Breathing life back into a retired enterprise switch felt amazing

I picked up a Cisco 2960 from a recycler for almost nothing (like, five bucks). After cleaning out the dust and replacing a bad fan, it booted right up. Now it's running my home lab, and I learned so much about VLAN setup in the process. Honestly, it's the best feeling when old gear gets a second chance.

3 comments

3 Comments

jennyk621mo ago

Got that same warm feeling from hearing the fans thunk on. It's different from setting up software, more like bringing a machine back from the dead. The physical fix is half the win.

gavinramirez1mo ago

How did you even learn VLAN setup on that thing? Just trial and error with a console cable, or did you dig up some ancient guides?

christophermorgan1mo ago

Nice! That's the real home lab spirit, not just clicking buttons in a web interface. You get the satisfaction of the fix plus the learning, which beats new gear any day. Honestly, five bucks for that lesson is a steal.