Frame Relay Router

[Superd04]

Can anyone advise on a cheap router (for test purposes) that can act as a good frame relay switch?
Cheers

 

[lerdalt]

I think about any router that has multiple serial interfaces can act as a frame relay switch.

When I did my home lab, I used an old 4500 series router that had 4 serial interfaces.

I'd be surprised if a 2501 wouldn't work for it.

 

[CiscoGuy33]

Superd04,

lerdalt is right a 2501 with it's 2 serial interfaces it will work fine, you can really save if you get a 2502 or 2504 (Token Ring) and use it since they both have 2 serial interfaces and you will not be using the Token Ring interface on a "Frame Relay Switch" - saw them on eBay for almost nothing!

I have used the 2520/21 or 2522/23 (Even is TR and odd is Ethernet) they have 4 serial interfaces on the 2520/21 and 8 serial interfaces on the 2522/23 - these are the units most labs will have for a complex Frame Relay mesh of more then 2 routers.

You can find them all on eBay - look for one with 16/16 DRAM/FLASH - that is the max for these models.

Hope this helps!


E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[darkhut]

I have a 2501 with 4mb of flash, do you think I can put 2x8 mb sticks to make it 16mb, since this would be huge for 1994 technology. I saw discussion somewhere, saying you have to issue some commands to make the router treat the two sticks as one, and actually be able to use the whole 16 mb

 

[CiscoGuy33]

darkhut,

I am pretty sure that the 2500s have 2 DRAM slots and 1 FLASH slot - you will need 1 16mg FLASH chip!

I think what you are thinking of is when the FLASH has been partitioned into 2 parts - you would use commands to make it 1 partition so that you can load a larger IOS in all of the FLASH.

Just Google "Cisco 2501" and you will find complete user guides for these routers including the layout of the motherboard.

Hope this helps!


E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[CiscoGuy33]

darkhut,

Sorry, I was thinking of the 2600s - they have 2 DRAM and 1 Flash - the 2500s have 2 FLASH and 1 DRAM .

Here is a link -

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products...figuration_guide_chapter09186a008007c830.html

Yes, you will need to configure the FLASH so that it is 1 partition to load the larger IOS images on into FLASH.

Hope this helps!


E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[darkhut]

I saw the cisco page on this, I even opened my routers ( the other one is a 2514 ). I asked the question just to make sure it works to put that much memory on an old equipment, because, I know from computers that, even though specifications say the slot can take say up to 1 gb of memory, sometimes the maximum that works is only 512mb. and yes, both my routers have 2 flash slots and 1 dram slot I know cos it actually says "DRAM" on the board and "flash" on the chips.

 

[CiscoGuy33]

darkhut,

On the 2500s the MAX DRAM and FLASH is 16mg each. I believe the FLASH must match - 2 4s or 2 8s etc.

The 2500s with max FLASH and DRAM make great Frame Relay switches or just general use routers for CCNA study and they are very cheap on eBay.

Good luck on your CCNA study!


E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[darkhut]

Thank you, I have my second try next wednesday hehe.