Lab for CCNA/CCNP

Dashik

Dashik

Dashik

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Dunbar
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
 
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
 
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.
 
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
 
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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