***Looking for a CHEAP Layer 3 SWiTCH***Any Recommendations?????

[tekguy88]

Can anyone recommend the best layer 3 switch on the used market for it's cheap price?

I've checked prices for the 5505 & 3550 but these are out of my league in price.

If anyone has experience configuring a layer 3 switch that knows for certain if let's say a 3512, 3524 or 3548 can do layer 3 protocols please let me know. And what IOS I need plus any specific hardware or modules.

Can a 2950 catalyst do most layer 3 protocols such as:
1) ISL
2) VLAN trunking
3) SNMP
4) 802.1Q

Please advise which switch is best to suit these protocols under $400-500

THANKS.

 

[wabob]

A 2950 switch cannot do Layer 3 routing (FYI - except for SNMP, the protocols you list are all Layer 2).

The lowest model switch (which is still supported by Cisco) that can do Layer 3 routing is the 3550.

The 5500 series is end-of-life and can only do Layer 3 routing if you have the Supervisor IIIG card. Those switches are big and bulky with heavy external power supplies, so I wouldn't waste my time with them.

My best recommendation is to look for a used 3550, 3560, or 3750 on ebay; or maybe check with some resale vendors.

"We know now we can't beat their machines. We've got to beat THEM."
Dr. Clayton Forrester

 

[tekguy88]

I really aprreciate the reply and infomation to my question.
The 3550 is very pricey for my budget and was wondering if I were to get either the
3512
3524 or
3548

that I may be able to do some, but not all of the layer 3 applications?

I was also under the assumption that VLAN trunking is a layer 3 as well as SNMP.

If I were to get a 2950 switch I was told that I can do 802.1q but not ISL. I assume based on your last reply from my list of protocols that the 2950 can do SNMP and VLAN trunking as well?

 

[ADB100]

The older 3500XL series switches (all the ones you mention 3512, 3524 and 3548) are all purely Layer-2 switches and are quite old now.
The minimum Layer-3 switch is a 3550 - even the 3550 is EOS now and the newer 3560's & 3750's are its replacement.

The 2950 & 3500XL's can do VLAN trunking (802.1q) but you must understand this isn't Layer-3 - A Layer-3 switch implies inter-VLAN Routing capability. The 2950 & 3500XL can only have one Layer-3 interface active (the management interface - interface vlan x). Catalyst 3550's and 3560's can have multiple Layer-3 interfaces active at the same time and can route traffic between them.

HTH

Andy

 

[tekguy88]

Andy,

Thanks for your reply!

That cleared up most of my questions, but had one more I'm hoping you can clarify as well.

I'm genuinely new to this so I hope you can be patient.
I am in the midst of considering a 5505 catalyst and although it's bulky and heavy I really don't mind this as if this switch has some layer 3 capabilities it is in my budget.

I really don't mind if it's old as many people say it is as it is not for a corportaion etc..........home lab use in my scenario.

I spoke with 1 rep in Cisco and she had told me it has multiple layer capabilities, but wouldn't advise me using this in a WAN application. Is this true?

I am only worried that it can be able to do layer 3 capabilities.

I also looked up on Cisco and found one documentation that is can do layer 2 and 3 applications, but really wanted to ask someone who knew for certain.

A friend of mine who is a cisco technician says the 5505 is a layer 2. I saw another documentation that it can have either a Supervisor II or III engine to do layer 3.
IF this is not true, does it need a specific software to handle the layer 3? If it comes with CATos will I need enterprise to achieve this as well?

Well, hopefully you can help me on this part as I would like to focus on trying to find the right switch to start my lab.

THANKS.

 

[ADB100]

The Catalyst 5000 series is really a Layer-2 chassis based switch that you can add a Layer-3 module to. You need to know the part numbers of the modules installed - specifically the Supervisor engine type and whether a Layer-3 daughter module is installed on it. If it hasn't got a Layer-3 daughter card (RSFC - Route Switch Feature Card) then you need an RSM (Route Switch Module) that provides Layer-3 routing capabilities but takes up a slot in the chassis.

This is all quite old technology now but if you list the part numbers I can try and tell you what it can do.

Strangely I recently sold a Catalyst 8510C Layer-3 switch on eBay for about UK £130 - this would have met your needs.....

HTH

Andy

 

[tekguy88]

Andy,

Thanks once again for your helpful insight. I am waiting for this person to give me that info. you are asking for, but am anticipating he is not as knowledgeable as you and may not be able to comply with that info.

The 8510 switch you sold on ebay, is this a blade or an entire stand alone switch?

If so, and this is the only hardware needed for L3 how much is the going price?

Thanks.

 

[ADB100]

The 8510C is a chassis based layer-3 switch - it was effectively a big multi-port fastethernet router. The actual chassis is the same as a Catalyst 5500 but all the modules are different:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....30021044744&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MESO:IT&rd=1

This was a real bargain for the winner since the list prices for these was several thousand when they were current (about 6-7 years ago).

Andy