Lab for CCNA/CCNP

Dashik

Dashik

Dashik

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Hi.

I've also posted this on Certforums and Techexams.

As some may know I need to change career back to IT as I said in my earlier threads, although due to my partner having Breast Cancer this has been delayed a little while she was undergoing treatment.

I was previously a Senior Field Support Engineer in a past life a few years ago and was involved with basic network support (swap and reconfigure routers/switches etc). I got the inhouse company CCNA course from a CCIE but we did not get the exam.

So I'm going for CCENT/ICND1 in about 3 weeks followed asap (probably another 3 to 4 weeks) after with ICND2 for CCNA. I then plan on going for CCNP fairly rapidly after. Probably after 70-680 which I was studying on and off for a while.

Looking at the job market up here a combination of CCNA/CCNP and Win 7 70-680 should get me back into an IT position and onwards from there.

Im Using the Cisco Press/Wendel Odom official cert kit and the Tod Lammle Study Guide and review Guide along with a Network simulator for CCNA.

Ill get the official Cisco press CCNP Route, Switch and TShoot bundle shortly.

As with all things real hands on is always good so I have decided to get a few bits of real cisco kit.

So I was looking at the following kit for CCENT/CCNA -

CISCO 2610XM FAST Ethernet Router 32mb Flash / 128 mb Dram IOS 12.4 Adv Security with 4Serial Interfaces
CISCO 2610XM FAST Ethernet Routers 16mb Flash / 64 mb Dram IOS 12.4 Adv Security with Serial Interface
Cisco 2620 FAST Ethernet Routers 16mb Flash / 64 mb Dram IOS 12.4 Adv Security with Serial Interface

(2 x WIC-1T for the 2600 routers (100% Genuine Cisco)
(1 x NM-4A/S comes with 2600 Router 100% Genuine Cisco)
A Cisco 2950-24 Port Cost effective Switch with an Enhanced IOS
A Cisco 2950-24 Port Cost effective Switch with an Enhanced IOS

Cables & Other Stuff to go with the Lab.
2 x Back to Back DCE/DTE Serial Crossover Cable,

3x Cat 5e Straight through Crossover Cables,
5 x UK power cables (uk/ireland),
3x Cat 5e Crossover Cables,
1 x Console Cable

I can get it for around £250 from the usual auction its a 12 Port Network Kit

So I think it should be ok for CCNA but what would I need to add/change for CCNP?

Thanks in advance for the feedback.

James
 
Routers you can emulate, switches is what count.

Get 3 3750's to do layer 3 switching and ignore the routers.
 
The latest Cisco Packet tracer is also very good - went through the ICND1 with that and there's only one thing I can't do in the ICND2 but that's because of how I've configured it and not a limitation with the software (I could reconfigure it but I can't be bothered as all I'm missing out on is PPP authentication).



M.
 
m4cc45 said:
The latest Cisco Packet tracer is also very good - went through the ICND1 with that and there's only one thing I can't do in the ICND2 but that's because of how I've configured it and not a limitation with the software (I could reconfigure it but I can't be bothered as all I'm missing out on is PPP authentication).



M.
Click to expand...

GNS3 is a lot more realistic...as it uses real IOS images.
 
Aye but a lot harder to setup and only emulates some images - you also have to be able to legally obtain the images.

Packet Tracer on the other hand comes pre-configured with pretty much everything you need for the ICND1 and ICND2.



M.
 
m4cc45 said:
Aye but a lot harder to setup and only emulates some images - you also have to be able to legally obtain the images.

Packet Tracer on the other hand comes pre-configured with pretty much everything you need for the ICND1 and ICND2.



M.
Click to expand...

If you are struggling to set up GNS3 and follow the thousands of documentation available - maybe you should consider an alternative career - lo.l
 
Well a small update, I got the official Cert Guide for Route, Switch and Tshoot. Nothing like planning ahead ;)

I'm getting a few hours a day in at the moment on the study for ICENT1 and a lot of stuff is coming back from the CCNA course I did with the IT employer I was with a few years ago. So I'm going to see how the study goes and how well I feel I'm doing with it (so far its all making sense :D ) and if I can get a test for ICND1 sooner and my partners cancer op goes to plan then I think middle of next month or earlier for that.

If not and I have to wait a little I think I'll go the all in one route as I can keep studying. I've checked and you can book the exam here on very short notice subject to availability so at least that's not so bad.

Anyway back to it :D
 
dLockers said:
If you are struggling to set up GNS3 and follow the thousands of documentation available - maybe you should consider an alternative career - lo.l
Click to expand...

