home lab

[gouda2000]

you book is very very good book
and as all know its the best refrence for ccna from along time


i want your advise
what is the best home lab i can buy it to use it as i study from your book
i need to know how many routers and switches and models all this information

[daves]

This is a good question and it deserves a good answer.
I have been recommended he following setup:-

routers
1x 2600, 2x 2500 (three in total)

switches
2x 2900XL, 1x 1900

£335 for this including cables.

I don't want to spend more than is necessary, but need a setup that will enable me to complete ALL the labs.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

Dave S

[lammle]

The 1900 and 2900 switches are no good for your studies. They are End Of Life (EOL) from Cisco.

You now need, at a minimum:

two 1841 routers
two 2960 switches

The more you can get of each, the better.

Also, 2800 routers and 3560 switches would be even better, but for your personal studies for CCNA, the 1841's and 1960 switches are the minimum of what you need.

cheers!
Todd Lammle

[dbeare]

Here is the lab setup that i'm using at home to study for the 640-802:

2610, 2611 and 2521 router
1900 and 2900XL switch

I know that a lot of the new material in the book is for the 800 series routers, since they support SDM, but the basic functions for all of the stuff that i've gone through in the book will work on these routers. The main reason that I didn't go with the 1841 is that just the 1 router would be more expensive than my entire lab was, along with a rack mount. I agree with Todd that the ideal situation would be to use the newest hardware, but the concepts and actual setting up of routing is the same whether you use the old or new hardware.

~Dustin

[bs_kwaj]

A friend of mine loaned me a very similar stack of devices to what dbeare has, except one is a 2520.

Based on Todd's comments above, I'm looking at Amazon and eBay and other google hits for the newer equipment.

It would be so much easier if I was already $-) . ;)

Anyway, so I'm looking at some 2811's and I've discovered there doesn't seem to be just a 2811, there are more specific choices like, 2811-ADSL/K9 OR 2811-CCME/K9 OR 2811-SHDSL/K9, ETC. (K9? must be dog routers!) :cool:


I haven't yet gone to the Cisco site and poked around to see what these designations represent, but I'm assuming that those represent some add on / optional interfaces.

For the CCNA studies in the sixth edition book and the CCNA test, is there a better choice / specific type of 2811 to look for in a home study lab? Are certain interfaces a better choice for the exam than others?

Also, Todd, I found a 3640 router listed as a "4-Slot Modular Router - Ac with IP Software". $250 ?!?!?

Would a 3640 be an even better choice than a 2811? Or, are there other considerations between the two?


One final question: Is it to be expected that spending $4000 or $5000 or more to set up a study lab is typical and, for the serious student, a basic necessity?


Thanks...

Bennie

[lammle]

Bennie, thanks for writing.

Well, you know, you can use older routers to practice your routing with.

IP routing is IP routing, doesn't really matter what router it is, they should all do it the same way, right? Static, default, rip, ripv2, ospf and EIGRP...you must know these all, and almost all cisco routers can run these protocols, but verify before you buy.

The test is IP routing. Period...however, it is also switching. 1900 and 2900 switches will not cut it. You need at least 2950's, or better 2960's. If you are going to CCNP or CCIE after your CCNA, etc, you shoudl get 3560's, nothing less.

So, do you really need to spend tons of cash? No, not really, but you need to spend some.

If you want the newer routers because you want to practice on the SDM then you can get some 870's or 1841's...those will work for CCNA, but you would get the 2811's for CCNP, CCSP, CCIE, etc...nothing less. The 3640 does not run the SDM I don't think...if it does, then you're set, but I wouldn't count on it or someone wouldn't be selling it for $250.

There is a free SDM demo that you can use to help you pass the CCNA - but that's it. I talk about it in my chapter 4.

So, if you are just doing CCNA, then go to www.routersim.com (http://www.routersim.com) for a router simulator. I wrote that labs and they match my book....or get the cheap equipment and decent switches...

Or you can come to one of my classes! :p

Cheers!
Todd Lammle

[bs_kwaj]

Well, I'm slowly getting it together. I ordered 2 2960's and 2 1841's. All but one of the 1841's has arrived. I haven't powered them up yet.
Hopefully, these will compliment my older stack that was loaned to me. (Or maybe I should just give the older stack back??) I may even get an 8-port 3560.

As I mentioned previously, there are about 42 zillion different models and configurations of switches and routers. The 2960's I got say they are 2960 Series SI with a sticker that says IOS 12.2(37)EY. (I didn't really consider that too much since I was looking at getting almost affordable equipment.)

Here's a link I found about that:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/iosswrel/ps5012/prod_bulletin0900aecd806a9cd0.html

It mentions something called "LAN Lite". I'm assuming that's not an issue for the CCNA study... or is it??

The 1841 Router doesn't show any sort of series on it and doesn't have a sticker for the IOS. I think it's going to be 12.3. It has the usual FE 0/0 and 0/1, Console, and Aux along with 2 Slots and a Card Slot with Card.

Please bless this stuff that I'm about to remove the Tamper Proof Quality Seals from... before I do! :eek:


I'd like to attend one of your classes, but Kwajalein is a long way from there. And, besides I'm like the guy who wants to get in shape before he goes to the gym! ;)

Also, isn't the routersim an online type system that probably requires a broadband connection? I'm on an Army base currently and my personal connection to the Internet is only 56K dial-up.

(Note: sorry about hijacking this thread, but it's about the home lab thing too.)

[lammle]

bs_kwaj, thanks for writing. Well, I hadn't heard of the lan light ios and there is very little informaiton on it found on Cisco's web site.
However, what I did find out is that is it proprietary to that hardware and can't be run on any of cisco's other switches. But what it doesn't say is that your switch can't be upgraded to 12.4 ios.
The 1841 routers all come with 12.4 ISR software, so unless you got something differenet like you did with your switch, you should be just fine.
And, I would keep the older equipment and add it all together....as I keep saying, routing is routing....a router is a router....for CCNA, everything works together.
Sorry I dont' have a better answer for your switch. All I can say is that I hope you got that super, super cheap, if not, then return it and get the full version, or see if you can get someone to upgrade it for you.
Good luck with that one.
Cheers!
Todd Lammle

[dbeare]

I would say that if you plan on going with the professional level certs, you will be happy that you invested in the newer equipment. My switches, while EOL, were still able to be used for me to work on the basic concepts of switching, and the routers worked fine for everything that I wanted to do. However, the CCNP will require equipment that will need more memory and I already know i'm going to have to invest at least $500-1000 for some new switches first, then some new routers. Best of luck on preparing for your CCNA, the feeling you'll get when you pass is worth all of the studying.

[Jelani]

Todd:

For starters, I'd like to thank you for an excellent book in the CCNA Study Guide: Exam 640-802. Next, I'd like to address one of your post, Home Lab equipment, along this thread: Will I be ok to use the labs and simulation tools via www.routersim.com (http://www.routersim.com), maintain good study habits and continue to look forward to taking and passing my CCNA exam? While working to implement a home lab, I would like to continue my studies and gain as much "hands-on" experience as possible.

[muddyfox1009]

Dear Mr Sir Wizard (Todd)
The prices for the US are cheaper than the UK. I'm wishing i'm migrating to the US.
But by what daves mentioned, he got all those for £335 (sterling).
I hope these prices are typical (I've tried ebay and the prices are fairly dear). But having said that, with the plethora of models, no wonder i'm feeling exasperated.