Post Your Lab (PICS)

Hey Everyone,
I couldn't find any other thread similar to this after searching for a while, so I wanted to get one going. It would be great if everyone could post pictures of their current home or work lab (Big or Small). Hopefully we can get the CCNP/CCIE folks to post in here as well.

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Comments

gouki2005

OMG...one of those labs are way better than my college lab

Jollycork

I thought I was the only one who did spaghetti

and thanks for the ISDN simulator link. I was thinking about the Ameritec Central Office AM7 simulator, but yours look better even if it's more expensive.

Netwurk

Wow, I thought folks were going to mock my ISDN simulator as outdated. And here the first two replies want one.

Go figure.

ISDN is still used in the real world, but is no longer tested on Cisco exams. No NDA violation here, at this point in time it's just a well known fact with the possible exception of CCIE exams which expect you to know EVERYTHING

tiersten

Everything looks good and all but why do you have the 2926 boat anchor? Is there a risk your HP server will float away if its not weighed down by that switch?

Yup. ISDN might not be on the CCNA syllabus anymore but you'll still find it lurking out there in many networks as a backup system.

xenodamus

My poor little lab....

You guys make me wanna get on ebay....

photo.JPG

Netwurk

tiersten wrote: »

Everything looks good and all but why do you have the 2926 boat anchor? Is there a risk your HP server will float away if its not weighed down by that switch?

Yup. ISDN might not be on the CCNA syllabus anymore but you'll still find it lurking out there in many networks as a backup system.

The 2926 is actually a very robust switch as far as fast ethernet goes. And I hang on to it as upkeep on my CatOS knowledge. But I have to admit that I haven't powered it up for quite a while.

The ISDN simulator is still a cool toy. When I got it, the CCNA textbook had a whole chapter on it but that was five years ago.

It still is useful to use as an extra complication to my EIGRP configs for my ROUTE exam studies.

chmorin

xenodamus wrote: »

My poor little lab....

You guys make me wanna get on ebay....

Nothing wrong with your lab. I'll post up pictures of mine sometime, its not that far from yours

. I prefer to buy just the equipment I need and rack what I am using.

This will change as I further pursue the CCVP though

Jollycork

Netwurk wrote: »

Wow, I thought folks were going to mock my ISDN simulator as outdated. And here the first two replies want one.

Go figure.

ISDN is still used in the real world, but is no longer tested on Cisco exams. No NDA violation here, at this point in time it's just a well known fact with the possible exception of CCIE exams which expect you to know EVERYTHING

That's the reason for not mocking the simulator. While not tested, it's still used out there. Though it prudent to at least now it.

Carpe Jugulem

Man... you guys have some pretty sweet lab setups! I just ordered a bunch of stuff and I'm waiting for it to arrive... should be here in the next week, and I'll post pics of my new lab.

Is it bad that I'm more excited about my lab than I am about working toward/getting the CCENT/CCNA? LOL!

DevilWAH

Carpe Jugulem wrote: »

Man... you guys have some pretty sweet lab setups! I just ordered a bunch of stuff and I'm waiting for it to arrive... should be here in the next week, and I'll post pics of my new lab.

Is it bad that I'm more excited about my lab than I am about working toward/getting the CCENT/CCNA? LOL!

Thats exactly how it should be

playing with it and learning should be what keeps you motivated. Getting the actual certs and passing the exams is just a bonus.

egb893

Here's a pic of my lab

2 x 2610
2 x 2924
Asus wireless router loaded with dd wrt set to wireless bridge mode.

I will definitely be upgrading before I start studying for CCNA Security

Netwurk

egb893 wrote: »

2 x 2610
2 x 2924
Asus wireless router loaded with dd wrt set to wireless bridge mode.

I will definitely be upgrading before I start studying for CCNA Security

Good start, nicely racked.

Not sure if it would help with CCNA Security, but adding a 2950 to your set of switches would be a good idea. In that way you can use something very close to the current command set.

For a good book on switch security, check out

Amazon.com: LAN Switch Security: What Hackers Know About Your Switches (9781587052569): Eric Vyncke, Christopher Paggen: Books

egb893

Netwurk wrote: »

Good start, nicely racked.

Not sure if it would help with CCNA Security, but adding a 2950 to your set of switches would be a good idea. In that way you can use something very close to the current command set.

For a good book on switch security, check out

Amazon.com: LAN Switch Security: What Hackers Know About Your Switches (9781587052569): Eric Vyncke, Christopher Paggen: Books

Thanks! I plan to get a couple 2950s and 2650xm. That book looks interesting, I will definitely check it out.

wolverene13

HELLZxPHADER wrote: »

2950 24 port average price 300-350

2514 2501 maxed average price 50-75

2520 maxed, i say about 100

2600 series with no cards unmaxed average price 100-350(maxed 150-400)

3550 48 smi u can find for about 1200-1500 (add couple hundred to that for the emi 48 )

nm-4e 75-100
nm-4a/s 50-75
wic1t 25-40
wic2t 50-75
wic t1 75-125

THESE ARE JUST GUESSES, and of course u can find way luckier deals!

I'd say those prices are a too high. I get all my stuff on eBay and here's what I've paid:

2950 - $80-100
2500 series - $30-40
2600 series - $50-60
3550 - $150 - SMI, $250-300 - EMI (I actually just bought the 3550 SMI and then threw the EMI image on there. It made more sense).

Never bought modules, so I have no idea if those prices are correct.

Netwurk

wolverene13 wrote: »

I'd say those prices are a too high. I get all my stuff on eBay and here's what I've paid:

2950 - $80-100
2500 series - $30-40
2600 series - $50-60
3550 - $150 - SMI, $250-300 - EMI (I actually just bought the 3550 SMI and then threw the EMI image on there. It made more sense).

