Cisco 2924 vs 2950

[pug]

What is the difference..building a lab for CCNA

 

[unix_foo]

2950 replaced 2924. 2924 is basically a 1924 unit with fastethernet ports. I think 2924's only came with FE or SC at 100Mb for the uplinks while 2950 can have Gig fiber uplinks. 2924 can do ISL trunking while 2950 can do dot1q.

 

[FromTheLou]

I was under the understanding that the 2950's supported QoS as well, while the 2924/12's don't.

 

[Blitzrommel]

2924 switches can do both ISL and dot Q. 2950s can only do dot Q. As far as I knew.

 

[pug]

So for a CCNA lab? My teacher who is teaching the CCNA class recommended 2950 but they are a lot more expensive than the 2924

 

[Blitzrommel]

It's been a while since I've taken the CCNA, but there wasn't a whole lot on ISL when I did. That's the only reason I'd recommend a 2924 over a 2950.

 

[FromTheLou]

It's been a while since I've taken the CCNA, but there wasn't a whole lot on ISL when I did. That's the only reason I'd recommend a 2924 over a 2950.

There is a reason why the 2950's don't have ISL or any new switch(like the 3550's) from Cisco. It is being phased out.

But for a CCNA lab the 2924 will be fine. If you plan for any certs past that you will be adding/upgrading your equipment anyway. .1q, L3,etc

 

[Blitzrommel]

There is a reason why the 2950's don't have ISL or any new switch(like the 3550's) from Cisco. It is being phased out.

Good thing you chimed in with that, I was so clueless..! .

But I'd save cash and get a 2924 anyway. Want mine?

 

[AMD_Gamer]

2924 is all you need for CCNA lab, i have 2 of them i got them from ebay for about $80 each they are great

 

[xphil3]

There is a reason why the 2950's don't have ISL or any new switch(like the 3550's) from Cisco. It is being phased out.

hmm..... 3550s, 3560s, 3700s all support ISL ..... I heard nothing about them phasing out ISL... maybe Boscoh could give some input if he sees this since he does work for them

The other key difference is the processor speed, allowing the 2950 to have a much higher PP forwarding rate then the 2924 series(3 times as much).

But yeah, for the CCNA.... seriously.... just a few 2500s and two 2924s

 

[FromTheLou]

hmm..... 3550s, 3560s, 3700s all support ISL ..... I heard nothing about them phasing out ISL... maybe Boscoh could give some input if he sees this since he does work for them

The other key difference is the processor speed, allowing the 2950 to have a much higher PP forwarding rate then the 2924 series(3 times as much).

But yeah, for the CCNA.... seriously.... just a few 2500s and two 2924s

From the docs I looked at I didn't see ISL on the 3550's. The phasing out part was something I repeated from one of my buddies. He is a CCIE so I assumed he knew what he was talking about. But I've been wrong before and so has he.

Worst case scenario they do support ISL and I get to go drink another beer!
Honestly even if they don't support ISL i'm going to go drink another beer!

 

[Jay_2]

I have one of each (2924 enterprise) and I can tell you this the 2924 is very noisy!

 

[Boscoh]

hmm..... 3550s, 3560s, 3700s all support ISL ..... I heard nothing about them phasing out ISL... maybe Boscoh could give some input if he sees this since he does work for them

The other key difference is the processor speed, allowing the 2950 to have a much higher PP forwarding rate then the 2924 series(3 times as much).

But yeah, for the CCNA.... seriously.... just a few 2500s and two 2924s

I haven't heard that ISL is being phased out. I cant find any literature to indicate that it is - but I haven't searched extensively either. I'll inquire next week and see if any of the route/switch gurus know anything about that.

Far as I know, 2950's dont support ISL even in the latest release, and it isn't on the roadmap. 2970's support ISL and dot1q, I'm not sure about the 2960's though. 3550's do support ISL as well. If you can configure dot1q, you can configure ISL (as long as you know how to use ?) .

 

[FromTheLou]

I haven't heard that ISL is being phased out. I cant find any literature to indicate that it is - but I haven't searched extensively either. I'll inquire next week and see if any of the route/switch gurus know anything about that.

Far as I know, 2950's dont support ISL even in the latest release, and it isn't on the roadmap. 2970's support ISL and dot1q, I'm not sure about the 2960's though. 3550's do support ISL as well. If you can configure dot1q, you can configure ISL (as long as you know how to use ?) .

Update?

 

[Boscoh]

Sorry, been exceedingly busy today. One of the people I asked got back to me and pointed me to release notes for the 2960 and 3560 discussing ISL being discontinued, but I haven't had a chance to look at it myself.

 

[BobSutan]

2924 switches can do both ISL and dot Q. 2950s can only do dot Q. As far as I knew.

IIRC I read it in Lammle's CCNA book about 3 days before I tested last summer...and without giving too much away, I'm glad I found out about it.