Begineer Cisco Router?

Carlosinfl

Loves the juice
Joined
Sep 25, 2002
Messages
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I am looking to see if anyone can recommend a Cisco router for home use?

Just to let everyone know my current setup is:

Cable Modem --> IPCop (all GB NIC's) --> Linksys (Unmanaged GB switch) --> PC's

My setup is very basic and simple. I do have access to a Cisco (managed) GB switch and I am very adamant about having GB LAN transfers since I do a lot of work from home and deal with extremely large file transfers through out my day. I want my PC's on the LAN to all operate at GB speed. I know that the router can be 10/100 since my ISP bandwidth would be a bottleneck anyways.

If you guys have any recommendations, please post them here...

Thanks!
 
Depends on what you want out of it and how much you have to spend.

http://www.cisco.com/web/partners/downloads/765/tools/quickreference/routerperformance.pdf

I have a pretty elaborate network, a 3745 at the core and my spokes are all 871's. I have consistently pulled around 20Mbits from my spoke houses. The data sheet is also only using 64Kbit packets so also keep that in mind.

I definitely recommend the 871(w), its the lower end ISR but perfect for the home user. If you want more horsepower you can probably actually score a 3745 off ebay cheaper than the 1800's and the 3745 is the interim ISR as well :D. Just think, with the 3745 fulled maxed out dram and flash you can easily run a BGP routing table with around 150K routes ;)

You may also want to look into the PIX 501's if you're strapped for cash, the ASA5505's are also on the cheaper end of the spectrum but now we're getting into firewalls. One last thing, I prefer the ISRs over the firewall anyday because it can do almost EVERYTHING the firewall can do with the right IOS.
 
OP,
I suggest a 851/871, 2621, 2611, PIX 501 or ASA5505. You can look into the 3700 series routers, but i have a feeling they are going to be more than you want to spend ($700+). As they are still a pretty high end item.

Xphil,
The 800 series Cisco routers are NOT ISR's. Lets not get that confused. They do run a cisco standard IOS, but are NOT ISR's. (1800,2800 and 3800's are ISR's)

Nothing wrong with ASA's or PIX's. ISR's are GREAT alternatives don't get me wrong, but they do not do SSL encryption out of the box.
 
Xphil,
The 800 series Cisco routers are NOT ISR's. Lets not get that confused. They do run a cisco standard IOS, but are NOT ISR's. (1800,2800 and 3800's are ISR's)

Nothing wrong with ASA's or PIX's. ISR's are GREAT alternatives don't get me wrong, but they do not do SSL encryption out of the box.

I remember you saying that you work for a partner and Im not sure what your SE or channel manager has been telling you but I can assure you that the 800 series is MOST DEFINITELY an ISR. Now, if you want to get technical the 871 is not an ISR but the 851w or 871w are, hence the wireless.
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/voice_ip_comm/sbcs/hardware/quick/guide/uc5_tele.html#wp41285

Trust me, they're ISR's... just low end ISR and non modular. Your are very right about SSL encryption, they also don't do any hardware VPN out of the box which is something you will get with the higher end ASA's.
 
I do work for a partner. (LOGOS Communications)

TBH, that is the first time I've ever seen a 871w router referred to as an ISR. I can see how they classify it as a ISR. However, the 1841 IMHO is the lowest end real ISR. (Due to it being modular)
 
Why do you want to replace your current solution? Cisco is good, but it's not like Cisco is good and everything else sucks. Free software can certainly do what Cisco does.
 
What are you wanting to do with this router? Your IPCop box though be able to do dot1q if you need to route traffic across VLANs or something.

If you are dead set on a Cisco Router just go buy a used 2620/2621 off eBay. Stay away from the 2610/2611 as they don't have 100Mb ports unless you buy an NM.
 
What are you wanting to do with this router? Your IPCop box though be able to do dot1q if you need to route traffic across VLANs or something.

If you are dead set on a Cisco Router just go buy a used 2620/2621 off eBay. Stay away from the 2610/2611 as they don't have 100Mb ports unless you buy an NM.

QFT Just bought a 2611 and am regretting it, I have a 2651xm as my main router at home, works great you can pick em up for under 200 bucks on ebay. Its also a great Router to learn on if your interested.

