I think this is one of the ways that RMS might have lost his way over the years. Free means free. If I want to run binary only drivers in my OS, I should have that right. As time goes by, he seems to start defining "freedom" as everyone doing what I want instead of doing what they want.
Oh come on now. The problems with Cisco's hardware basically lies in the fact that new hardware requires new software. ED and LD code are nothing but Alpha and Beta code. Anyone who buys hardware that requires Beta code gets what they deserve. If you were to approach your management and tell them that you were going to buy PC's that would only run a Beta operating system they would laugh you right out of the building, yet clueless network engineers buy 6500/MSFC's every day, but they still run only non-GD code. The only thing you can really fault Cisco for in the whole 6500 issue is that the made the 5500's end of life before they had a GD code for the 6500's.
As far as the IP phones are concerned, I have one on my desk and I can assure it works quite well. I really like having the ring tone being a recording of a Gene Wilder saying "I thought I told you never to interrupt me while I'm working!".
Here is a list of the equipment on the CCIE lab exam.
2500 Series
2600 Series
3600 Series
4000 and 4500 Series
3900 Series TR Switch
Cat 5000 Switch
I think the best all around lab choice would be to get 3-4 of the routers listed above concentrating on the modular routers as opposed to the fixed port routers as it is much cheaper to buy new interfaces than new routers.
I would also recommend that you get at least two ATM interfaces and at least 2 Token Ring interfaces.
Instead of the 5000 Cat switch, you should probably try to find a 2926 as it runs the same IOS and should be avaliable for a much cheaper price.
Don't forget cables too! Cisco uses a 60 pin connector on most routers, but modules available for the 3600's use a much smaller (also proprietary) connector and believe me these cables are not cheap!
Good luck!
All congress has to do is withhold funding for the NSA next year untill they comply with the request. It's called the "Golden Rule". He who has the gold makes the rules.
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I think this is one of the ways that RMS might have lost his way over the years. Free means free. If I want to run binary only drivers in my OS, I should have that right. As time goes by, he seems to start defining "freedom" as everyone doing what I want instead of doing what they want.
Oh come on now. The problems with Cisco's hardware basically lies in the fact that new hardware requires new software. ED and LD code are nothing but Alpha and Beta code. Anyone who buys hardware that requires Beta code gets what they deserve. If you were to approach your management and tell them that you were going to buy PC's that would only run a Beta operating system they would laugh you right out of the building, yet clueless network engineers buy 6500/MSFC's every day, but they still run only non-GD code. The only thing you can really fault Cisco for in the whole 6500 issue is that the made the 5500's end of life before they had a GD code for the 6500's.
As far as the IP phones are concerned, I have one on my desk and I can assure it works quite well. I really like having the ring tone being a recording of a Gene Wilder saying "I thought I told you never to interrupt me while I'm working!".
I think the best all around lab choice would be to get 3-4 of the routers listed above concentrating on the modular routers as opposed to the fixed port routers as it is much cheaper to buy new interfaces than new routers.
I would also recommend that you get at least two ATM interfaces and at least 2 Token Ring interfaces.
Instead of the 5000 Cat switch, you should probably try to find a 2926 as it runs the same IOS and should be avaliable for a much cheaper price.
Don't forget cables too! Cisco uses a 60 pin connector on most routers, but modules available for the 3600's use a much smaller (also proprietary) connector and believe me these cables are not cheap!
Good luck!
All congress has to do is withhold funding for the NSA next year untill they comply with the request. It's called the "Golden Rule". He who has the gold makes the rules.