CCENT/CCNA equipment

Dave77 · 24 Jan 2008 at 20:29

Hello,

I am looking for some recommendations for hardware to buy to be able to carry out some practical stuff for these accreditations. Is it possible to simulate a WAN using some sort of crossover cable?

Thanks,

Dave.

atomiser · 24 Jan 2008 at 20:38

erm, no, not really. you need some routers and switches really. you get can some decent deals for 2600 routers and 2950 switches from the bay.

Laser402 · 24 Jan 2008 at 20:56

Yep for CCNA you will only need 2600 Series Routers and 2950 Switches. Some of the WAN stuff in CCNA 4 will need some special hardware (£££)

Packet Tracer 4.1 will give you all the hardware you need for the CCNA and emulates all of the required protocols/labs needed.

Free from the Cisco site (cisco.netacad.net)

Laser402

suarve · 24 Jan 2008 at 21:37

In all the CCNA labs a WAN is simulated via a serial link between two routers - setting one interface to DCE.

Laser402 · 24 Jan 2008 at 22:30

Not for some of the stuff in CCNA 4 where you need to do ATM etc

oddjob62 · 24 Jan 2008 at 23:15

Laser402 said:
Not for some of the stuff in CCNA 4 where you need to do ATM etc

Did my CCNA last year and didn't need to do anything for ATM (although i may have changed since then)

I had 3 2500 series routers and 2 2950 switches for everything i needed.

Now i have a fair few more bits though (going for CCNP and CCSP)

Laser402 · 24 Jan 2008 at 23:33

My mistake one of the labs was describing the Frame relay cloud and said:

'An Adtran Atlas550 Frame Relay emulator is used to simulate the Frame Relay switch/cloud'

Which was going to cost the academy I go to a lot of money for something that can be done for free on Packet Tracer

But this can be emulated using a 2600 with some more interfaces accoring to google.

Laser402

oddjob62 · 24 Jan 2008 at 23:52

Laser402 said:
But this can be emulated using a 2600 with some more interfaces accoring to google.

A 2522 is a perfect device for a frame relay emaulator

Dist · 25 Jan 2008 at 02:39

is the cisco Packet Tracer available for everyone? or just people currently on a CCNA course?

Laser402 · 25 Jan 2008 at 11:16

You have to have a student login on the Cisco website to get it legally.

Mootang · 25 Jan 2008 at 13:20

Dont buy switches, buy this: http://www.boson.com/AboutNetSim.html

atomiser · 25 Jan 2008 at 18:20

to be fair, the packet tracer you get on the cnap course is a *lot* better now than it was when i started the course 18 months ago. i was going to buy some kit, but to be honest i've found that i don't really need to now. if i progress beyond the ccna then i will definately buy some, however.

Super Tigers · 25 Jan 2008 at 18:43

I did CCNA with the Open university last year, packet tracer 4.1 is excellent and I also used Boson netsim. Both are very good packages and will help you no-end, also check out the Cisco forums for great help and hints as well.

Rob H