Hello,
New member here and I'm happy to find a place where I can get some advice and learn. I've pieced my current network together from what was originally a standalone Cisco lab and tried to expand, solve some home network requirements and tie it all together as well as financially practical since this is just a hobby at present.
I started it way back with a FiOS WAN connection feeding a Cisco 3845 router, which was performing NAT and IPSEC remote access VPN to the network. A Cisco 3560-48 POE layer-3 switch was connecting all my devices including a few NETGEAR routers running DD-WRT. I wanted better VPN throughput and an actual firewall, so I got a Cisco ASA5520 with SSM-4GE.
I mothballed the 3845, and configured the ASA for NATing the FiOS connection, as well as providing VPN connectivity. I wanted to study Cisco WAPs so I scored a Cisco WLC4402 Wireless LAN Controller and 10 Cisco 3502 Lightweight Access Points, 6 of which are actively being used. (One is configured as a wireless bridge feeding a Cisco 3560-8 desktop switch in my office that can't be wired easily)
Reading the configuration docs for the WLC, everything recommended Vlans for efficiency, so I implemented Vlans on the 3560, which is doing all the routing.
I found an older but dirt cheap Cisco MCS-7825-H4 server on eBay. Turns out it's a rebranded HP ProLiant DL320 G5p with a Cisco bezel on the front. I purchased a 4-bay LFF drive cage, maxed out the RAM and CPU and it's currently set up as an ESXi 5.5 server with Cisco Call Manager and Cisco Unity.
Events transpired that necessitated IP Cameras on the property, so I purchased a used HP ProLiant DL360E G8 server with SFF bays, a couple Dahua IP cameras (so far) and Blue Iris software to record and manage.
I was lucky enough to find a free 27U server cabinet, complete with castors, sides and doors for FREE on Craigslist. It's really transformed this whole thing into something much more serious. I wanted better centralized backup power than my home office grade APC UPS, so I found a good used Tripp Lite SmartPro 2200VA 4U UPS.
New member here and I'm happy to find a place where I can get some advice and learn. I've pieced my current network together from what was originally a standalone Cisco lab and tried to expand, solve some home network requirements and tie it all together as well as financially practical since this is just a hobby at present.
I started it way back with a FiOS WAN connection feeding a Cisco 3845 router, which was performing NAT and IPSEC remote access VPN to the network. A Cisco 3560-48 POE layer-3 switch was connecting all my devices including a few NETGEAR routers running DD-WRT. I wanted better VPN throughput and an actual firewall, so I got a Cisco ASA5520 with SSM-4GE.
I mothballed the 3845, and configured the ASA for NATing the FiOS connection, as well as providing VPN connectivity. I wanted to study Cisco WAPs so I scored a Cisco WLC4402 Wireless LAN Controller and 10 Cisco 3502 Lightweight Access Points, 6 of which are actively being used. (One is configured as a wireless bridge feeding a Cisco 3560-8 desktop switch in my office that can't be wired easily)
Reading the configuration docs for the WLC, everything recommended Vlans for efficiency, so I implemented Vlans on the 3560, which is doing all the routing.
I found an older but dirt cheap Cisco MCS-7825-H4 server on eBay. Turns out it's a rebranded HP ProLiant DL320 G5p with a Cisco bezel on the front. I purchased a 4-bay LFF drive cage, maxed out the RAM and CPU and it's currently set up as an ESXi 5.5 server with Cisco Call Manager and Cisco Unity.
Events transpired that necessitated IP Cameras on the property, so I purchased a used HP ProLiant DL360E G8 server with SFF bays, a couple Dahua IP cameras (so far) and Blue Iris software to record and manage.
I was lucky enough to find a free 27U server cabinet, complete with castors, sides and doors for FREE on Craigslist. It's really transformed this whole thing into something much more serious. I wanted better centralized backup power than my home office grade APC UPS, so I found a good used Tripp Lite SmartPro 2200VA 4U UPS.
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