Need Cisco router recommendation

kt

Diamond Member
Apr 1, 2000
6,032
1,348
136
Which Cisco router would you guys recommend to handle this task. I will need the router to be able to handle two 2xT1 connections to 2 remote locations. Also will need future expandability to handle another 2xT1 connection for a third remote locations. Which Cisco router will be capable of handling this? The remote locations will most likely be using Cisco 1721 routers with 2 WIC's installed. Any recommendations or alternate solutions are welcome.
 

kt

Diamond Member
Apr 1, 2000
6,032
1,348
136
Any particular model from the 2800 series? I am looking at the 2821 or the 2851. What are the differences between the two besides the voice bundle that is in the 2851 routers? Is the extra cost worth it for the voice bundle? These WAN links will be use for data and voice traffic.
 

cmetz

Platinum Member
Nov 13, 2001
2,296
0
0
The ISR series (800/1800/2800/3800) have serious software quality problems, I would avoid them like the plague for at least six months, maybe a year.

I would recommend you either get a 2620XM, or get one 1760 now and get a second 1760 later if you need more sites. The upside of the latter approach is not putting all your eggs in one basket - if the box fails you have some ability to swap things around and get some sites back online.
 

bgroff

Member
Jun 18, 2003
198
0
0
I've been rolling out 2801 and 2821 routers recently and haven't had too much in the way of problems. Since the 2600 series is effectively dead, I can't see any reason to invest capital into a dead platform. You don't really need a 2821 for what you've described. A 2801 or 2811 would more than do the trick. I would recommend using the 2 port T-1 cards so you don't eat up the built in Wic slots so quickly.
 

p0lar

Senior member
Nov 16, 2002
634
0
76
The 2800 series will have far more functionality built-in, especially in the IPIPGW series. The 2600XM series (as well as 2691) has much of it, but I doubt those platforms will get the latest-greatest advancements. If you're wanting to run data + voice (and eventually video), the 2800 series will trump.

This configuration will permit you to run a full T1 of voice and UP TO a full T1 of data (possibly more, but shouldn't be less than ~1.2mbit/s even with all 24 channels in use) simultaneously. To do this on two remote sites, you will need 2 2T modules and a DSP module (PVDM2-48) (or just a single 2T module without DSPs if you're going VoIP out to your PBX/etc) on your main-site router. Your remote sites will need 2T cards + a smaller DSP module (PVDM2-32). This will give you a significant (and flexible based on usage) amount of data + a full PRI of voice out each site, trunking both PRIs to the main-site and either routing them out via VoIP (less demanding and less expensive on the router) or breaking them back out to PRI on the main-site. You can also run CAS signalling if you want all 24 channels (instead of 23, depending on your telephony interfacing). You could encrypt both sites as well, but if they're PtP, you shouldn't have to worry. Crypto will drastically increase your bandwidth overhead as well.

Good luck, PM me if you need some advanced voice+data PtP configuration assistance -- no charge whatsoever for relatively small setups like yours. :)
 

kt

Diamond Member
Apr 1, 2000
6,032
1,348
136
p0lar, thanks for the informative reply. I will take you up on your offer when we cross that road :) I am just doing some researching on the upgrades right now and giving the upper management all the options.

cmetz, I am aware of putting all eggs in one basket and will be noted when I pass up all the information to upper management. It is ultimately my boss decision which one we recommend to upper management as well.