[c-nsp] cisco-nsp Digest, Vol 64, Issue 120

[mack]

>
> Message: 11
> Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:55:48 -0500
> From: Justin Shore <justin at justinshore.com>
> Subject: [c-nsp] SP Labs (was: 7600 Questions)
> To: Jared Mauch <jared at puck.nether.net>
> Cc: cisco-nsp at puck.nether.net
> Message-ID: <47EC7A54.7040509 at justinshore.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Jared Mauch wrote:
> > On Thu, Mar 27, 2008 at 09:47:44PM -0500, Justin Shore wrote:
> >>
> http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/routers/ps368/product_data_s
> heet0900aecd8057f3b6.html
> >>
> >> There are a couple tables on that page.  Compare that with the
> numbers
> >> on this page and you should get the technical differences.
> >>
> >>
> http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/switches/ps5718/ps708/produc
> t_data_sheet09186a0080159856_ps4835_Products_Data_Sheet.html
> >>
> >> The RSP has twice the CPU, twice the RAM for the RP, and twice the
> NVRAM.
> >>
> >> Bottom line is that the new version of the Sup is the same price as
> the
> >> old version.  No sense in buying the old one unless you just want to
> >> make the color scheme on the cards match up. :-)
> >
> >       Or unless you have sparing/logistics economies of scale.
>
> What I'd give to have spares...
>
> I'm curious, how many SPs out there have labs to test out new code, new
> deployment options and concepts, burn in new gear, recreate bugs, etc?
> I'm trying to justify the purchase of some spare hardware to be used as
> lab equipment.
>
> Justin
>

Most SPs keep spare gear on hand to deal with failures.
Such gear is a necessity and is also useful for burning in new eq and limited testing.

Some larger companies and training companies have full labs for testing and training on complex configurations.
Depending on where you are you may be able to buy/arrange lab time for testing.

--
LR Mack McBride
Network Administrator
Alpha Red, Inc.