Never bought modules, so I have no idea if those prices are correct.

I paid $90 to fix my old 3550 (it needed a power supply). But you are right, they can be had for $150 if you are patient and wait for a good ebay deal

But we are getting way off topic, we need

MORE LAB PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PhildoBaggins

831
2611
2611
2620
2620
2620
3810
2500
2900xl
2900xl
2900xl

soon maybe a frame switch, a couple 2950s and a 3550...then a bunch of WIC cards for my 26xx's

Netwurk

Looks good Phildo

Don't recall ever seeing a transceiver with the RJ45 port on the side. It works for the gear in your lab as the crossover cable looks to be just long enough to make the connection.

Darthn3ss

updated my setup a bit today....

From this:

to this:

I took the 2900s and the 2500 routers out. At this point with a half decent PC you can virtualize basically anything you need to do with a router. I now have 4 2950s so i really didn't need the 2900s... and i still have the 2651/2620XM and the 3600 for any labs that need a router.. Put in the D-Link gigabit switch as well. Most importantly, its cabled better and is much cleaner.

edit: i'd also like to thank ebay sellers who delete IOS files but not the config. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

ZeroHunter

Here is some shots of my Lab, I have pretty much got it completed(for now) need to strap-down a couple of the cables and such, but you get the idea.

I did order some replacement power cords, currently I have the 6ft standard power cables, but the ones I ordered are 18inches and 3ft, to clean up some of the power cord area.

peanutnoggin

ZeroHunter wrote: »

Here is some shots of my Lab, I have pretty much got it completed(for now) need to strap-down a couple of the cables and such, but you get the idea.

I did order some replacement power cords, currently I have the 6ft standard power cables, but the ones I ordered are 18inches and 3ft, to clean up some of the power cord area.

Z3ro,

Your rack looks like its coming along nicely... but you'll probably want to reverse mount your routers! It'll be easier to get to the modules, wics, ethernet ports, etc... just a thought...

-Peanut

Darthn3ss

wow i'm diggin that console panel, whered ya get it? certainly cheaper than buying a 2509 or 2511 or one of the WIC cards. (not as flexible but whatever)

ZeroHunter

peanutnoggin wrote: »

Z3ro,

Your rack looks like its coming along nicely... but you'll probably want to reverse mount your routers! It'll be easier to get to the modules, wics, ethernet ports, etc... just a thought...

-Peanut

Thanx, yeah I thought about it, and it might happen, but esthetically it would look terrible (I did mention my OCD before right?)

Darthn3ss wrote: »

wow I'm diggin that console panel, whered ya get it? certainly cheaper than buying a 2509 or 2511 or one of the WIC cards. (not as flexible but whatever)

I had it made at a place called Front Panel Express , I did not know about the 2509RF when i had it made, but I kinda like it also as its unique.

Amco

how much did that control panel cost you from that website?

ZeroHunter

Amco wrote: »

how much did that control panel cost you from that website?

Right at 57.oo$ shipped

Amco

ZeroHunter wrote: »

Right at 57.oo$ shipped

Sweet I might get one! I'm beginning to build my lab now.

chrisone

ZeroHunter wrote: »

Here is some shots of my Lab, I have pretty much got it completed(for now) need to strap-down a couple of the cables and such, but you get the idea.

I did order some replacement power cords, currently I have the 6ft standard power cables, but the ones I ordered are 18inches and 3ft, to clean up some of the power cord area.

Very nice and clean setup bro, its inspiring to be honest with you.

ZeroHunter

chrisone wrote: »

Very nice and clean setup bro, its inspiring to be honest with you.

Thank you thats very nice of you.

SephStorm

*drools over pictures*

ZeroHunter

phoeneous wrote: »

For the panel, isn't saying "Cisco CCNA" sort of redundant. It's like saying "NIC card". That would bother me, just sayin'. For the price, you're better off with an access server. What if you get all new equipment, the labels wont match up. Plus having an access server means you can say cool words like "octal" and "session."

Well let me take your question(s)/comments(s) in order; yes saying 'Cisco CCNA' is a bit redundant, but the example you stated pretty much covers it, how many times have you heard someone say 'go to (insert computer store name here) and get me a NIC' no mostly you hear 'NIC Card'. Its just a common vernacular error, that is accepted.

The other beauty of it is, Its in MY HOUSE, not yours, I paid for and I am a bit proud of the out come. Also expanding on your comment, ever piece of equipment in the rack also says CISCO so I guess that's a bit redundant also.

To your question about what happens if I get new equipment, well that has already happened, you could call this panel version 2.1. If you look at the panel CAD diagram at the bottom of my photo post, you will see that it has a blank Serial Connector space, yet if you look at the panel that is in the actual pictures that port says 'Switch / 3524', I did not have the 3500 series unit when I got the panel made and had to add the last label. The reason its version 2.x is its the second panel I had made, the first one had only 6 ports, and most of the equipment was changed after reading a lot of the information from this forum, and was upgraded to something that can hopefully get me through CCNA & CCNP.

So to answer that question, I will either get another panel made, or I could just make labels to attach to the panel to correct the port information to make it correct. The last option would be to return the panel to Front Panel Express and have them re-machine the back of the panel to state the correct information, as they will work on items that are provided by the user/buyer.

And last I still get to use neat words like 'unique', 'custom', 'personalized' and 'one off'

chmorin

ZeroHunter wrote: »

Thanx, yeah I thought about it, and it might happen, but esthetically it would look terrible (I did mention my OCD before right?)

I had it made at a place called Front Panel Express , I did not know about the 2509RF when i had it made, but I kinda like it also as its unique.

Where did you get the enclosed rack?