From: Scott Vermillion (scott_ccie_list@it-ag.com)
Date: Mon Oct 15 2007 - 18:33:42 ART
Hi Andrew,
I too run 3725s w/ Advanced Enterprise code and 128 MB of ram. I recently
upgraded to 12.4(17) and found idlepc 0x62378e9c to be pretty decent. I
guess I've been running this code for a good week or perhaps two now, and
have ran into no major snags/bugs thus far. Just FYI for you and anyone
else who elects to upgrade to the latest and greatest...
Regards,
Scott
-----Original Message-----
From: nobody@groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody@groupstudy.com] On Behalf Of
Usankin, Andrew
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2007 12:05 PM
To: ccielab@groupstudy.com
Subject: RE: OT: how to cope with home lab's NOISE
Here is my two cents:
1. Use Linux instead of Windows (very big performance difference!).
2. Try c3725-adventerprisek9-mz.124-16 image with IdlePC=0x62372060,
instance ram=128Mb.
I have Dell PowerEdge 1600SC with two P4 3.00GHz CPUs and 4 Gb memory -
flies like a rocket with full blown configuration on 13 virtual routers.
Now those 13 routers were set up for MPLS BGP lab, so I had all flavor
of routing protocols, but didn't do any advanced IP services (except I
did NAT).
Andrew.
-----Original Message-----
From: nobody@groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody@groupstudy.com] On Behalf Of
Farhan Anwar
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
12.4IOS, 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>; "'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" <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>
> >> >
> >> > > 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
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Fri Nov 16 2007 - 13:11:15 ART