Help building a CCNA+ lab...

markzab

Another member here PM'd me asking what my suggestions were in building a lab for the CCNA. I wound up responding with what I built and some good links and realised it could only help to pass this info to others as well. I know there are other threads in the FAQ but everyones lab and ideas are different so here are mine...(copy and paste from PM)

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Well I myself take the CCNA in one test. That's how I did it before. Here's what I would suggest for the lab, for now. It's actually what I already just got.

1.) A 2610 or 2612. I say 2612 because it has everything the 2610 has but also has a TR port, but is still cheaper than the 2610...just slightly. (50+SH)

2.) A 2924 switch. Stay away from the 1900's. (40-70+SH)

3.) A 2950 switch (12 port is fine). You will be able to use this for your CCNP but it will help on your CCNA as well because you can play with trunking and VLANs with this bad boy. It is expensive so this is the one I'd be patient with and look for a good deal on. I got mine for $170+SH but expect to pay a little more. (200+SH)

4.) Now, you're going to need at least 1 more router, and I'd even suggest 2. I asked everyone on the boards what I should get and they all told me to get a 2509 or 2511 because they can act as a terminal server. With this machine I wont have to move my console cable every time I want to configure a different device in my lab. I'll be able to telnet into them through this router. I was EXTREMELY lucky just 2 days ago and got my hands on a 2509 for 60+SH. Expect to pay around $120-150+SH. You don't have to get this but I'd suggest it for expansion in the future.

5.) Above will give you a good lab, but if you aren't over budget yet, do what I am. I'm buying an additional 2610 and another 2924. This way I'll have 3 routers and 3 switches. With 3 switches I'll be able to play with STP and switching loop issues. With 3 routers I'll be able to play in detail with frame relay by making one of them the frame switch.

In the end, the first 4 should be ok for you. You dont even really need to get the 2509/2511 if you dont want to. You can just get 2 2610's, the 2950, and the 2924 and you should be more than fine. Now, I'm gonna hook you up even more. I bookmarked the guy I buy the 2610's off of. They are pretty cheap...

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZmintzerQQhtZ-1

Here's the catch. His machines don't come with a serial module, but I found another really good guy to buy those from...

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZnetwork-prodQQhtZ-1

For $46 buy it now he'll send you 2 WIC-1T's. This guy is great because he got me my items from Japan in 3 damn days. Amazing. After you buy your 2 routers from mintzer you'll be able to use 1 wic for each machine and you're set there. Then, for the serial cables, and really any other cables you might need, i found this guy...

http://computers.search.ebay.com/_Networking_W0QQcatrefZC12QQfrppZ25QQsacatZ11176QQsassZmonopriceQ2ecom

From him I got the 1ft small (I dont like loose hanging cables) back to back DTE/DCE crossover cable for like $3. Very cheap.

And this is where I got my 2924 switch. I got it when he was selling them for $39.99 but it looks like he may have just raised his price to $69.99. That's still one of the better buy it now prices I'm seeing for that machine...

http://computers.search.ebay.com/_Networking_W0QQcatrefZC12QQsacatZ11176QQsassZocdepot

The 2950 and 2509 you've really just got to search for. The good thing about the 2509 is that it comes with 2 build in serial interfaces already. If you bought 2 2610's and the 2 WICs from the guy above, that's all you'd need. You'd make the 2509 with 2 serial ports your center and out of each serial you'd connect the other 2610's...

(2610-s0/0)

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>(2509-s0/0 | 2509-s0/1)<

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(2610-s0/0)

Ok, that should help you. Feel free to come to me with anymore questions. Enjoy building your lab my friend.

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PS. This in no way was an advertisement for those comnpanies. I don't own them. I just think their prices were good and was very happy when I bought from them myself.

mysql1988

for a CCNA all you need is basic understanding of routing and switching

two 2600 series routers and a 2950 switch can do the trick

markzab

mysql1988 wrote:

for a CCNA all you need is basic understanding of routing and switching

two 2600 series routes and a 2950 switch can do the trick

Agreed, but the title says CCNA+. Also, I think running 2 switches, especially when the 2924 wont cost you as much, would be a bit better for studying and making a lab. That way you can have a switch haging off of each router and hosts on each side trying to communicate.

Rearden

Great post, markzab. Nice find on the $50 2610 as well. Although, I already have four routers for CCNA, could always use more though (that attitude means I'll end up with a ton of equipment by the time this is done, because I have some money to spend). I think I need to look at getting some switches.

markzab

DarbyWeaver wrote:

Good Post!

That's a good compliment to have after reading many of your posts. Thank you.

Rearden wrote:

Great post, markzab. Nice find on the $50 2610 as well. Although, I already have four routers for CCNA, could always use more though (that attitude means I'll end up with a ton of equipment by the time this is done, because I have some money to spend). I think I need to look at getting some switches.

I'm the same way. I think anytime I see a decent deal on ebay I'll have to go ahead and buy it. Hey, good deals always hold their value if you decide to sell in the future so it doesn't hurt in the end.

