Building a Rack 
for the Internet Lab

This webpage lists the equipment requirements for the Internet Lab. We recommend to have one set of equipment for every 15-20 students. The equipment can be placed in a public computer lab (e.g., as used for programming assignments).

Contents:

  1. Overview of Equipment Needs

  2. Equipment Recommendations 

  3. Price Estimates for a  Rack ("Shopping List") 

  4. Notes on  Router Types

Also see the collection of comments on the lab equipment posted here.

 

Overview of Equipment Needs

The recommended rack installation is shown in the Figure.  The cost for a rack is estimated at US-$ 8,200 (used Cisco 2514) and US-$ 14,500 (new Cisco 2611XM).

The following two tables summarize the equipment needs for a single Internet Lab rack. More details are provided in the Section "Price Estimates for a  Rack".

Qty.

Equipment

1

19” equipment rack with 3 shelves

4

Cisco Routers (Cisco 2514, 2611, 2611XM, 2621, 2621XM, 7000, or 7010)
Required: IOS 12.0

4

Ethernet Hubs 

4

PCs with Linux
Required:  Linux Redhat 7.3 or later
Required: 1 CD Rom drive, 1 hard disk: 1 floppy drive, 2 Ethernet NICs, 1 DB9 serial port

1

keyboard, mouse, monitor

1

KVM switch

1

UPS with min. 8 outlets (or surge protectors)

 

Qty.

Cables

16

Ethernet (straight ) cables CAT5 with RJ45 connectors

4

Ethernet (rollover) cables
CAT5 with RJ45 connectors

2

WAN serial cable for Cisco routers
(Cisco DCE-to-DTE 60 pin serial cable)

4

Cable KVM to CPU cable kits

8

(not needed for Cisco 2611)  AUI to RJ-45 tansceiver

4

Serial cables and adapters (is included with new routers as "Console Cable Kit")

 

Equipment Recommendations

  •  Recommendations for racks: 

    • We recommend to provide one rack for  15 students (2 racks for 30 students, 4 racks for 60 students).

  • Recommendations for  PCs:

    • Linux Redhat 7.3 or later.

    • 1 CD Rom drive, 1 hard disk: 1 floppy drive, 2 Ethernet NICs, 1 DB9 serial port.

    • Minimum: 10 GB hard disk, 300 Mhz PII or AMD, 64 MB RAM.

    • Recommended: 10 GB, 1 Ghz PIII or AMD, 256 MB RAM. 

    • For Ethernet NICs, we recommend Intel Pro 100.

  • Recommendations for routers:

    • Requires IOS 12.0.

    • We  recommend Cisco 2611XM (with one WIC-2T WAN  interface card) or Cisco 2514.

    • Important is that the router needs 2 Ethernet interfaces and at least 1 serial interface.

  • Recommendations for cables:

    • The lab uses different types of cables which all  look very similar, since they all have RJ-45 connectors: (1) straight Ethernet, (2) crossover Ethernet, (3) serial cables. 

    • We strongly recommend that you color code your cables. When you purchase cables, make sure that the different types of cables have a different color.  

Price Estimates for a  Rack ("Shopping List")

The following lists the pricing of a rack. The listed vendors and prices are not endorsements. We cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the provided data. We recommend that you shop around for alternative vendors and products before
purchasing equipment

Rack with new Cisco 2611XM Routers

Approximate Estimated Cost: US-$ 14,279.25 (updated Nov. 2004)
Qty. Equipment

Price 
per 
unit
(US-$)

Total
(US-$)

 Comments
19'' Rack: Company: Milestek
1 #50-70377 Milestek 19" Shell Rack (19"x72") 140.95 140.95 This is a very basic rack. 
1 #50-70119 Milestek  Rack Base Cantilever Support Base 67.95 67.95
3 #50-70121 Milestek Vented Center-Mount Shelf 2 Rack Space 50.95 152.85
Cisco Routers:  CDW 
4 Cisco 2611XM Dual Ethernet Modular Router
Part# CISCO2611XM		 1819.16
 		7276.64
  The older 2611 model is also fine.
(Other models are 2621 or 2621XM. Note that the routers need to have  2 Ethernet LAN ports and at least 1 WIC port)
4 2 port Serial WAN Interface Card
Part# WIC-2T		 537.11 2148.44

PCs 
4 2 Ghz Pentium 4, 256 MB RAM, 1 CD Rom drive, 1 hard disk: 1 floppy drive, 2 Ethernet cards, 1 DB9 serial port est. 600 est.  2400.00 Note: Only 1 keyboard, monitor, and mouse is needed for all 4 PCs.
No need to purchase Windows operating system.
1 Monitor (19" LCD flat panel), Keyboard, Mouse est. 600.00 est. 600.00 LCD flat panel can be replaced by a min. 17" CRT monitor.

KVM switch  KVMSwitchesOnline
1 IOGEAR MiniView SE 4-Port w/Cables (GCS84B)
Part #:GCS84B



119.95

119.95

 See the comment on this link.

