How to build home lab for practice?

amit_1802

How to experience the company like environment at home ? I mean how much it'll cost ? Foremost what are the requirements to build home lab?

JamesBarker

Lab kits can be purchased off ebay, I've found some ranging from 99p to £400

From what I've seen 2 Cisco catalyst enterprise switches and a Cisco enterprise router are a basic lab set you can get, I'm no Cisco expert maybe others can advise, aiming myself hopefully to take my ICND1 when I'm done with a few MS certs.

willieb

This might be helpful to you. It's a couple years old but the equipment is still relevant and will be even cheaper now...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAS5_Wzolfs

Physical hands on is very important, but configuration wise GNS3 or Packet Tracer is great when your equipment isn't quite enough.

Jon_Cisco

There are lots of old lab post here so I would search through some of that to get a good feel.
If your just starting out it might cost a few hundred dollars for some used equipment.

Packet Tracer
It works great for CCNA study but it is a simulator so it does not support everything. If a command does not work it might just not be supported. What I really liked about packet tracer was the ability to watch the packets move and change as you were just starting to learn. It was great for early troubleshooting.

GNS3
Don't be intimidated it seems a lot harder to set up then it is. Nobody is going to tell you where to get your copy of the IOS but google will help. Since this is running the real IOS just about everything is supported. For switching you use a switch module in one of the routers for pretty good results.

Equipment
I purchased a two router two switch lab for a few hundred dollars when I started. I recommend this for anyone who is going to waste 6 months researching before they buy anything. The actual equipment is not the issue it is getting motivated to use it that stops most people.

Buy a kit.
This is easiest but slightly more expensive because you are paying someone else to put it all together for you. If your new to CCNA start small.

Ebay (or anyplace online)
In general buying the parts yourself will be cheaper because you put in all the work researching and buying everything. Great way to gain knowledge so it might be worth it.

TechGuru80

Jon_Cisco wrote: »

GNS3
Don't be intimidated it seems a lot harder to set up then it is. Nobody is going to tell you where to get your copy of the IOS but google will help. Since this is running the real IOS just about everything is supported. For switching you use a switch module in one of the routers for pretty good results.

Or you can just get VIRL....official virtual platform from Cisco, supports switching, and can easily get you through CCNP. Also, you can take VIRL images and use them in GNS3. If you are going to virtualize anything, make sure you have enough power in your hardware.

Like a lot of training, it depends on your budget. If you have around $1,000 USD...you can easily get a system with 60-70GB RAM and VIRL so you don't have to deal with any issues that existed 5 years ago...and that system can be used for other studies/labs. If you want physical equipment, you can get some pretty good deals under $500 for a full CCNA/CCNP lab, but then you have to worry about heat/space issues.

More often than not, people recommend going physical hardware at first (cheaper and more "fun"), and then once you start to commit invest into virtualization.

willieb

TechGuru80 wrote: »

More often than not, people recommend going physical hardware at first (cheaper and more "fun"), and then once you start to commit invest into virtualization.

Yup, exactly ^^

Virtual is so much easier. While I'm studying to re-obtain my CCNP, I won't touch a real piece of equipment if I can help it lol. Back when I first got my CCNP there was no such thing as virtual labs, at least not in the sense of with a GUI.

I love virtual to learn on but if you are new it can create a large void of lack of physical hands on equipment.

Jon_Cisco

VIRL looks very interesting. After I renew my CCNA I might try a subscription and do some CCNP study.