Hmm go through thousands of documents then find the right IOS (I only have access to some on the Cisco kit I own rather than people who have access to Cisco.com) and finally mess around with it and ensure it works.

Or I can install Cisco Packet Tracer in 30 seconds which has already got me past the CCENT and looks good enough for the CCNA.

GNS3 does look far superior - the amount of 'extra' software is untrue but it's not a simple solution and for most people going for there CCENT / CCNA it's probably overkill.



M.
 
m4cc45 said:
GNS3 does look far superior - the amount of 'extra' software is untrue but it's not a simple solution
Click to expand...
To be fair, the current GNS installation/configuration is VERY easy, you click next about 10 times, then browse to your IOS file once its installed.
Technically IOS should only be ran on the appropriate hardware, so just does as 99.9% of other people have done and download one from a 3640 router, they are very easy to find.

That said, Packet Tracer is fine for the CCNA as GNS3s switching is limited.
 
m4cc45 said:
Hmm go through thousands of documents then find the right IOS (I only have access to some on the Cisco kit I own rather than people who have access to Cisco.com) and finally mess around with it and ensure it works.

Or I can install Cisco Packet Tracer in 30 seconds which has already got me past the CCENT and looks good enough for the CCNA.

GNS3 does look far superior - the amount of 'extra' software is untrue but it's not a simple solution and for most people going for there CCENT / CCNA it's probably overkill.



M.
Click to expand...

Fine to pass an exam, but useless for real life work.
 
moss said:
To be fair, the current GNS installation/configuration is VERY easy, you click next about 10 times, then browse to your IOS file once its installed.
Technically IOS should only be ran on the appropriate hardware, so just does as 99.9% of other people have done and download one from a 3640 router, they are very easy to find.

That said, Packet Tracer is fine for the CCNA as GNS3s switching is limited.
Click to expand...

Only minor problem is that not all IOS's are supported and it doesn't tell you that when it finds an incorrect one. I tried several images all to no avail.



M.
 
C3640-JK.BIN (uncompressed IOS file) works.
c2691-adventerprisek9-mz.124-5a.bin also works.
 
Ok so I just pulled the trigger on this lot

CISCO 2610XM FAST Ethernet Router 32mb Flash / 128 mb Dram IOS 12.4 Adv Security with 4 Serial Interfaces
CISCO 2610XM FAST Ethernet Routers 16mb Flash / 64 mb Dram IOS 12.4 Adv Security with Serial Interface
CISCO 2620 FAST Ethernet Routers 16mb Flash / 64 mb Dram IOS 12.4 Adv Security with Serial Interface

(2 x WIC-1T for the 2600 routers (100% Genuine Cisco)
(1 x NM-4A/S comes with 2600 Router 100% Genuine Cisco)
A Cisco 2950-24 Port Cost effective Switch with an Enhanced IOS
A Cisco 2950-24 Port Cost effective Switch with an Enhanced IOS

£253 Delivered and I've had the memory etc maxed out.

I know you can shop around and get a slightly better deal, and while I'm far from made of cash, what with my partners pending Cancer op, I decided just to get it and save faffing around for weeks trying to save £20.

I'll add another couple of the Routers and a 3550 L3 Switch, which according to Wendel Odom's site CCNP Build Lists (who writes the Cisco CCNA Cert Guide) Gives me pretty much everything I need for a Large CCNP build after I get CCNA out of the way.

I will probably pick up another 2 of the 2950's fairly shortly.

Thanks for the feed-back guys its been very useful.

I'll post pic when it all arrives.
 
Well,
How you getting on with your lab setup and studies? Ive been thinking about going for one myself. I know Packet tracer makes for good use but would be nice to get a bit of hands on to every now and again.

Hope the wife is doing ok ;)
 
Lab is fine thanks :D I could do with a 3550 for a Layer 3 switch for later on for CCNP and maybe a few more switches and routers to allow more challenging setups but what I have will suffice for CCNA. I can get some more gear later.

I am also going to get 70-680 out of the way straight after CCNA. MCITP:EA needs to be completed before June ish next year as well so I wil be rattling on with that as well before CCNP I think.

Studies are proceeding slowly as my partner is about to start a months radiotherapy but after that It's full steam ahead as I have the ability to study pretty much full time from then on :D
 
Those 3550s are so expensive :( at least compared to 2950s!

Got my Cisco apprenticeship interviews etc out of the way (waiting for the call in around 2 weeks :( ) ... So now to get back on studying for my CCNA!

Got my Skeletek rack coming next week -- mind you, that cost more than a L3 switch!
 
Indeed around £150 ish at the moment.

As for the rack I bought sticky rubber feet to separate the gear and stacked it on top of itself :D

Price? £3 for 48 feet......
 
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