Hey Johnny-
Apparently you have not done the CCNP or CCIE game lately. You had better know how to hook a modem up to the AUX port to pass the exams.
Point 2: for a cheapo WAN connection, you can run the AUX ports back to back. Works great.. takes the cisco rolled cable which is 30 bucks cheaper then a serial crossover.
Point 3: Support for protocols like BGP get real iffy on a 1600 since it was never intended for that type of routing. It will do it.. somewhat
Point 4: For a lab, the 2514 at the same price point, gives you TWO serial ports. The 1605 gives NONE.. unless you get a WIC card. Granted you can change wics on a 1600, 1700 etc.. but honestly.. how many times will it take for you tearing the lab up and down before it gets real old.
The cheapest 2600... the 2610/11 is a 10 half ethernet router.. again, no serial card unless you have the WIC and this will set you back roughly 700-900.00 on Ebay. The fastethernet version will set you back 1500 or more. Not much of a bargin when the 2514/1605 is running 500-700.
The 800 does not use the standard IOS nor does it do things like BGP, OSPF, IPX EIGRP, Appletalk, plus a few others.. this makes it pretty useless for a lab.
and.. and... and..
MikeS
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"The trouble with giving up civil rights is that you never get them back"