3550 EMI or SMI ?

[bs_kwaj]

I was just looking at some info on the 3550 switches. I see they have EMI or SMI versions. Looks like EMI would be the preferred way to go if purchasing one for a CCNA lab, but, of course, I could be wrong. ;)

What is the EMI or SMI? Is that the IOS for that switch? Is that different than the IOS? Looks like SMI can be upgraded to EMI, but, of course, finding the actual file to do the upgrade would probably be a tough thing to do.

I guess the bottom line would be to make sure the switch and its software were capable of doing the Layer 3 stuff.

...just curious


EDIT: Oh, and I know E is Enhanced and S is Standard, but I'm not familiar with the images.


(Maybe this would have been better in the CCNP Equipment thread.)

[Big Evil]

You can put a EMI image on a SMI switch - if you do a show ver it will show you have a SMI switch but you will have all the feature of the EMI image. I have done this. :)

[bs_kwaj]

So.. if you bring the Ruby slippers to the man behind the curtain, will he give you an EMI image.. oh, and the latest version of Packet Tracer?

;)

J/K...

[Big Evil]

If you have followed the yellow brick road - yes.

[bs_kwaj]

So, back to reality... ;)

I'm still curious about the EMI designation. Is that equivalent to an IOS version, like 12.2 or 12.4, or something?

And is EMI needed to do the Layer 3 functions?

Thanks...

[Big Evil]

As soon as i got mine i installed c3550-ipservicesk9-mz.122-25.SEC2.bin.
So far no issues and it runs everything.

[bs_kwaj]

As soon as i got mine i installed c3550-ipservicesk9-mz.122-25.SEC2.bin.
So far no issues and it runs everything.
OK.. But, I'm still confused. (Which isn't surprising...)

Did you have to load this EMI thing and then c3550-ipservicesk9-mz.122-25.SEC2.bin?

Or, did you get the SMI and load the .bin and -that- made it EMI?


Thanks BE...

[Big Evil]

It was two years ago - as far as i remember i got the switches, they had passwords on them. I took out the password, blanked the config, put an IP on and uploaded the mentioned image, removed the old one. I don't rememeber what was on them when i got them.

[bs_kwaj]

Hmmmm... Ok, so it sounds like the whole EMI / SMI thing isn't much to be concerned with. I'm working 12 hour shifts and haven't had a lot of time to properly research this... but I have the next 3 days off. I'll see what else I can find out.

cablesandkits has 7 3550-SMI switches for $299 ea.

Thanks...

[Big Evil]

Not one bit, why spend the money on EMI. This is for lab purpose and makes no odds.