CCNA & CCENT Home Lab Ideas

Jaguar0616

Because it's such a common topic on this board and something I'm reading up on myself, here's a really nice (and recent!) series of blog posts discussing what to get for your home study lab.

http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/24916

phantasm

Great first post!! Thanks for the link and welcome to TE.net.

TechDiva

Jaguar0616, Thanks for the link...it was a big help and deeply appreciated!!!!

Ltat42a

Here is some information regarding purchasing, and/or renting CCENT/CCNA equipment labs.


LAB SETUPS
These pages have suggestions for buying and setting up your own lab equipment and what topologies to use.

The Bryant Advantage CCNA Lab Suggestions
Cisco Lab CCNA CCNP Exam Prep Router Switch Configuration


Cisco Cert Zone - Wendell Odom
Please note: As of Jan 2012, Wendell Odom has concluded his Blog in the Cisco Cert Zone on
networkworld.com. The below links are still available for review.

CCNA Lab Series 2011: Overview
Cisco Cert Zone: CCNA Lab Series 2011: Overview

CCNA Lab II: How Topologies Drive Device Choices
Cisco Cert Zone: CCNA Lab II: How Topologies Drive Device Choices

CCNA Lab III: Sifting Through the Router Model Series
Cisco Cert Zone: CCNA Lab III: Sifting Through the Router Model Series

CCNA Lab IV: Choosing the IOS Version and Feature Set
Cisco Cert Zone: CCNA Lab IV: Choosing the IOS Version and Feature Set

CCNA Lab Part V: Ruling Out (or In) 2500 and 2600
Cisco Cert Zone: CCNA Lab Part V: Ruling Out (or In) 2500 and 2600

CCNA Lab Series Part 6: The Best Router for CCNA, 2011
Cisco Cert Zone: CCNA Lab Series Part 6: The Best Router for CCNA, 2011

CCNA Lab Part 7: Choosing the Right Switch Models
Cisco Cert Zone: CCNA Lab Part 7: Choosing the Right Switch Models

CCNA Lab Part 8: How Many Switches, and Which Ones?
Cisco Cert Zone: CCNA Lab Part 8: How Many Switches, and Which Ones?

CCNA Lab Main Post Summary
Cisco Cert Zone: CCNA Lab Main Post Summary


Wendell Odom's Lab Gear on Certskills.com
Lab Gear
Mouse over the Lab Gear menu item; select your field of study




HARDWARE (Routers, Switches, etc.)
There has been much discussion as whether to buy individual components versus buying a lab kit.
By buying individual components, you can select the model(s) you wish to work with. By buying
Lab kits, you're sometimes limited to what model(s) are included in the kit.

Modules/Cables
When it comes to what modules and cables to purchase, this is going to depend on what type
of topology scenarios you are interested in studying/learning for.

Hardware websites
eBay, craigslist
eBay and craigslist are very popular sites for those looking for Cisco equipment.
Be aware that counterfeit parts and modules for Cisco devices do exist.
See here -
Counterfeit / Fake Cisco WIC-1DSU-T1 Guide - Andover Test

Andover
https://www.andovercg.com/store/Cisco-Routers-c134/

Cables and Kits
CablesAndKits.com

Certification Kits
Cisco Certification: CCNA, CCNP, CCIE, used Cisco router, Cisco switch, Cisco routers.

Network International
RoutersWholesale.com, Your first choice for Cisco accessories

Vology
Vology - New & Pre-owned Network Equipment Solutions

Dantrak.net
Dantrak Net *- New and Used Networking Equipment and Peripherals. Skeletek Racks and Accessories.
Connecting Cisco Routers and Cables
The contents of this page is informational only and complements of DANTRAK

tech for less
Refurbished Networking Devices - Open Box Computer Networking Products

****
Cisco CCNA CCNP CCIE Lab Kits fully configured and tested





LIVE EQUIPMENT (aka Rack Rental)
These sites are available for those who would rather connect to live equipment
via a telnet connection.

Free Cisco Switch Lab
Free Cisco Catalyst Switch Lab

Packetlife.net
Community Lab - Packet Life

Free CCNA Lab
The Stub Lab



SOFTWARE
Simulators/Emulators
This list contains software programs that are available for studying the Cisco objectives.
Cisco Packet Tracer - Packet Tracer is available for Cisco Networking Academy Instructors, Students and Alumni only.
Cisco Packet Tracer - Cisco Systems

GNS3
Graphical Network Simulator - GNS3

RouterSim
CCNA and CCNP Router and Network Simulators - Training Videos

Boson NetSim
NetSim 8.0 Cisco Network Simulator & Router Simulator

LANforge ICE Network Emulator
LANforge-ICE Product Summary

Hurricane II WAN Emulation & Network Simulation
Packetstorm Communications | Hurricane II IP Network Emulator

