Free Cisco Rack Access For Techexams users [update]

wildfire

Free Cisco Rack time exclusive for Techexams users like yourselves

UPDATED NEWS - Site Back Online

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The Sql database has been corrupted on the Cisco-engineer.com website, along with the backup of the it.

what does this mean?

This means the old site that everyone has been using has become damaged and unrecoverable, if you created an account before April 2007 its gone.

The good news:

I have moved providers and created a new site the direct url is Cisco-engineer.com/rack or click the link from the main splash page.

The rack remains free and lots of booking slots available,

for you guys looking at CCIE the rack is fully complaint with internetworkingexpert version 3 lab book, and I have a 3560 for those of you worried about the difference between the 3560 and the 3550.

It now has a total of 5 switches 1x3560 1x3550 2x 3750 1x2950.


The bad news:

All WEBSITE accounts have been lost, so to use the website you will need to sign up again (my apologies to everyone)

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My Thanks to Webmaster for letting me use the forum to get this message out.

wildfire

Just thought Id revist this very old topic! as I finally got it working and I had a few PMs asking me if I found out to tell them

To host a lab you need a cisco 2509,10,11 or 12 terminal servers

need one or 2 octal cables and connect them to all your other equipement, this allows you to console into them all at once

Then setup simialar to

https://puck.nether.net/pipermail/cisco-nsp/2004-July/011398.html

Now when you telenet to the the 2511 it will give you a menu allowing you to console to any of the deivces specified.

If you dont have a static IP from your ISP not a problem, signup up for a free no-ip.com domain, then install the Dynamic DNS client on an old machine, leave it running.
In your broadband router set it to forward all incoming port 23 requests to your router, and voila an online lab for everyone to use.

Im just playing around with the final setup and will be offering it free to people one techexams (with Johan permission ofcourse) would anyone be intested?

Lad contains
1XCisco 2511 (Temrinal Server)
2X3640
4x3620
1x2611XM
1x2610
1x2612
1x2521
1x2520
1x2501
1x2504
1x3560
2x2950
1xCisco Pix 520 6.3

Skywalker_

Hi,

I just started preparing for CCNA exam and will be interested to have access to a switch and a router or two.

Thanks

wildfire

Not a problem m8, I have just bought a rack and am going to rack mount it all, once thats done I will be offering it out for free, as you asked first I will let you have access first, should be in 3-4 days

lab layout is www.cisco-engineer.com/rack.html

/usr

That's really great. I'm glad to see you're offering this for free, it will really help a lot of people out, I'm sure.

Webmaster

wildfire wrote:

Im just playing around with the final setup and will be offering it free to people one techexams (with Johan permission ofcourse) would anyone be intested?

Permission granted. please contact me by PM for details.

That's really great indeed. You got a very complete lab, and I read you even have an ISDN sim coming

If you plan to offer this for some time, perhaps we should team up and write some TechLabs / a case study specifically for your lab. That's a lot of branch offices you have there.

This a great Christmas gift for our members, so thanks for choosing us to share your lab with.

Currently checking some local ebay and ebay-like sites for a 2509-12, no luck yet, but if I do find one, I'll put it online as well together with my two 2501 routers. Not much compared to your collection but it will allow for some basic practice. Thanks again for the link!

porengo

Wildfire, book me right after Skywalker.

wildfire

Ok, just revisiting this old topic, Ive been away in Oman so Ive had no chance to do anything with it untill now. Its finally up and running, so need a few peeps to help me do some beta testing before I open the rack up for everyones use.

Webmaster

*bump*

I expected this to become one of the longest topic in our forums.

Guys... Wildfire is offering a free online lab access to TechExams.net members. And not just any lab, but a rather complete one. He's even working on adding an ISDN sim - most people don't have the luxury of practicing ISDN... regardless, I think this is already a golden opportunity for anyone preparig for Cisco certs.

The amount of equipment may seem a bit overwhelming at first, but you won't need to (re-)configure them all. And Wildfire set up a pretty cool way to access the devices from a menu. Including a 2950 switch, which we all want and need, but most of us don't have.

I had the pleasure of trying some things out a while ago and it really works great, and fast

wildfire

Cheers Johan,

ISDN sim is now added. Also have added a frame relay switch and about to install another Cisco 3620 this weekend. I have also added two basic labs for people just beginning their climb on the Cisco mountain.
I am in the process of writing two CCNA labs (RIP and Access lists) I will also be producing an EIGRP two part lab (Part 1 CCNA Part 2 BSCI)

Check out the link for the rack layout

http://cisco-engineer.com/new/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=36

Thanks

Alien

It's awesome to say the least.

