CCNA home lab recommendation

[brockj]

I am sure there are a lot of different recommendations but I am looking for something that would be inexpensive and do the trick. Ideally, I would like to be able to use it to grow into a CCNP lab, but that is not for some time yet. Basically I have read that a couple routers and a switch are the way to go. What do you think?

I currently have one 2501 router.

Thanks!!

 

[Goosemaster]

http://ciscokits.com/dualcisco2507.htm

 

[Goosemaster]

<---bought a 2610 from them

 

[petey117]

based on the questions i had when i took my ccna, (scored 900)
the IOS and configuration questions are based mainly on the standard IOS and basic configurations. I don;t even think you really need more than 1 router and 1 switch.
GOOD LUCK on your endeavors though!!

 

[brockj]

What kind of switch would you recommend. I have heard the 1900 will work because it is cheap it is appealing, but I am not sure about the IOS on that. I am able to get my hands on some things from work, but we do not have any cisco switches (though I did score a 72 port HP manageable, even though it won't really help here).

 

[petey117]

i believe the 1900 enterprise may have the same IOS, but my experience lies with the 2900 series an higher
a helpful hint:
the 2924M (that is the modular version) is considerably cheaper than the non "M" version, and is virtually the same from an IOS standpoint

also, with the 2900 series, you can get away with the non enterprise version, as none of the differences will matter on the test

 

[imported_netman]

The 1900 would NOT be sufficient, it runs a variant of IOS that was kind of inhereted by Cisco when they bought Kalpana. The 2900, though EOL'd, would be an an acceptable switch. I would recommend a 2600 router though over a 2500, due to some future feature abilities. Only other thing I can really think of from when I took my CCNA is that they still had some questions on CatOS. The CCNA is relatively easy, and a lab may be helpful for the simulations (setup OSPF, EIGRP,etc), but most of the CCNA material will just be straight network fundamentals from a book.

 

[Smilin]

For CCNA stuff why not go with a Boson router sim? Although it lacks some functionality it will bring $100k worth of routing gear to your desktop.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Smilin
For CCNA stuff why not go with a Boson router sim? Although it lacks some functionality it will bring $100k worth of routing gear to your desktop.

cool

 

[brockj]

Originally posted by: Smilin
For CCNA stuff why not go with a Boson router sim? Although it lacks some functionality it will bring $100k worth of routing gear to your desktop.

That is nice, and at some point I will utilize that as i have it somewhat available (when work covers things it is nice) but I also want to have some hardware on site. I plan on utilizing most of the things I will get.

Also, today I scored a 2514, from what I understand I can use it to replace my router for cable. I like the idea of utilizing things in the real world.

 

[petey117]

I have a few spare 2610 routers and one or 2 2924M switches
i can sell them for $115 shipped for the router, and 75 shipped for the switch

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: brockj

Originally posted by: Smilin
For CCNA stuff why not go with a Boson router sim? Although it lacks some functionality it will bring $100k worth of routing gear to your desktop.

That is nice, and at some point I will utilize that as i have it somewhat available (when work covers things it is nice) but I also want to have some hardware on site. I plan on utilizing most of the things I will get.

Also, today I scored a 2514, from what I understand I can use it to replace my router for cable. I like the idea of utilizing things in the real world.

setting it up is a pain and unfortuantely it doens't have a lot of features in that pricerange..all the good ones, like USUABLE IPS and such require more $$$$

I found out mine has QoS and IPS, but hthe configuratiosn are maddeningly long