Class Activity - Branching Out

Objective
Describe WAN access technologies available to small-to-medium-sized business networks.

Scenario
Your medium-sized company is opening a new branch office to serve a wider, client-based network. This
branch will focus on regular, day-to-day network operations, but will also provide TelePresence, web
conferencing, IP telephony, video on demand, and wireless services.
Although you know that an ISP can provide WAN routers and switches to accommodate the branch office
connectivity for the network, you prefer to use your own customer premises equipment (CPE). To ensure
interoperability, Cisco devices have been used in all other branch-office WANs.
As the branch-office network administrator, it is your responsibility to research possible network devices for
purchase and use over the WAN.

Resources
 Internet

Step 1: New Branch Routers

a. Visit the Cisco Enterprise Router Selector site.
b. Select I need guidance tab.
c. Select Branch routers for question 1.
d. Select New Router for question 2.
e. Answer the rest of the questions until you have answered the rest of the questions.
f. Select the recommended routers and click Compare to learn more details about them. If there is only
one, you can find out more information about the router series.
g. Fill out the relevant information in the table below.

Router Form Branch Size

Model Wireless Factor (S/M/L) Modular Switchports Additional Information

ISR 4331 no rack medium yes less than 24 300 mbps, no redundant power
supply, supports telephony

Step 2: Upgrade Branch Routers

a. Navigate to the Cisco Enterprise Router Selector site.
b. Select I need guidance tab.
c. Select Upgrade for question 1.

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Class Activity - Branching Out

d. Select Cisco 1900 Series for question 2 as an example.

e. Answer the rest of the questions until you have answered the rest of the questions. If there is only one,
you can find out more information about the router series.
f. Select the recommended routers and click Compare to learn more details about them.

Router Form Branch Size

Model Wireless Factor (S/M/L) Modular Switchports Additional Information

ISR 1100 yes rack small fixed 8

ISR 4221 no desktop small modular 16 75 Mbps

Reflection
Now that you have compared a few branch routers, which routers would you recommend to the company?
Please also explain your choices.

I would recommend the ISR 4331 router because it has a greater speed, supports digital video and voice,
supports telephony, supports modularity and can be used in small and medium scale business. Whereas, the
upgrade laptops do not support have these capabilities.

© 2016 - 2019 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public Page 2 of 2 www.netacad.com