I am really interested in Picking up an ISR though. Gonna keep my eyes out for one, I remember when they first hit the market 6 years ago or so, and was just fascinated by the capabilities. Wonder if I can find one on the cheap :) type to look on fleabay
 
I do work for a partner. (LOGOS Communications)

TBH, that is the first time I've ever seen a 871w router referred to as an ISR. I can see how they classify it as a ISR. However, the 1841 IMHO is the lowest end real ISR. (Due to it being modular)

All of the current selling 800 series are ISRs, including the 871. The term Integrated Services Router has nothing to do with it being modular or not. It has to do with the architecture's ability to handle multiple simultaneous services (security, wireless, voice, route/switch, etc) while offering good performance. In other words, it's mostly a product marketing term used to describe an architecture. You can have fixed or modular ISRs.
 
All of the current selling 800 series are ISRs, including the 871. The term Integrated Services Router has nothing to do with it being modular or not. It has to do with the architecture's ability to handle multiple simultaneous services (security, wireless, voice, route/switch, etc) while offering good performance. In other words, it's mostly a product marketing term used to describe an architecture. You can have fixed or modular ISRs.
HAHAHA, there's my SE coming to the rescue! Hows it going buddy?
 
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Ummmm . . . yeah they are, the NM-FE cards work with any 2600/3600 series router as long as you have some code that isn't older than your mom. You go buy a 1FE-NM off the eBay and "presto" you haves the Fast Ethernet action . . .

http://cgi.ebay.com/Cisco-NM-1FE-TX...ryZ67290QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/Cisco-Fast-Ethe...ryZ51210QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Ummmm... no they are not. It is not IOS dependent, sorry...
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/rou...s/nm/hardware/installation/guide/OvrNetM.html

If you still dont believe me, go get yourself a 2610 and your IOS that will be older than "your mom" because you can't run 12.4 mainline on it and pop in a NM-1FE-TX in it.... tell me how nicely it boots. :rolleyes:
 
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Ummmm... no they are not. It is not IOS dependent, sorry...
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/rou...s/nm/hardware/installation/guide/OvrNetM.html

If you still dont believe me, go get yourself a 2610 and your IOS that will be older than "your mom" because you can't run 12.4 mainline on it and pop in a NM-1FE-TX in it.... tell me how nicely it boots. :rolleyes:

I wasn't trying to be a dick, I apologize if I came across in that manner.

Speaking from experience, while Cisco may not support it, I have successfully used NM-1FE-TX blades in two different 2620 routers that are still in production with those blades actually working. Perhaps it is different for the 2610 series, I see no mention on the document that you linked that any 2600 series router supports the NM-1FE-TX blades . . . but I have them working in real 2620 routers . . . .
 
I wasn't trying to be a dick, I apologize if I came across in that manner.

Speaking from experience, while Cisco may not support it, I have successfully used NM-1FE-TX blades in two different 2620 routers that are still in production with those blades actually working. Perhaps it is different for the 2610 series, I see no mention on the document that you linked that any 2600 series router supports the NM-1FE-TX blades . . . but I have them working in real 2620 routers . . . .

No worries, I don't take forums too serious anyways but its fun to get into arguments sometimes.

Back to the matter at hand, No Fast Ethernet module is compatible with ANY 2600 series router, why? I can't tell you :p , but its one of the perks when you work for Cisco.... Now, when you insert the module into a 2621, 2691 and some of the 26xxXM series routers it will be detected, but the throughput is only at around 10-12 mbps.
 
No worries, I don't take forums too serious anyways but its fun to get into arguments sometimes.

Back to the matter at hand, No Fast Ethernet module is compatible with ANY 2600 series router, why? I can't tell you :p , but its one of the perks when you work for Cisco.... Now, when you insert the module into a 2621, 2691 and some of the 26xxXM series routers it will be detected, but the throughput is only at around 10-12 mbps.

Hmmm, I guess I have never checked to see how much throughput was going through the port. It worked for VLAN trunking . . . . :D
 
Personaly I would go with a 871 or an ASA5505 for home use. Even new they are not that expensive and give you a chance to play with the current software. These will also been good platforms to start learning ciscos setup. If you get the 871w or the 871 with the better firmware they support vlans as well which is nice for learning.
 
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