UPS  CDW
1 APC Smart-UPS 1500 USB
Uninterruptible Power Supply with 8 outlets
Part #: SUA1500		 499.95

499.95

 UPS is not strictly necessary, but surge protectors should be used.

Ethernet Hubs Netgear
4

Netgear DS108 8 PORT 10/100 Mbps Dual Speed Hub

65.95   263.80

WAN serial cable for Cisco routers Pro-Link LLC
2 10 ft 26-pin to 26-pin  Smart Serial DTE - DCE M/M Crossover cable
Cisco Part #: CAB-SS-2626X-10 		$68.50 137.00

Ethernet cables  
16 Straight Ethernet CAT5 (or better) Cable with RJ45 connectors  Gray 10ft est.5.00 80.00
4 Crossover Through Ethernet CAT5 (or better) Cable with RJ45 connectors  Red 10ft est.5.00 20.00 The crossover and straight cables should have  a different color

Serial cable (to connect PC and router) CDW
4 Cisco Console Cable Kit for Cisco 2600 routers (Part number: ACS-2600ASYN)
(Includes an RJ-45 to RJ-45 rolled cable, one DB-25M adaptor  and one DB-9F adaptor)
 79.68
 318.72 Note: Newly purchased Cisco routers have the "Console Cable Kit" included
The cost can be reduced to to approx. $10 by purchasing cables and adaptors individually.
 

Rack with used Cisco 2514 Routers

Approximate Estimated Cost: US-$ 8232.23 (updated 2003)
Qty. Equipment

Price 
per 
unit

Total

 Comments
19'' Rack: Company: 
1 See Cisco 2611 Rack description for details -- 345.00
Cisco Routers:  Tangent Communications 
4 Used Cisco 2514 Router with 2 Ethernet interfaces and 2 WAN serial interfaces
Part# CISCO2514		 795.00
 		3180.00 This is the price for a used router. Even lower prices can be found at Ebay.com
Note: WAN interfaces are integrated, and need not be purchased separately. d 
8 10Mbps Ethernet micro transceiver. 
Product #: AT-210TS
AUI male port - 10Base-T (RJ-45)
from: Allied Telesyn		 37.50
 		300.00

PCs 
4 See Cisco 2611 Rack description for details -- 3000.00
KVM switch  
1 See Cisco 2611 Rack description for details --

223.95

 includes 4 cables
UPC 
1 See Cisco 2611 Rack description for details --

609.32
Ethernet Hubs 
4 See Cisco 2611 Rack description for details --

183.96
WAN serial cable for Cisco routers: Tangent Communications
2 
10 ft DB-60 to DB-60 Cross
Over cable
Cisco Part: CAB-CROSSOVER
 95.00

190.00
Ethernet cables
-- See Cisco 2611 Rack description for details --

100.00

 includes 16 straight and 4 crossover
Serial cable (to connect PC and router)
4 See Cisco 2611 Rack description for details --

339.76

 When purchasing used equipment verify that "Rack mount kit" and "Console Cable Kit" are included

 

Notes on  Router Types
Router Types Information Comments
Cisco 2611

or Cisco 2611XM
  • 2 10/100BaseT Ethernet interfaces with RJ-45 ports
  • Buy separately:   Port serial WAN  interface card with 2 ports for Cisco 2600 (Cisco Part number: WIC-2T)
  • Weight: 10 lb (4.5 kg)
  • Console port
  • Dimensions  (H x W x D): 1.7 in x  17.5 in x 11.8in
  • Weight: 10 lb

 

Cisco 2621

or
Cisco 2621XM
  • Similar to Cisco 2611, but has autosensing 10/100 Mbps ports
  
Cisco 2514
  •  2 10Mbps Ethernet interfaces with AUI  ports 
  • 2 serial WAN interfaces (DB 60)
  • Dimensions  (H x W x D): 1.75 x 17.5 x 10.56 in. 
  • Weight: 10 lb 
  • Console port
  • 2514 are no longer sold by Cisco. 
  • Used systems can be purchased for <$800
  • Requires 2 AUI-to-RJ-45 connectors for the 2 Ethernet interfaces
Cisco 7000
  • Router is a chassis into which adaptor cards ("interface processors") are added
  • Additional information is here.
  • These routers were distributed to 25 or more universities as part of the NSF ITLab project.
  • These routers need a sturdy rack. At most 3 routers fit into one rack.
  • Cisco 7000s come with DC and AC power supplies. Make sure that you get a DC power supply.
  • Rack mount kit is expensive (60 $)

 
Cisco 7010
  • This is a smaller version of the Cisco 7000 router.
  • Dimensions  (H x W x D): 0.5 x 17.5 x 17.0''
  • Weight (loaded): 70 lb
  • These routers need a sturdy rack. One rack can (barely) fit 4 routers and  4 PCs.