Dynagen
Main

SemSim
Cisco CCNA Exam Router Simulator: Features


FREE LAB WORKBOOKS
These sites have workbooks (pdf/html) that contain several topologies and scenarios
for studying for CCNA

IP Addressing & Subnetting Workbook
http://kaygenz.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/ip-addressing-and-subnetting-workbook-student-version-1_5.pdf

Free CCNA Challenge Labs
Free CCNA Challenge Labs

Free Cisco Lab
Free Cisco Lab

FREE CCNA LAB
FREE CCNA LAB

Configure the Network CCNA Lab Scenarios
http://www.techexams.net/forums/ccna-ccent/50528-ccna-icnd-1-free-lab-book-download.html

Free CCNA Workbook
CCNA Lab Workbook

Personal Labs
Peenkcity: downloads

Packet Tracer Network
Packet Tracer 5.3 : Network simulation software

Router Alley Labs
Router Alley - Labs

Yet Another Cisco Blog
Yet Another Cisco Blog: Free CCNA Resources

GNS3 Labs
GNS3 Labs | CCNP | CCNA Labs: Routing labs

GNS3-Labs
GNS3 Labs :: Cisco Router Simulator Network Labs & Topologies For CCENT, CCNA, CCNP & CCIE Candidates!

GNS3 Vault
Free Cisco labs for CCNA, CCNP & CCIE !

These labs were posted on a discussion forum on the Cisco Learning Network.
Scroll down to the 5th post
https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/thread/4933

CCNA Virtual Lab Simulator
Free CCNA LABs

101 CCNA Labs
101 CCNA Labs - Labs




LAB WORKBOOKS FOR SALE
Todd Lammle (Purchase includes bonus Packet Tracer Labs)
The Latest Books by Todd Lammle | Lammle.com

CiscoPress
Certification Info > Customers and Markets

The Bryant Advantage
CCNA CCNP Cisco Security Certification Exam, CCNA Boot Camp CBT

subnet.192
CCNA Guides | Providing tools for your success!

101 Labs
101 Labs for the Cisco CCNA Exam

Certification Kits
Books, CDs, DVDs, etc.

CCNA Practical Studies
CCNA Practical Studies (Cisco Certification & Training): Gary Heap,Lynn Maynes: 0619472200469: Amazon.com: Books


TERMINAL PROGRAMS
These are software programs used to access networking devices
PuTTY
chiark home page

SecureCRT
SecureCRT - The Usable, Flexible SSH Client

Tera Term
Tera Term :: Latest Version :: Free Download | Products

Attachmate Reflection
Fraud Monitoring, Managed File Transfer, & Terminal Emulation Software | Attachmate


Hope this sheds some light on ideas and considerations for setting up your own hardware equipment lab.

Roguetadhg

Ill need to update my thread with these links. Good job man! Rep!

tshawa03

Thanks for link!! Great info! A big help indeed

jsb515

awesome! thanks for those links

Corndork2

Its a great link... however its very out dated. I would stay away from any 2500 series equipment. Stick to only devices that run 12.4 or higher and support IPv6.

The nice thing about this being a little older is that equipment has come down a ton in price. The article cites 2600XM's at $400 and 1841's at $600. In the current market the 2600XM's can be had on eBay from within $40-$100.

All in all a great article to cite how many routers and switches to buy, however, if you have the money please consider buying newer gear

Ltat42a

This video was published by Jeremy at CBT Nuggets on Feb 5 -

MicroNugget: Building a CCNA Home Lab - YouTube

mgmguy1

I was trying to go through all my old ICND 1 and ICND 2 Material, Links,E-mails and notes I have made and seeing what can be saved and what I can throw out. I have already bought the new Wendell Odem books ( ICND1 100-101 and ICND 2 200-101 as well as Todd Lammle's new ICND 1 book.

Ltat42a's section on Free Lab guides is geared towards the old Cisco tests ans still have a-lot of good information in them. I was wondering if any of you folks have come across any newer Lab guides on the internet geared towards the new tests? Either free or paid ?

Ltat42a's links are very helpful and anyone new the board should review them.

Please advise.

TechGuru80

There isn't really any new lab guides out there that I have found. However the labs are pretty similar except ipv6 and ospf v3 from what I can tell. A lot of the troubleshooting stuff is in the new ICND 2 according to Odem's book.

mgmguy1

TechGuru80,
I agree, I spent some time going over Todd Lammle's new book and marking some of the Labs I am going to do on Packet Tracer. OSPF is new to me so I want to make sure I am prepared when test day comes for the new new 100-101 ICND 1 test.

TechGuru80

Definitely know OSPF because v3 is using IPv6 but the steps are almost identical.