Cisco router/switch recommendations

Stky10

I've been given the job of setting up the network for a small IT company. The basic idea is of a router acting as a firewall (broadband ISDN connection to t'internet), ethernet inside. Initially all thats needed is web access for about 15 users. Eventually I'll be setting up an
email and web server inside the firewall.

I'm thinking also of some sort of manageable cisco
switch inside to configure any networks needed
for the users and servers.

So, can anyone recommend what model of Cisco
router and switches I'd need for the amount of
traffic that would be expected, and that shouldnt
need to be upgraded if things take off and they
add more users/servers. Also would it be
better/easier to connect the router to the switch
via fibre link rather than cat5, or with that number
of users and expected traffic, would a cat 5 cable
between router and switch prove much of a bottleneck???

I know Cisco gear would probably be more
expensive than other vendor gear, but I have
previous experience of setting up networks so
I'd prefer to use it if possible.

zenith

Cisco 803
- Handles ISDN
- does firewall
- can be setup using Cisco Config Maker if you're not an IOS head
- Has it's own hub, but can be crossed over to another hub to serve your whole office

Cisco switch: any. Or anybody else's switch. There's no real need to have a single vendor's kit. Just make sure it's

The problem with you growing will not be the Cisco's throughput: the problem will be the ISDN throughput: you'll only get up to 128kbs on that, and that's pretty lean for 15 people.

If you can get ADSL, then get that, get it presented as ethernet with a few spare IP addresses, and use a cisco pix 501 should be fine, or maybe a 506: they're just a firewall.

HTH

Stky10

Whoops...typed ISDN meant ADSL.

I dont mind IOS/CLI. I've never had a problem
with it. I just want to have to learn another
vendors version of it. Thats why I want to
use Cisco if at all possible.

Thanks for the suggestion though...

Jaden

I have a 1603 to sell you. I don't need it, as when faced with the situation you have, I used Linux. Compared to that Cisco crap, it's a hundred times easier.

My Record for setup of a Router/Firewall, with ADSL using ISDN backup, DHCP, Proxy Server and VPN is 30 minutes from scratch. It shouldn't take more than an hour first time. I'll happily help you out. All you need is an old PC.

I use IpCop.

Click Here

Grayarea

Does the 1603 support a ADSL card?

I cannot find the part number for one that I have, looks like I will have to upgarde to the 1700 series to get ADSL.

Thanks,

Grayarea.

flav0rflav

Originally posted by Stky10
I dont mind IOS/CLI. I've never had a problem
with it. I just want to have to learn another
vendors version of it.

And that's why cisco are rich!

Whatever that IT company is, they might want to brush up on their IT skills.

I wouldn't bother with the fibre just yet. Unless you need to go a few clicks out.

Stky10

I was thinking of using a Linux machine, but I dont
think it would scale to what would be needed in
the future. I'd prefer to get it all over and done
with now if possible, and not have to start over
from the beginning in 6 months time. Also the
company in question is likely to have a high
bandwidth requirement, thats why they're going
ADSL from the beginning rather than ISDN.

Also, isnt there an issue with getting support
and updated IOS from equipment bought second
hand. Dont you have to be the original buyer of
that equipment???

Jaden

I have several (about 10) IpCop boxes up and running. The smallest is running a 56K dialup for 2 people it uses a P60 with 64 Megs of RAM. The largest runs a 2 Meg pipe with 100 or so people on it. All it needs is a P3 450 with 128Megs of RAM, although I will change this to a P4 for caching purposes.

Scalability is not a problem.