Corvus
Flaming Tards Since 2003
Premium,VIP
join:2003-11-26
|  [CCNA] What would be the best lab?
Which switch/routers to use? The company I work for will provide me the needed hardware, so I won't go for simulation software and budget isn't a limitation.
I did read on the subject, mostly Wendell Odom but found myself still searching for answers: 3 or 4 switches/routers, what basic setup? what interfaces to look for? what hardware could be reused for CCNP?
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Conservatives define themselves in terms of what they oppose.
---George Will |
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TomS_
debugger it
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-19
Australia
edit:
July 2nd, @11:07PM
| If budget is of no limit, get yourself a bunch of 2801 or 2811's and 1 or 2 Catalyst 3750's (with EMI). Something like a 2600XM (so that it can run 12.4) with an NM-4T will work well as a frame relay switch.
You might also look at an 1841 with a high density async HWIC to act as your console server, or settle for another 2600XM with an async NM, or maybe even a good old 2509/2511.
As for modules, Im not sure what is still in the CCNA now that it has changed, but the usual modules are WIC-1T or WIC-2T's for serial/frame relay.
I also believe wireless and VoIP are now parts of CCNA, so you might want to get yourself an access point (Aironet 1250 perhaps?) and some voice modules such as VIC2-4FXO and VIC2-4FXS and a PVDM2 or two and some IP phones.
With the above you'd be set for CCNA, CCNP, and probably well on your way for most other certs.
But once you hand over the purchase order for the above, I think they will change their mind on "no limit budget".  |
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aryoba
Premium,MVM
join:2002-08-22
edit:
July 3rd, @08:30AM
| reply to Corvus
If budget has no limit, then why don't you get couple of Catalyst 6509 with redundant Supervisor Engine 720, several 12000 routers, and have all application run on top of it? This is kind of lab that large companies have to simulate the actual production network to test pretty much anything from Global Server Load Balancing, MPLS, Multicast; to routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, RIP) and some Layer-2 topics (Spanning Tree among others).
Don't go for smaller model if you can have the real thing to simulate the real network |
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phantasm11b
Premium
join:2007-11-02
Cocoa, FL
| reply to Corvus
I built my lab with these components:
2x 2501's
1x 2514
2x 2610xm's
1x 2610 w/ NM-4A/S (frame switch)
1x 3550 POE w/ EMI
1x 2960
It works fine for me. A bit costly in some areas but not too bad.
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"There are two American flags flying on the property I reside on. Anyone who tries to take them down will be rendered inoperative." -Lindy |
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TomS_
debugger it
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-19
Australia
edit:
July 7th, @05:14AM
| reply to aryoba
said by aryoba  :couple of Catalyst 6509 with redundant Supervisor Engine 720, several 12000 routers Hes studying for CCNA and possibly higher certs like CCNP, not CCIE+++++++ ^ (99 * 3).
I think with your suggestion, they would DEFINITELY put a budget restriction in place.
And besides, 12000 series are old. Get some CRS-1's instead.  |
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rovernet
Premium
join:2004-02-11
Richardson, TX | He'd probably need a rather large lab for the CRS-1 |
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