Help with Lab Setup

[Eric Wilkins]

Hello,

I'm looking to build a home lab to practice some Cisco CCNA Labs, but I don't want to purchase any older Catalyst switches, I feel like those are a waste of money.

So I currently have 2 x Cisco SG300 switches and can certainly buy more because for spanning-tree I know I should probably have 3 minimum when playing with that feature. 

My main concern is, should I purchase an SG300 and use in L3 routing mode or still purchase a different router like a 1721, 2611 or 2621XM??? Yes these are all still older Catalyst style switches/routers; or should I simply just stick with all newer switches if I'm going to go that route? The route of using newer equipment

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

[Milos Megis]

Hello,
SG 300 is small business series.

It means that these switches use different IOS (with different command syntax) as standard IOS which you have in CCNA. So I think that these switches will not help you with learning.

Also L3 switch doesn´t support all router features (for example NAT). Also switch doesn´t have serial ports.
So for learning purposes you need buy older devices (routers and switches). New are too expensive for learning only.

If you don´t want to spend money then you can use packet tracer application. But real equipment is always preferred.

[mjaros]

Hello,

I also wanna setup cisco network at home to practice. We use cisco L3 switches at work and I need to refresh my cisco skills and also learn something new.

I was also thinking about SG300, maybe SG350 or SG500. 24-28 ports 1gigabit ports.

-"... Also switch doesn´t have serial ports. ..." - what serial ports? Did you mean console? In specification there is: "1 x console - 9 pin D-Sub (DB-9) - management"

-In specification for SG300-28PP, interface description is: "8 x 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45 - PoE ¦ 1 x console - 9 pin D-Sub (DB-9) - management ¦ 2 x 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45 / SFP (combo)"

Switch has 28 ports and SG**** series has gigabit ports. So, why 8x 10/100? Is it mistake?

-Also I wanna NAT support, but not necessary(price is more important).

Which series with NAT support is cheapest???

I don't need routing protocols, I will use static routing.

Also I was thinking about some firewall features, but not necessary. Price is more important.

-I will need PoE, at least 8ports, for cameras. PoE+ if possible.

Can you please help me? Give me some advise?

thank you

[Milos Megis]

By serial port I meant serial port (connector DB60) or smart serial. This kind of port is used in labs in CCNA.

I am not sure but SG series should have all ports gigabit, and SF series should have most of ports 10/100 mbit and maybe 2 ports are gigabit for uplinks.

If you need NAT you must buy router. I don´t know recommend specific model but all models should have this feature.

Of course, small business series are cheaper than "standard" cisco devices but also use different operating image (IOS).
CCNA course use those standard devices for learning. And small business is not very good for learning.
However if you just need home network then small business series is good option.

[mjaros]

thank you for quick response

In data sheet, there is 28  gigabit ports, so in "compare models" is mistake. Number of ports and also speed. Maybe somebody should fix it :).

Is it possible to see all commands for specific model or series? This could be way have to find out what features I can use.

Or is there other way?

[Milos Megis]

There is "Cisco feature navigator" to compare features of two IOS

[mjaros]

I can't find image info for specific models: software(IOS, IOS XE, IOS XR, ...), Major release(number), release and platform(ISR****, ASR****, ...).

I tried online chat, but support member also didn't have those informations.

Is not in "compare models" and "data sheet".

[Milos Megis]

I also don´t know help more with this.

[millardjk]

Is it possible to see all commands for specific model or series?

For the Sx300 and newer (including the Sx200E), a CLI reference document is available for download; this covers the included commands, but it won't show limitations or omissions compared to "real" IOS.

[mjaros]

thank you, looks good, I think this will help me to decide if SG300 is enough for me

[dkshawkol@gmail.com]

why you purchase hardware device it cost you too much, you can buy cisco lab from the cisco site