CCNA lab question

Angelos_n

Angelos_n

Angelos_n

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Hey all,

hope this is more appropriate than in networks and internet connectivity as this subject aims more at enterprise. anyway, im looking to pick up a Lab to practise for my CCNA, im doing home study and already have 3 books and test simulators however i dont have any hand on experience which i know is invaluable. ive looked on the bay and see multiple CCNA labs for sale however im looking for advise on what i should be buying. im planning to take my exam this coming friday with 360gsp if anyone is interested on where to do theres. so please OCuK spec me a CCNA lab :D

Many thanks and kind regards

Angelos
 
The pre bundled kits are typically overpriced tat that people shove markup on because they are labelled as CCNA/CCNP/CCIE.

Just grab a couple of 2600 series routers and either a couple of 2900 series or 3500 series switches. Whatever you can get the cheapest. 2611's are dirt cheap, as are 3524's.

My lab stands tall at a Cisco 877w, a 2651XM, 2621, 5x 3548 PoE's, two 1200 series Wireless Access Points, and 6 IP phones (of which I forget the model number, 7911 rings a bell).

The whole shebang has set me back less than £250.
 
You must have got some great deals on some of those parts. I've been checking ebay every few days for the last month or so looking for some cheap stuff and things like a 2651xm alone is £100.
 
Yeah, my XM was a bargain, it only cost me £55, but I have then spent money on upgraded RAM and Flash (not included in my estimate of overall cost as it isn't needed).

Other things not included in my overall pricing estimate were additional modules such as my voice card and ISDN PRI for my 2621, currently being used as a Call Manager Express lab.
 
When I did it we just used 2950's and 2621's, other than ISDN, there wasnt anything in the curriculum we couldnt really do.

They even cover most of the CCNP BCMSN/SWITCH which I just passed :)
 
Hey all, im still a bit confused on what i should be getting, i understand i require around 2 routers and a couple of switches but i have no clue on which models i should be looking at, when i look at 2600 series routers i see 2610 and 2611 and 2600XM etc.. i have no clue, what about 2501 i can get them at £15 each hehe, im doing the 802-640 btw.

many thanks
 
I'd not bother with the 2500's, although they will do enough to get you through the CCNA, they aren't that relevant these days.

Get a couple of 26x1's (anything with a 1 at the end of the model number), as this way you'll get two ethernet ports. Might as well ignore the XM's unless you fancy using one as your primary router, as all they give is additional memory (eXtended Memory).
 
Sorry to thread hijack but didnt seem to warrant a new thread and it's just a quickie :)

I'm considering doing the CCNA as my new job is going to be much more network focussed. I've been working with smaller networks for the last 6 years and been involved heavily with Cisco kit for the last 3 - configuring routers, switches, voice stuff etc. Mostly though trial and error and google.

Given this experience and a decent sound understanding of networking as a whole, how difficult would the CCNA be? Wondering whether to just read up on it, invest in a lab setup like this or try and get onto a training course. Obviously new employer wont pay for any training/exams within the first 6 months so I'd rather be able to do it myself soonish so I can hit the ground running. Any reccomendations?
 
your in exactly the same boat as me haha, so far i invested in 2 books and a simulator as this has only set me back about £100 and the test is £145. a lab you can get for under £200 which still works out cheaper than a training course and you can keep all the materials ;) like yourself most of my work has been network oriented in the first place so this exam was a logical choice, the only part i have suffered with so far in regards to "how hard it is" is choosing the right equipment for a home lab as most of the material in the book simply states "router" "switch" "hub" etc... never a specific model. hope this helped you.... anywhoo off to the bay to have another look :)
 
OK think ive got this now, got 2 deals available to me:

1st

1 x 2611
2 x 2610*
*At least 1 will be a 2612, which is a 2610 with an additional token ring port
1 x 2912XL
1 x WIC-2T
2 x WIC-1T
2 x B-2-B DTE-DCE cable
4 x RJ45 1M patch leads
1 x RJ45 crossover adaptors
4 x 1.8M power leads
2 x Console cables
1 x USB to COM Port Adaptor

All in full working order for £165 incl postage

OR....

2 x 2611 Dual Ethernet Router
2 x WS-C3524-XL-EN
(i can get the 2924 instead which will save me £10 per unit)
£160 incl postage

If anyone has any other suggestions let me know
 
I'd go for the latter, purely for the two switches.

Grab a console cable (assuming you don't have one), and WIC-1T's are dirt cheap (as are the cables).
 
Hey all, im back again pretty much been in contact with a few companies and one has offered me this:
(x1) 2611XM £55

(x1) 2621XM £55

(x2) WS-C2950-12 £30 each

(x2) WIC-1T £20 each

(x4) RJ45 1M patch leads £1.50 each

(x4) 1.8M power leads free – no charge!!!
(x2) Console cables £1.50 each



A total of £219, and p&p is £18

This is the highest my budget will allow and im wondering whther this is suitable enough to take me towards my CCNP aswell as i realise its great for CCNA

Many thanks

Angelos
 
g_tripwood said:
Anybody tried using GNS3/Dynamips?

I did the BSCI exam for CCNP entirely with that, didn't spend a penny.
Click to expand...

As far as i know, emulators that use the actual cisco IOS files still can't emulate switches, which is not a huge problem for CCNA as vlans and STP stuff can be done in packet tracer, but CCNP covers layer 3 switching which is possible with actual cisco hardware.
 
Angelos_n said:
This is the highest my budget will allow and im wondering whther this is suitable enough to take me towards my CCNP aswell as i realise its great for CCNA
Click to expand...
It will help toward your CCNP, but you'll need layer 3 switching for a complete CCNP lab. And for that you are looking at 3550's.
 
I'm looking to do this in my spare time.

We have the literature at work, however I'd rather not borrow that.

Would I be able to gather the books required to complete it for less than £100?
 
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