I have been searching the web from last 4 weeks and scratching my head to find the most cost effective way to build a decent Voice lab. And now with the good news of no OEQs I am more thrilled to get this thing up and running.
I searched the web and tried to collect most possible cost effective topology for CCIE VOICE HOME LAB.
Following are the devices that i have chosen for my home lab.
HQ
This is going to be the most critical router of my lab as i am going to connect all my servers to this router and this is where CISCO wants to use 3825 in actual CCIE VOICE LAB.
I will use a 1760, 2620XM or a 3640. Now remember this router connects to the PSTN and branch routers using FR and T1. For Frame Relay you will need a WIC-1T card and for T1 you will need a VWIC-1MFT-T1.
- Cisco WS-3550-24PS-E ( 100$ )
- Cisco 1760 with PVDM ( 100$ )
- VWIC-1MFT-T1 ( 100$ )
- WIC-1T ( 50$ )
- HQ Phones
- Cisco 7961 ( 75$ )
- Cisco 7961 ( 75$ )
- Cisco 7961 ( 75$ )
On this router i am going to test my SRST functionalities and CUCME.
- Cisco WS-3550-24PS-E ( 100$ )
- Cisco 1760 with PVDM ( 100$ )
- VWIC-1MFT-T1 ( 100$ )
- WIC-1T ( 50$ )
- BR1 Phones
- Cisco 7961 ( 75$ )
- Cisco 7961 ( 75$ )
On this router i am going to test my unity express configurations and integrating it with my cucm cluster and some testing on integration with CUCME
- Cisco WS-3550-24PS-E ( 100$ )
- Cisco 1760 ( 100$ )
- VWIC-1MFT-T1 ( 100$ )
- WIC-1T ( 50$ )
- NM-CUE ( 500$ )
- BR2 Phones
- Cisco 7961 ( 75$ )
- Cisco 7961 ( 75$ )
PSTN Router
This router is going to be the gatekeeper and the PSTN. Same as the HQ router it will need to be equipped to handle frame relay and T1.
This router will act as the T1 switch (hence the name PSTN) all of the routers will connect to this router for T1 termination
- FXS Card ( 50$ )
- PSTN Phone
Frame Relay Switch
I am very bad in setting up frame-relay, i will get a chance to play around with frame-relay to setup my CCIE VOICE HOME LAB.
Cisco 2522 : It has built-in serial ports, so no more extra modules required to setup a frame-relay switch or terminal server.
Cisco 3640 : You will need an NM-4T network Module.
Cisco 2522 ( 225 $ )
Cisco 3640 ( 90$ )
NM-4T ( 50$ )
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Server and Applications
- Dell T100 Server Xeon 3.0 8GB RAM ( 1000$ )
- VM for CUCM PUB
- VM for CUCM SUB
- VM for CUC
- VM for UCCX
- VM for CUPS
- VM for Windows 2003 for AD integration.
Approximately your CCIE VOICE HOME LAB will cost you around 5000 US $.
If any one has a better lab setup idea please you are most welcome to comment and let me know.
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