Hi Folks

What are the advantages/disadvantages of using a Cisco AGS+ router
instead of the recommended 2521,2522 or 2523 for a frame relay switch
in a home lab.

I see a few with 8 serial ports going very cheap in ebay .

Regards

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I think those are preety old ones and useless by now, but it's your choice
"Ian Blaney" <Isblaney@aol.comXX> wrote in message
news:3e0afd78.1329744@news.easynews.com...
> Hi Folks
>
> What are the advantages/disadvantages of using a Cisco AGS+ router
> instead of the recommended 2521,2522 or 2523 for a frame relay switch
> in a home lab.
>
> I see a few with 8 serial ports going very cheap in ebay .
>
> Regards

Report this post to a moderator

a 2523 is just 400 USD on ebay....i think it's faster and smaller then AGS+

"Ian Blaney" <Isblaney@aol.comXX> wrote in message
news:3e0afd78.1329744@news.easynews.com...
> Hi Folks
>
> What are the advantages/disadvantages of using a Cisco AGS+ router
> instead of the recommended 2521,2522 or 2523 for a frame relay switch
> in a home lab.
>
> I see a few with 8 serial ports going very cheap in ebay .
>
> Regards

Report this post to a moderator

"nobody" < please_reply_to_the_group@nowh
ere.com> wrote in message
news:8RGO9.63131$yW.24401@news04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...

> a 2523 is just 400 USD on ebay....i think it's faster and smaller then
AGS+

Well, considering that the CSC/4 has a 68040 processor and the 2500's run
68030, the AGS+ will run much more quickly if it has that controller.
However, the AGS+ is huge (at least 4U, has a fan that sounds like a DC-9
taking off and can double as a space heater in winter.

It also is limited in terms of IOS: the latest IOS made for it is
11.0(22a). This makes it fine for a frame switch and perhaps as a backbone
router but don't expect too much in terms of features. They are extremely
modular-- you can throw in new cards and appliques and add in whatever
interface that you want that it supports.

One thing to factor in as far as price goes is that the serial ports are
db-26 so you need to buy db-26 to db-60 cables for them from a place like
Anthony Panda at 30 bucks each. I had the AGS's smaller and quieter cousin,
the MGS as my frame switch. It had 8 serial ports and 2 ethernet and I got
it for about $100 Canadian. I also picked up an AGS+ with 16 serial for
about $50 USD. You can't beat the price/port density. Then again, my lab
is in my basement and my workstation is upstairs so I coudn't hear the
racket that the gear was making.

One great thing about the AGS is that you learn the genesis of the boot
register. On the AGS you have to move physical jumpers to change the
register. Great little piece of history that you can buy for a song. Then
again, I still think PDP-11s are cool. YMMV.

HTH,

Geoff Zinderdine
CCIE #10410

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