I also forgot to mention that I bought this as well...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=020&sspagename=STRK%3AMEFS%3AIT&viewitem=&item=300100967199&rd=1&rd=1

It's in transit right now but I'm starting to think it might now be large enough to hold what I'll have. It says it's 19" but just looking at my 2612 sitting on top of my 2924 right now on my desk, I don't think that along with 2 more routers and 2 more switches I'll be able to fit it all. Might have to actually build my own. Ugh.

mgeorge

I always recommend to my students to buy 3x 2611's and use enterprise basic which is;
c2600-j1s3-mz.123-22.bin as well as 2x switches either 2950's or 3524XL's (you can
often get 3524XL's cheeper then 2950's) Also WIC-2T's are nice if you can afford them

I always tell my students to stay away from 2500 series routers (cept the terminal servers)
which are 2509 and 2511's.

The labs I use to teach with at the community college use 2621's, 2950's, 3524XL's few 3550's
and a few 3640's as ISP routers. (frame relay, atm etc..)

Any who figured i'd get my two sense in.

markzab

George, can you break down the difference between the 3524 vs the 2924?

As you can see from the original post I haven't gotten around to placing a bid on that 3rd switch I'm looking for. What would I get out of a 3524 that I wouldn't get out of a 2924? If I'm paying more, just want to know why. Also would probably be cool to have 3 different switches in my initial lab with a 2924, 2950, and a 3524, right?

EDIT: Break the difference down for me in layman's terms. I hate comparison charts.

markzab

Ouch, $250 average on ebay for that sucker.

Think I'm gonna have to take a step back from that and just get another 2924.

mgeorge

Well most of the commands on the 2900XL and 3500XL's are the same but theirs several things
that the 3500XL's can do better such as cluster services, more vlans, support for gbics. But their
are a few major differences between the 2950's and 3500XL's, such as port security commands etc.
The 2950's are actually closer to the command syntax to the 3550's then any of the XL series switches.
While the XL series are derived from the orginal CAT OS which is being phased out. So the XL series
switch commands would be more closely related to the bigger catalyst switches such as 4000, 5000
and possibly 6500 series switches.

hope this helps

Darthn3ss

i'd also look for 2612s if you're having a hard time finding the 2610s and 11's for a decent price. i ususally see the 2612s go cheaper because of the token ring port. also, i'd shoot for atleast 3 routers, specially if you're doing the networking academy route. Most of the labs in the 2nd half of CCNA 2 involved three or more routers, as did the case study and skills final. I ended up with 8 routers and soon 5 switches, although that is deffinitely over kill, i like overkill.

Deffinitely keep an eye on ebay. avoid 2500 routers, they're fine, but for a little more money you can get 2600s. I got my 2620 for $120, and 2610s usually go for $60-$80 depending on options.

Also remeber that memory for the 2600s is cheap. if you find a 2600 with 24/8 or something, definitely buy it. i got my memory upgrade for the 2620 for like $30-$40 shipped.

markzab

Darthn3ss wrote:

i'd also look for 2612s if you're having a hard time finding the 2610s and 11's for a decent price. i ususally see the 2612s go cheaper because of the token ring port. also, i'd shoot for atleast 3 routers, specially if you're doing the networking academy route. Most of the labs in the 2nd half of CCNA 2 involved three or more routers, as did the case study and skills final. I ended up with 8 routers and soon 5 switches, although that is deffinitely over kill, i like overkill.

Deffinitely keep an eye on ebay. avoid 2500 routers, they're fine, but for a little more money you can get 2600s. I got my 2620 for $120, and 2610s usually go for $60-$80 depending on options.

Click on the link in my post. 2612's and 2610's for less than $50. Enjoy.

Rearden

markzab wrote:

I also forgot to mention that I bought this as well...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=020&sspagename=STRK%3AMEFS%3AIT&viewitem=&item=300100967199&rd=1&rd=1

It's in transit right now but I'm starting to think it might now be large enough to hold what I'll have. It says it's 19" but just looking at my 2612 sitting on top of my 2924 right now on my desk, I don't think that along with 2 more routers and 2 more switches I'll be able to fit it all. Might have to actually build my own. Ugh.

Don't know if you know this or not, but 19" is the standard rack width. How many routers it can hold is measured in rack units. Cisco 2500s and everything that is the same size as it, each take 1U

The link you gave is 12U so you could fit the equivalent of 12 2500s in there.

I apologize if I am restating the obvious for you.

--Matt

markzab

Rearden wrote:

markzab wrote:

I also forgot to mention that I bought this as well...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=020&sspagename=STRK%3AMEFS%3AIT&viewitem=&item=300100967199&rd=1&rd=1

It's in transit right now but I'm starting to think it might now be large enough to hold what I'll have. It says it's 19" but just looking at my 2612 sitting on top of my 2924 right now on my desk, I don't think that along with 2 more routers and 2 more switches I'll be able to fit it all. Might have to actually build my own. Ugh.

Don't know if you know this or not, but 19" is the standard rack width. How many routers it can hold is measured in rack units. Cisco 2500s and everything that is the same size as it, each take 1U

The link you gave is 12U so you could fit the equivalent of 12 2500s in there.

I apologize if I am restating the obvious for you.

