CCNA lab hardware

Slinwagh · 21 Apr 2006 at 14:39

Im about to try and get a lab setup to hepl with my CCNA study.

I can get hold of the hardware no problem Im just curious as to what combination and how many routers/switches are required.

Im thinking I need to at least 1 switch and 3 routers.

I am looking at a 1900 series switch and 2510 series routers.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

Skilldibop · 21 Apr 2006 at 14:42

I've got a 2912 switch (needed for VLAN stuff) 2x 2516s and a 1721.

The 2500s do all you need, but they have only 10base E0s so you don't have the dot1q stuff for VLAN trunking and VTP. I have the 1721 for that and some of the more clever post CCNA stuff i fiddle with for the hell of it.

The most expensive part was the 1721 @ £120.

Slinwagh · 21 Apr 2006 at 14:47

For £280 i can get the following................

2501 + transceiver (1 ethernet, 2 serial)

2504 (2 serial, 1 ISDN)

2503 + transceiver (1 ethernet, 2 serial, 1 ISDN)

1924-EN 24 port switch

2 1m DB60-DB60 crossovers

3 cat5 straight cables

1 cat5 crossover cable (for direct router-PC connection)

1 console cable

Skiddley · 21 Apr 2006 at 14:50

DON'T get a 1900 switch, they are no longer used by the CCNA sylabus. 2950's are the current spec for CCNA, you can get by with a 2900 (2912, 2924 etc).

2500s are still fine, although I'd recommend modular 2600s, they are cheap now. This is particularly advisable if you want to use your lab post CCNA, as Cisco have stopped releasing IOS version for the 2500 platform from 12.3.

1 switch and 2 or 3 routers is sufficient. Just wait until you get to CCxP\CCIE - my lab is mahoosive now!

EDIT: And I wouldn't bother with any T.R routers such as the 2504 - you'll only need the missing Ethernet port later on. If you can, get a 2520 etc as one of the routers - can be used to simulate a FR switch (I.e., it has >2 Serial interfaces).

Keep a close eye on the SDRAM\Flash installed in these too, you want fully loaded 16/16 boxs if possible otherwise the feature sets you can run is limited.

Skidd.

Skilldibop · 21 Apr 2006 at 15:24

If i had the time i'd do CCIE jsut to play with the expensive kit

Never touched anything worth more than about 30k.

Well that's a lie. I've touched a few harriers but not in a fiddle and diddle way.