Cisco experts in here please.

[Super Tigers]

I am studying at Open University for CCNA and then I will look to do the CCNP course next year when the Open University offers it for the first time (sshh don't tell everyone, no-one is supposed to know yet but a tutor told me )

I am involved with a local charity and through them I can get some new Cisco equipment and get 5 years hardware and software support thrown in as well.

This is what is on offer:-

Switches :-

C2960-24TT-L 24 port with 10/100/1000 uplinks £53 +vat (retail £550+)
C2960-48TT-L 48 port with 10/100/1000 uplinks £103 + vat (retail £1500+)
C2950-24 24 port with 10/100 uplinks £42+ vat (retail £330 +)
C2960G-24TC-L 24 gigabit port £139 + vat (retail £1300)
All the above include 5 year guarantee and software updates (not sure how much the 5 year guarantee would cost?)

Routers:

CISCO877W-G-E-K9 wireless router with ADSL over POTS £36 + vat (retail £350)
CISCO1801/K9 router and managed switch ADSL over POTS £63 + vat ( £500+) I don;t think this has the wireless option though
Cisco 871 router £27 + vat (retail £200)

Wireless access points

AIR-LAP1131AG-E-K9 wireless a, b and g £29 + vat (retail £200+)

Firewall:

Cisco PIX506E Security Appliance £57 + vat
Cisco PIX501 £47 + vat

There is some good quality cisco gear above with amazing prices and rock solid 5 year guarantees, what do I get?

At present this is my choice:

Router : 1801/k9
wireless access point Air-lap1131
Switch : C2960-24TT-L

And I also get Office 2007 plus for £8 + vat and Vista Business upgrade for £9 + vat, and this is all for about £200inc vat

Do you think this setup would be good for doing configs and labs without having to resort to online simulators?


Rob H

 

[sidethink]

The CCNA course has little content on switches and is mostly based on routing private circuits or ISDN through two or more Cisco routers.

If you are dead set on buying hardware (I really don't think you need to - if you buy that routersim software product) then I'd buy two routers and two switches if you can stretch to it. You will need a failry specialised cable between the two and you'll need to clock the link yourself to simulate a low speed serial interface.

CCNP is a different story and I'd be very skeptikal about trying it without a fairly serious lab on hand.

But good luck.

 

[Super Tigers]

At present I use the lab at Sunderland college as my Open University base and I also use their Netlab at home as well It means I can dial into a 3 router/switch/pc and load up labs/configs etc and it works pretty well. I also have access to other online Netlabs but they get congested and you have to pre-book and you cannot re-book another lab for 36hours !!
I have Boson Netsim installed on my laptop and I use this extensively and I also have CBT nuggets installed and Packet Tracer 4.1 all setup. I know these are good programs but I there is no substitute for getting down and dirty with the hardware.

Thanks for your advice

Rob H

 

[Dist]

One of the downsides i would expect when buying hardware and setting it up, is that once its fully setup and working, you cant realy do much problem solving, because if you introduce a problem into it, you will know what you did and thus know how to solve it. some simulators can introduce a random problem, which you have to diagnose and solve, something which cant realy be done with your own hardware once its working fine.

Even so though, once i start my OU CCNA course in the 2nd half of next year, i will proberly end up getting my own small cisco lab to practice stuff on, and eventully expand when i go on to do other cisco courses.

 

[oddjob62]

My CCNP lab

Routers
2x 2651XM
1x 2620
3x 2503
1x 2521 (frame relay)
1x 2511 (terminal server)

Switches
1x 3550(EMI)
2x 2950

Firewall
1x PIX501
1x Junpier Netscreen 5GT (just for something different )

Extras
1x ISDN simulator

For my CCNA i had 3 2503s and a 2950. Did me fine.