--Matt

Nah, you completely just made my night. I was thinking it's 19" tall, not wide. So in that case 3 switches = 6U and then my 3 routers would be another 3 leaving me 3 to spare...

WOO-HOO!

Pash

Awesome post mark, real nice work. Its a shame that guy doesnt ship outside the US and canada though, his gear seems really reasonable and he even does a warranty on it. After ive finished with these MS certs and finally moved into london i will be compiling a CCNP shopping list, i might have to get a mini loan to do it, but try and stop me.

Top job.

markzab

I'd like to add that I deviated from the original plan just a bit because of a great deal that came my way. I'm not going to have 3 routers and 3 switches, I'll actually have 4 routers and 3 switches when all is said and done. Once the equipment is recieved and everything is set up I'll have the following to play with for the NA and beyond...

Routers:
1 - 2610
1 - 2612
1 - 2509 (Acting is terminal - No more console cable switching)
1 - 2521 (Acting as Frame Relay Switch - 4 serial interfaces - My cloud)

Switches:
1 - 2950 (Trunking & VLAN's)
1 - 2924
1 - 2912

As Darby once said to me before...think in triangles.

Delirious

Will any model 2924-xl work or just the EN versions?

I got this off of eBay (yet to arrive) was this the wrong thing?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=002&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=120116408760&rd=1&rd=1

jvax

Hey markzab, how'd your rack frame turn out to be? Did you mount your gear in it yet? Any pics...?

I am thinking about ordering one too. Was it easy to put together?

markzab

jvax wrote:

Hey markzab, how'd your rack frame turn out to be? Did you mount your gear in it yet? Any pics...?

I am thinking about ordering one too. Was it easy to put together?

Very easy to put together, looks very nice too, and I should be able to fit my 4 routers and 3 switches. My digital camera went haywire a couple weeks ago and isnt working now but um...hmm...lemme see how the cell phone does for an image...

EDIT: I took 3 pictures with the phone and am e-mailing them to myself now. Give me a few minutes so i can clean them up and upload them to photobucket. Be back.

markzab

This should give you an idea of how it looks when you've got some equipment in it...





The 2 routers don't have ears yet so they are just sitting there and I dont have all the cables to connect everything yet either. It's very convenient though because it just sits here on my desk with me and doesnt take up much room. I'll be transfering it to my office when I get all of my equipment in.

kafifi13

That looks sweet.

markzab

Hey, whoever wants it, one of the sellers I have in my favorites on ebay just put another WS-C2924M-XL-EN up for the same great price I got it at. Buy it now of $39.99. Haven't seen a better price than that anywhere.

You'll more than likely have to recover the pw like I did when i got mine form them.

Just thought I'd let everyone know in case anyone's looking for a 2924.

http://cgi.ebay.com/CISCO-CATALYST-2900-WS-C2924M-XL-EN-SWITCH-SERIES-2924_W0QQitemZ250114246520QQihZ015QQcategoryZ51256QQcmdZViewItem

jvax

Thanks for the pics. I am defenitely considering buying one now that I've seen it assembeled.

I'll have my brother who lives in the US buy it for me and ship it to me. Or not.

Thank again.

markzab

jvax wrote:

Thanks for the pics. I am defenitely considering buying one now that I've seen it assembeled.

I'll have my brother who lives in the US buy it for me and ship it to me. Or not.

Thank again.

He's got another one for sale...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Network-Rack-12-U-Rack-Frame-for-Cisco-Cisco-Lab_W0QQitemZ300111220316QQihZ020QQcategoryZ73321QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

It does state that he will only send to the US, but maybe if you e-mail him and mention that someone from here who already bought from him recomended you to him...well maybe he'll make an exception. Ya never know.

Pash

Shipping cost's alone are around $90 (£45), but in some cases its still cheaper to get it shipped.

Cheers for the links

markzab

Pash wrote:

Shipping cost's alone are around $90 (£45), but in some cases its still cheaper to get it shipped.

Cheers for the links

No way man. I used to send items via usps global and I wouldnt see any kinds of prices like that. It's cool though, was just throwing it out there.

seraphus

markzab wrote:

This should give you an idea of how it looks when you've got some equipment in it...





The 2 routers don't have ears yet so they are just sitting there and I dont have all the cables to connect everything yet either. It's very convenient though because it just sits here on my desk with me and doesnt take up much room. I'll be transfering it to my office when I get all of my equipment in.

That's dope. Keep up the good work!

markzab

It's ALIIIIIIIVE!!!

I love how clean this rack keeps everything too. Only takes up a corner of my desk.

manic

I WIN!!

2509-RJ (Make Your Own roll over cables)
2522
2620 (wic-2t)
2610 (wic-1t)
2610 (wic-1t)
3620 (nm-2fe2w)
3524

looking to add a 3550-24PWR

iproute

I need something to mount my stuffs in



Most of doze wires connect to this computer (aptly named "Ugly").





Ugly has 4 virtual machines running on it (despite being ugly, it's a pretty beefy machine).



Where did you guys get your racks?

jasonboche

What are those virtual servers running?

Darthn3ss

yeah i'd like more info on that setup ^

does each on act as a seperate machine?