BCMSN lab?

I did BCMSN with a single 2950 SI and a 2911XM with a couple of fast ethernet ports.

The amount of L3 stuff in the BCMSN is minimal. There is a bit of configuration, but with the EI image you should be able to do 80% of the lab work. Unless you are heading for CCIE where you need really an L3 switch or two of your own, I'd save the cash on a third switch, and use it on the off-chance that you don't pass the exam first time. You honestly won't touch it again until CCIE.

Your money, tho... your call.

If you work as a CCNP or even a experienced CCNA you will see L3 switches. The trouble is that you only configure the stuff once in a while when joe shmoe from engineering wants his own VLAN for a dev product. Complicate that further by adding redundant supervisor mods and you'll be getting quite accustomed to ALT'ing every config command.

IMHO

Oh .. you want to know about the _real_ world.

Yeah, I agree with you... L3 is the way to go. Gets rid of all those nasty STP issues in the core rather than fudding around it. Gives better QoS for converged networks. L2 switches are dying, especially once ipv6 takes over the world circa 2008.

As far as the MCMSN exam is concerned, don't spend $3k on a L3 switch. As far as useful real-world experience is concerned, get two.

Matt

Yup, the "real world" answer it pretty good.

However, as we move forward more, your gonna find MPLS taking off. To my thinking L3 will be more left to providers. True there may be some space left for L3 within a building, but then again, this too may become moot now with the exception of inter VLAN traffic.

So, a good thorough understanding of L2 becomes essential.

At any rate, 3550's require the EMI feature set to light up L3.

I'd go with the "its your money" line mentioned earlier.