Mb Flash
48Mb DRAM
AC Power Supply
With 3 Modular slots for growth and expansion
Which one should I go for? What should be a reasonable price for these, given that they are second hand?
Thank you
djjit | |
| Asmodeus 2003-08-25, 5:58 pm |
| Hi
If you need a router just for playing with ist and try some configuration on it take the 2501 and pay a max. 210 $ for it.
If you want a router for a homelab you can take the 2501 too but you have to expand Flash and DRam on max (16/16).
Better choice for this case would be the 4500. Its a Modular Router. A great thing. You can swap the pices in the slots like u need it for your practise. The configuration of your mentioned 4500 is quite good. The Moduls are ok you have one free slot left (isdn would be a good choice. 4500 has a fast processor and you can also expand Ram and Flash but you haven`t to. The Ram and Falsh in it is enough for IOS 12.xx and so you have a good practice operating System.
The 4500er has only one disadvantage.
It is really big and extream loud and heavy. I swapt my old 4000er for a 2503 because I don`t have the space for this big thing :-)
Ahh the price pay a maximum of 350 - 400$ for it.
Thats all hope i was some help :-) | |
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| Asmodeus, can’t begin to thank you enough. I am hoping to pay a visit to the IT warehouse that advertises on this online auction, & purchase a couple of routers & Switches on the spot.
Asmodeus, I read in the Cisco website that the 4500M Routers will no longer be supported by Cisco as they have reached end-of-sale or end-of-life status. What would that mean, Cannot upgrade? This is the Cisco link:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products...s286/index.html
Cisco Routers supplied by the seller comes without a valid software license and the purchaser must separately purchase a software license from Cisco in order to use the product purchased. Therefore, if Cisco has stop supporting the 4500M Router series, I might be left stranded.
All I want is; a decent test lab that will help me with my CCNP, so would a couple of 25XX with a 1900 Switch do me? Please let me know.
Thank you
djjit | |
| Asmodeus 2003-08-25, 8:46 pm |
| Hmmm I don`t know I just asked the same Question and wait for an answer.
An old certfriend ment I just need 4x 25xx Routers and 2x 29xx Catlyst Switches.
The 25xx there schould 2 have ISDN because for the last exam Suppport he ment I need a ISDN Sim.
So I asked above if 2 19xx Catalyst will fit too for a ccnp lab.
By the way if you want a cheap lab buy following devices
2x 2504 (both 300€)
2x 2501 (both 400€)
2x 1950 (both 300€)
5x DTE/DCE Crossover (all 160€)
6x Consolen Kid (all 120€)
So all in all it comes to 1280€ thats a quite cheap and i think enough for ccnp skill training. Thats all you need I think.
But I can`t promise it.
I know it look quite much but i saved money for one year and u will see one pice after another comes.
First you just need 2 routers for ccna. Than you need best 4 routers for routing exam 1/4 CCNP. Than u need 2 more switches for switching exam 2/4 than u best need a ISDN Sim. for remote access 3/4 and for Support exam u allready have all u need :-)
Look the 2504 are token ring routers. Thats the reason why they are so cheap. But this doesnt matter because this routers have a ISDN BRI interface for ISDN and so u have 2 Pices of them (between this Bri Interfaces comes than later the ISDN SIM.) and they have 2x Serial Ports. Great more u don`t need at first.
The both 2501 routers are Token ethernet Routers they are cheap too because theay have no ISDN BIR Interface like 2503 but who cares we allready have them in the 2504. Your lab looks than like this
2501
2504
2504
2501
Ethernet on the bottom and top. Between it doesn`t matter because there we communicate Serial.
At least you get 2 Switches 19xx they have only 10 MBit and 2 Ports with 100 MBit. Best you get 2 1912 with 12 Ports. They are cheaper and its only a testlab so why we need spees and lots of ports ? Ok 10 Ports for devices like comps and 2 Ports for ISL Trunking or short V-Lan Configuration.
Than your Lab looks like this
1912
2501
2504
2504
2501
1912
Finished !!! And if u have a lot of money left u can buy an ISDN sim and hang it between the booth 2504 devices.
Ahhh by the way watch out the 25xx should have 16 MB Flash and 16 DRam it`s called
25xx (16/16) or 25xx ***full loaded***
If a router is cheap and not full loaded don`t worry buy it Ram and Flash aren`t expansive. Best is you buy only full loaded or only normal. Because if u have 4 pices of normal loaded routers it`s much cheaper to buy 4x max Flash and Ram :-)
Ok thats all.... If I`m wrong or anybody has a better solutuion please post it !!!! | |
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| Asmodeus, you’ve gone through so much trouble to help me, thank you. I think you are spot on with the configuration. I have done a bit of reading & getting the hang of the whole setup now. I have printed out your suggestion as a shopping guide for routers & switches.
Thanks once again
djjit | |
| Asmodeus 2003-08-26, 6:24 am |
| You are wellcome |
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