3560 switch question

[bs_kwaj]

Besides the port count, is there any other difference between the 8 port and the 24 or 48 port 3560 switches? Are they functionally the same?

Thanks...

Bennie

[dbeare]

Reading the specs from Cisco at http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps5528/products_data_sheet09186a00801f3d7d.html, I cannot see anything that you lose in going with an 8 port, other than the obvious loss of the number of 10/100 ports and gigE/SFP ports that you get with the other models. If you're using it for CCNA training purposes, I know i'd probably just go with the 8 port.

[bs_kwaj]

Thanks for the reply. I came across that page the other day and I didn't see any specific difference between the 8 port and the others, but, since I'm no expert, I just want to make sure there isn't some unseen gotcha that would make an 8 port 3560 a lesser device when it comes to this certification stuff.
The 8 ports are only a bazillion dollars while the 24 ports are a gazillion dollars!

I'm currently only interested in the CCNA, but after that, who knows...

Some of the people I work with are Crusty Cisco Network Administrators, but they don't have CCNA certifications. :cool:

[dbeare]

Honestly, unless you are going to be doing the CCNP soon, you should be able to survive on a 2950 or 2960 switch. They are considerably less $$ than the 3500 series, and the CCNA itself is based around the 2950 I believe. I know once you move to the CCNP or CCIE, you will need something in the 3500 series, but the two I mentioned should work well and be a lot less expensive for the CCNA.