New lab, WIC-1DSU-T1 question

[BigPapaQ]

Greetings everyone,

I am just starting up my journey (page 97 currently) and started looking to create a lab. CCNA to start and if I can salvage any for a CCNP... All the better. I have about $500 in the budget.

I had to act quick on an opportunity for (3) 2620s and a 2900 switch. I wasn't able to get details but it was only $65 so I figured I would take a shot. I still don't know the mem yet (prob minimal) but i can max out all (3) for only $60ish more. However, i did find out the routers do not have WIC-1 or 2T but a WIC-1DSU-T1 in each router. Will i need to add a WIC-2T or can i add another WIC-1DSU-T1 to work on tasks such as frame?

Those WIC-2T are a little pricy and I'd love it if there was a workaround so i could use the 1DSU-T1 and maybe save that budget for a 2950 switch or another router with some other capabilities that the 2620s lack.

Thanks

-Dave

[Big Evil]

That sounds like a lot of cash for something that you are unsure about and have little facts. For exmaple a well known Cisco vendor is selling


One 2501 16/16 router with transceiver
One 2521 16/16 4 port Serial Frame-Relay Router
One 2611 64/16 Dual Ethernet Cable/DSL Router
One WIC-1T Serial module for the 2611
Two Cisco Back to Back Cables
Console cable kit
Six Power Cords
Three 2924 or 2924-M switch supporting 12.0.05(the 2916 only supports 11.x)
Two Ethernet Crossover Cables
Two Ethernet Patch Cables



For $495, and that is a bit over priced if you asked me.
Best thing to buy is.
3 x 2600XM
3 x 2950

You should get this for under $300 as least.

HTH.

[lammle]

I agree with BE, that is not only over-priced, but the switches are useless. Throw them away if you receive them.

The 2500 series are worth about $25 U.S. and those switches are not worth a $1.

you can use the 2500's to study for CCNA (and only CCNA), but you MUST have at a minimum two 2950 switches.

I have stacks and stacks of all that equipment sitting around that I can't even get rid of because it's not worth the shipping costs!

Not being a debbie-downer to you, just need to be honest so you don't lose your hard earned cash!!
Todd

[Big Evil]

I think most newbie's to Cisco at one point buy a turkey, i know i did.
Someone (normally a seller) says this is great for CCNA etc, so you buy.

I remember looking at tons of kit getting very confused in the start.

[BigPapaQ]

Thanks for the replies guys.

BE there is definatley a "turkey purchase" possibility on this one. A friend of a friend (yeah, one of those deals) called up and said he knew of the equipment. I figured it was for (3) routers that I wanted so it was worth a shot. Oops.

My logic for the purchase was that after reading this site and Wendell Odom's links I decided that I was going to look at (3) 2600 routers (max mem) and (2) 2950 switches for my CCNA lab. Then when it was CCNP lab time, I would add a layer 3 switch and completely upgrade my routers.

According to my ebay digging, I had the max mem 2600's priced at about $50-$60 each. So I figued $150-$180 for the batch of three. Since this deal was (3) 2620's for $65 and even if they come with min mem, I could max out to 64/16 for all three routers for another $60. Figuring I could get all of my 2600 routers, max mem, for $125ish or less and have a free (albeit very limited) 2924 switch.

One of my many errors was forgetting about the WIC cards. Now, I'll have these units with WIC-1DSU-T1's. I have read on some sites that I can use those as serial connections, but the information was pretty limited. That's what I'm currently checking on.

Sorry for the long posts, but I'm hoping if I explain my thought process maybe you guys can help me see where my errors are coming from so I can get it right going forward.

Luckily, even if I have to throw this out and start over, I'm only $65 down and shoudl have enough of my budget left over to still build some of the recommended labs that the two of you have suggested above.

Thanks guys,

-Dave