Is a PIX 501 good for the lab?

[jaredhmr]

Hello,

I am thinking about buying a Pix 501 for lab testing. Will this box do most of the functionality as the other models? What functionality can I not do?

Thanks

 

[lgarner]

I think that failover and DMZ capabilities are the only functional things that you'd be missing.

 

[themut]

You will also not be able to configure OSPF and Turbo ACLs

 

[jaredhmr]

What would be the next version up that would allow me tod those things?

 

[lgarner]

The 501 doesn't support these things. Failover and DMZ require a 515E, I think a 506 barely supports Turbo ACLs (memory issue). I don't know about OSPF; I wasn't aware that any model didn't support it.

 

[Cluebird]

I would suggest a 515 or 515E for lab testing with UR, 4 to 6 interfaces. That is the cheapest box that can do everything (VLANs, turboACLs, LAN-based failover, multiple dmzs). I've seen some old 520s forced into the lab since they can also run 6.3 code but it's time to let them go IMHO.

 

[themut]

Only the 501 doesn't support OSPF, the 506 can support it. For a full functionality PIX I would suggest the PIX 515 or 515E.