Any fairly recent CCNA // CCNP's here? Question about labs...

[ThorpedoUK]

Hey

I was wondering if any of you guys would be kind enough to give me some input on what lab you used for either // both? It needs to be fairly recent though, 2007+???

I am funding this myself so no boot camps or course, it will be straight lab time at home with the door stop sized CCENT/CCNA ICND1 / ICND2 Wendell Odom books.

Browsing the web I'm hearing recommendations on 2950 switches except the book specifically talks about 2960's!

My lab was going to be some thing a long the lines of (it needs to take me into the CCNP and be functional for my internet and eventually VPN etc):

1 x 1841 wired router
2 x 26x1XM's routers
2 x 2960's
1 x 3550 (L3)
1 x 877W
1 x ASA 5505
1 x AIRONET 1131AG

So far I have:

1 x 2611XM (maxed out memory, IOS 12.4)
1 x 877W
1 x ASA 5505

Need to pick up a few switches now, some WIC-2T's and maybe 1 or 2 more routers, can anyone give me some tips on a relatively cheap ish lab that would carry over to the CCNP? how does what I suggest look?

Thanks

EDIT: Forgot to mention I bought the CISCO command reference for the CCNA also (amazon), can you recommend any other books? I have never touched IOS ever but used to NetApp DataONTAP, Linux, Solaris etc etc so lack of GUI's is not scary lol (though I know you can use SDM I'd rather not... much...)

 

[ThorpedoUK]

Thanks guys, really want to do it hands on with the actual kit though (as it wouldn't just be for the CCNA) - I do have access to the latest images which is lucky!

I might give GNS3 a try then as it does actually sound really good, but will definately be checking out those iTunes podcasts on my iPhone!

Cheers fellas