From: Scott Vermillion (scott_ccie_list@it-ag.com)
Date: Sun Oct 14 2007 - 15:14:01 ART
Hi Farhan Anwar,
My strong suspicion here is Windows. I ran Dynamips on my Windows machine
here at the house when I first started to experiment with it. While I could
run five or six idle routers, I could not do anything complex or the CPU would
peg. I started doing Dynamips remotely on a Windows 2003 server w/ 4 x 2 GHz
CPUs and I think 4 GB of RAM. That seemed to do the trick. But I can
honestly say that my Mini does just about as well as that big server! I have
launched up to 20 emulated routers and then set about peering them via all of
the supported IGPs (so perhaps for our five were peered w/ EIGRP, four or five
/ OSPF, etc) and I also introduced iBGP and eBGP. Then I started
redistributing such that every router was redistributing at least one protocol
into another. Some were running and redistributing everything into
everything. By the time I got to 20 routers, the CPU was bouncing between 90
and 100%. Since I use ghostios and sparsemem, I had no memory issues to speak
of. Not knowing anything about operating systems, Ibm simply left to marvel
at the difference in observed performance between the two platforms. Itbs
classic b night and dayb is all I can really say.
Regards,
Scott
From: Farhan Anwar [mailto:farhan.anwar@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2007 10:48 AM
To: Scott Vermillion; Brian Dennis
Cc: ccielab@groupstudy.com
Subject: Re: OT: how to cope with home lab's NOISE
Dear BD and Scott,
I know you recommend MacMini due to its efficient BSD Related Kernel and its
resource utilization.
But can this One MacMini be enough?
I bought a Core2Duo 2.13 GHz System (supposed to be equivalent to
Athlon-X2-4400+) with 2 GB Ram some time ago when i read BMc's statement that
they were able to boot all Virtual Router Instances on an Athlon X2 4400+
somewhere on their site. I mostly run Windows, i used the 3640 12.4 IOS, i
also placed optimal idlepc values and the CPU Utilization keeps under 10% when
all Virtual Routers are idle but the problem comes when i start doing IE Labs
on it the system the utilization goes gradually to 100% and when i finish the
BGP Part it starts slowing typed commands. I have added my old Pentium D 2.66
GHz System with 1 GB Ram to distribute the load, i have tried several other
IdlePC Values. but both PCs have almost 90 - 100% utilization when i finish a
lab.
Although I am able to complete the LAB with both PCs but i am more concerned
about High CPU Utilization at all times.
Is it an Issue related to my IdlePC Values?. Not being optimal.
or
Is it an Resource Utilization - OS (Windows) Issue. Shall i switch to Linux?
or
Is it just normal?
In this case i dont think i can try running 3725 or 2691, because i have tried
and it takes the utilization to 100% on both of the PCs at the end of LAB.
Please comment.
On 10/14/07, Scott Vermillion <scott_ccie_list@it-ag.com> wrote:
Hey Gary,
The IEWB Brians are working on something to help folks get up and running
quickly w/ Dynamips on a Mac Mini. Not sure where they stand on that,
time-wise as far as a release goes.
This is the basis of my own lab. Much time was invested in the initial
setup, I admit. However, many lessons have been learned that can be shared.
Also, I am in fairly routine contact with two other list members who have
migrated to a Mini-based lab (we all three use physical switches integrated
with our emulated routers). If you go this route, we'll patch you into our
little group and I think you will find many of your questions answered
quickly. Once the investment in time is behind you, it's reclaimed in very
short order. Want a totally different topology than the one before you?
Kill the current and launch the new with a few clicks of the mouse! Boot a
3640 in ~5 seconds and a 3725 in well under 10! It's killer.
BTW, I ordered my Mini from the factory w/ 2 GB RAM but there are 3 and 4 GB
aftermarket upgrade options available. It's my understanding that if you'd
like to pursue voice, 3 may be better than 2. As long as you stay away from
a Windows-based Dynamips server, the Trendnet USB-Ethernet converters work
great (they'll work OK on Windows too, except that you won't be able to do
dot1q). My 3560-8PCs have been more than sufficient for lab prep and do
work in the IEWB topology quite well. Having looked at IPExpert's topology,
I can see that they would work perfectly well in that environment too. But
you already have a full hardware lab, no? So that wouldn't be an issue
anyway. I've personally not had any experience with the new IEWB
Dynamips-specific labs, as I have hardware switches and prefer to keep it
that way. This is not a problem from a noise perspective, as the -8PCs
don't have fans (and besides that, everything is in a closet anyway - I run
Dynagen from my Windows box and connect to the Mini remotely via WiFi). So
I have a totally silent lab that consumes a minimum of space. I'll unicast
you a few pics and feel free to fire away with any specific questions you
may have.
In parting, I think you inquired about this some weeks back as far as the
time investment was concerned. If you don't know OS X well already, I would
plan for this to take the better part of a week to get tweaked to your
liking. Maybe not an entire week, but a handful of days anyway. I think
our little group can help you to keep that to a minimum and if you wait for
the Brians, it's likely to take you even less time to get up and running.
Also, I'd be more than willing to share some stuff I built with ApppleScript
that will likely save you some time here and there.
