I need to select a router to install in each of our CO's to bring together a
network of T-1 between our colos.
This will be the primary network for management of our CBX'es, routers, 5ESS
switches, and other gear.
This network will be totally separate from our existing network. Here are my
requirements:
Must have:
2 ports T-1, integrated CSU/DSU
1 port Ethernet
1 DC power supply
Only needs to support static routing
Support for either PPP, FR or HDLC
Management via telnet or web
NEBS compliance
Would be nice to have:
A and B power supplies or at least ability to add second DC ps.
Generally we would throw a Cisco 2600 at this but this is a waste of
features
that will never be used, so I am seeking something with a lower price point.
Used is OK. Any ideas for the list for this ?
James H. Edwards
Routing and Security Administrator
At the Santa Fe Office: Internet at Cyber Mesa
jamesh@cybermesa.com noc@cybermesa.com
http://www.cybermesa.com/ContactCM
(505) 795-7101
I need to select a router to install in each of our CO's to bring together a
network of T-1 between our colos.
Look to Ebay or similar for 2500's with dual V.35. Either find them with DC
supplies or buy DC supplies as spares. The DC version has only one inlet, but
it is trivial to bridge an A/B supply with a diode bridge. We do so with our
boxes. Depending on availability of DC supplies this could be very
cost-effective.
I need to select a router to install in each of our CO's to bring
together a
network of T-1 between our colos.
Look to Ebay or similar for 2500's with dual V.35. Either find them with DC
supplies or buy DC supplies as spares. The DC version has only one inlet,
but
it is trivial to bridge an A/B supply with a diode bridge. We do so with
our
boxes. Depending on availability of DC supplies this could be very
cost-effective.
The 2600's DC supplies are an exact mechanical fit and have a slightly
heftier power rating and may be easier to find.
They sometimes appear on EBAY as either 2500 or as 2600 supplies at $20 or
less each.
If you get stuck, the supply manufacturer sold us 20 of them at $65 each a
few years ago. You may have to be persistant, and promise to never tease
ci$co about it.
Remember to load all 2500s with 16 meg DRAM and 8 meg of flash (or more). If
you have a lot of 4 meg flash sticks, use 2 in 1/2 your routers (and say:
PARTITION FLASH 1 8 - rather than 2 4 4), and new 8 megs in the rest.The
DRAM is about $10 on ebay, and the FLASH is maybe $20. Try hard for Intel
flash chips (or Sharp clones that ID themselves as "Intel") so you won't
need to chase newer boot PLCCs if you get routers with old boot code than
can't do AMD flash.
Load them with unix compressed .Z images or see if you can find one of the
kits that used to be around on the net to convert cisco run from FLASH
images into more normal for cisco -mz gzipped types buried in a self
extracting wrapper so your 25xx routers will behave like most other cisco
routers. Find details in old C.D.S.C news archives.
You can then load newer images onto a RUNNING router without the 2500 class
B/S involving Flash-Load-Helper and remote disasters when flash is erased
and tftp fails.