Drakonblayde

What, no PIX? /grin

jelexy

I would love to have such a great apportunity. please include my name on the waiting list.


jelexy

yang11

It will be wonderful if I can do some free lab.

cheers

wildfire

No waiting list guys just click on the link below in my sig and sign up for free. Lots of booking slots are still free.

ciscogerald

I just signed up, doesn't look like many people booking time, that's ok I can use all the time I can get. The wife won't let me buy any toys until I get a new job

Do you take donations?

ciscogerald

Thanx Wild, We all appreciate you doing this for us. PM me if you take donations, every little bit helps

Gerald

darkmagic

WOW, It is really hard to beleive, good things seldom come for free.

I still cannot beleive although i have booked a couple of time clots for myself, but i am still wanting to beleive it, waiting for the good time to come soon

Thanx "wild", thanx a ton, u rock ...

mikej412

Thanks for the free rack access! It was a great help when I was fighting with the Boson NetSim to verify that I did know what I was doing. Working hands on with the real thing can't be beat!

Your rack helped me get my CCNA and CCNP and inspired me to start building my own home lab. Now I'm hooked on this Cisco stuff -- got the CCDA and take ARCH for the CCDP on Monday. I then start work on the CCSP.

wildfire

Are you still planning on adding the PIX?

Have added a pix 520, havent updated the diagrams etc yet. Will update diagrams and photos etc tommorow! nice pic btw

Jiggsaww

Hey is it 2 late to sign up

wildfire

of course not, booking has been busy last few weeks but this weekend is almost completely free so go to the site and sign up

Jiggsaww

kool thanks..........i already emailed for a username and password.......should i get a reply after it has been created?

happy420golucky

hey I just wanted to give a shout out and say that hosting this rack is fricking aweshoom . Right now I have two 2621's and a 3640 to work on at my house, but I really need to get into STP, VTP. So again thanks I have registered and set my time up. So we will see how it goes tomorrow!

wildfire

yes Jiggsaww you should have got a confirmation email, sometimes these take upto 48 hours, all accounts on the terminal server and RADIUS are created manutally I tried making a script to extrapilate (is that spelt right??) the information but it was a complete failure!.

If you havent got your email, make sure that it hasnt gone to your SPAM box or your mail box isnt full. After 48 hours they are created anyway so with or without your email you should be able to log on.

Jiggsaww

kool thanks i got the email.......with try loggin in tommorow God's willing

wildfire

I have had some complaints people have been unable to log on properly, thankfully this issue has been resolved.

Also I thought I would take this oppertunity to notify everyone about to some pretty exciting updates recently.

1. The rack has had a Cisco 3640 running 12.4 added
2. The rack has had a 2611XM running advanced enterprise service 12.4 added
3. The rack has had a layer 3 switch added (3560)
4. All the remaining 2500's have had the IOS updated to include IPv6 Support
5. The layout has been redesigned and is now compatible with the internetworkingexpert.com labs.

http://www.cisco-engineer.com/new/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=36

Remebmer this is free to use on the weekends! - Time is GMT(UTC)

If people want to use it weektime there's a small charge.

TheShadow

Graham I love your web site and the pictures that you have there. Obviously you have put a lot of work into it. However something has puzzled me since you installed it. Is there a reason the PIX is upside down? Just curious; things like that grate on the curiosity. Oh course if it was me I would have done it just to make people wonder; maybe we are of like minds.

wildfire

HAHAHA
Well having it upside increases its performance with VPN - J/K

no nothing some complex, simply put its a big beast and the power is at the back and not the front, before I installed the PIX I mounted the power strip down the back right, the only way to fit the damm thing in was to flip it over. Either that or rip the whole thing out, move the strip, by new longer power cords and re-mount!.

Ive moved property now though and dont have a garage so there isnt room for the 19" rack, it now lives on a table stacked, I shall have to take some new pics and upload them.

wildfire

UPDATED NEWS -

---

The Sql database has been corrupted on the Cisco-engineer.com website, along with the backup of the it

what does this mean?

This means the old site that everyone has been using has become damaged and unrecoverable,

The good news

I have moved providers and created a new site the direct url is Cisco-engineer.com/rack or click the link from the main splash page.

The rack remains free and lots of booking slots available,

for you guys looking at CCIE the rack is fully complaint with internetworkingexpert version 3 lab book, and I have a 3560 for those of you worried about the difference between the 3560 and the 3500.

It now has a total of 4 switches 1x3560 1x3550 2x2950.


The bad news

All WEBSITE accounts have been lost, so to use the website you will need to sign up again (my apologies to everyone)

Your physical rack account still remains valid as this is held on a AAA server so if you used the rack username request form there is no need to re-apply

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My Thanks to Webmaster for letting me use the forum to get this message out

Webmaster

I'm sure nobody here will mind re-registering for access. I sure don't.