Regards,
Scott
-----Original Message-----
From: nobody@groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody@groupstudy.com] On Behalf Of Gary
Duncanson
Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2007 4:24 PM
To: ccie candidate
Cc: Brian Dennis; Radioactive Frog; WorkerBee; ccielab@groupstudy.com
Subject: Re: OT: how to cope with home lab's NOISE
Guys,
I have an interest in this from a distance as I may very well invest in
something like this in the future. I find the idea of having the lab on a PC
at home rather appealing instead of the hulking great lab of equipment that
presently noisily occupies a large corner of my spare room.
My concern at the moment is making sure I buy the right things for the
dynamips wotzit (Frog looks like to have bought something noisy as opposed
to what Brian Dennis says he has) and also finding a cookbook so I dont
spend as long trying to get the creature to do something useful as I do
using labs.
If anyone has any cookbooks about specs and how to set things up for
different tracks I would be interested.
Thanks
Gary
----- Original Message -----
From: "ccie candidate" <ccie.candidate@securebytes.co.uk >
To: "'Brian Dennis'" <bdennis@internetworkexpert.com>; "'WorkerBee'"
<ciscobee@gmail.com <mailto:ciscobee@gmail.com> >; "'Radioactive Frog'"
<pbhatkoti@gmail.com>; "'Cisco
certification'" <ccielab@groupstudy.com >; "'Cisco certification'"
<cisco@groupstudy.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2007 10:42 PM
Subject: RE: OT: how to cope with home lab's NOISE
> Brian,
>
> Sorry to bring this up but I just have to ask a question.
> When you say a 3 gig mac mini with vmware will run a whole voice lab, do
> you
> mean absolutely everything? If not, what can it not run? As in what might
> one have to rent online racks for? Also, any help with set up will be
> appreciated (dynamips)
> Thanks for your anticipated reply.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nobody@groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody@groupstudy.com] On Behalf Of
> Brian Dennis
> Sent: 07 September 2007 06:28
> To: WorkerBee; Radioactive Frog; Cisco certification; Cisco certification
> Subject: Re: OT: how to cope with home lab's NOISE
>
> http://www.123macmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=13795
>
> Also www.macsales.com sells a 3 gig upgrade for the mac mini.
>
> HTH,
>
> Brian Dennis, CCIE4 #2210 (R&S/ISP-Dial/Security/SP)
> bdennis@internetworkexpert.com
>
> Internetwork Expert, Inc.
> http://www.InternetworkExpert.com
> Toll Free: 877-224-8987
> Direct: 775-745-6404 (Outside the US and Canada)
>
>
>>----- Original Message -----
> Subject: Re: OT: how to cope with home lab's NOISE
> Date: Thu, September 6, 2007 22:13
> From: "WorkerBee" < <mailto:ciscobee@gmail.com> ciscobee@gmail.com>
>
>> Hi Brian,
>>
>> How do you make Mac Mini running with 3G RAM? The spec says only 2G.
>>
>> From Apple,
>>
>> 1GB (two 512MB) of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300)
>> Option: Up to 2GB
>>
>> The closest to Mac Mini lookalike is AOpen minipc which can support
>> 4G ram. The problem which mini pc is, they need SO DIMM ram which
>> is used in notebook, hence more expensive than PC ram.
>>
>>
>>
>> On 9/7/07, Brian Dennis <bdennis@internetworkexpert.com> wrote:
>> > VMware Fusion on a Mac Mini with 3 gigs of RAM will run a whole voice
> lab
>> > and its extremely compact plus nearly totally silent.
>> >
>> > As a side note I know someone who is doing about 70% of their CCIE
>> > voice
>> > lab preparation on a single computer running VMware and Dynamips. Of
>> > course this person is extremely creative and resourceful. Kind of like
> a
>> > MacGyver of networking ;-)
>> >
>> > Brian Dennis, CCIE4 #2210 (R&S/ISP-Dial/Security/SP)
>> > bdennis@internetworkexpert.com
>> >
>> > Internetwork Expert, Inc.
>> > http://www.InternetworkExpert.com
>> > Toll Free: 877-224-8987
>> > Direct: 775-745-6404 (Outside the US and Canada)
>> >
>> >
>> > >----- Original Message -----
>> > Subject: OT: how to cope with home lab's NOISE
>> > Date: Thu, September 6, 2007 20:14
>> > From: "Radioactive Frog" <pbhatkoti@gmail.com
<mailto:pbhatkoti@gmail.com> >
>> >
>> > > Hi Gang,
>> > >
>> > > I just bought HP ML-580 server (Dual XEON 3.2 Ghz, 4Gigs ram) from
> e-bay
>> > and
>> > > it's noisy in home environment not acceptable.
>> > > Can someone guide me if there are ways around to reduce the noise.
> It's
>> > > normal noise which comes from the server (as usual).
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > This server has 6 fans. I took 2 fans out but still the XEON
> processor's
>> > > FAN's are making noise.
>> > >
>> > > How important it is to have VOICE home lab at home?
>> > > I am thinking to put all lab gears at work and access it from home
> using
>> > > IPSEC tunnel.
>> > > From home I can get 3-4 mbps connection to work.
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Frog
>> > >
>> > >
> _______________________________________________________________________
>> > > Subscription information may be found at:
>> > > http://www.groupstudy.com/list/CCIELab.html
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________________________________
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>
> _______________________________________________________________________
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