Please use /30 between devices whenever possible and whenever it's correct by design, in that case the topology feels more realistic. Staged approach which you want to use for CCDE / Real world networking is a great idea. What I'd like to see it's something like greenfield deployment, when you build everything from the scratch: switching, routing, security (firewall, all kind of vpn, etc.), wireless, load balancers, SP, DC, etc.
I had the issue with Patreon when I tried to cancel it, it gave me the option to get the $25 or $10 price so as not to cancel the subscription. So I was able to get all access for $25.
The new IOL-XE (both L2 and L3 images) inside CML 2.7 are really very light, but I think it lacks some features if you compare it to IOSv-L3 and IOSv-L2. So, I don't think you can use it completely as replacement for IOSv-L3, but maybe you can mix and match, in the same topology you can use both images to make as big topology as you want and at the same time it won't need a lot of resources. But of course you can check IOL-XE and maybe it has all features you need. Generally, from my experience IOSv-L3 and IOSv-L2 are not very resource hungry. The most important, please don't use CSR 1000v 🙂
IOL-XE seems interesting, though haven't been able to find a complete IOL-XE (and L2) vs IOSv (and L2) feature comparison chart, other than lacking in programmability features, some funky L1 behavior with ports being down/up or up/up.
Website would be best, I believe . The Patreon Enterprise workbook level, so If I purchase the level once and cancel afterwards I have lifetime access. Just so that I'm reading and understanding the levels.
