Starting my CCNP lab

So I just passed my CCNA and on the 24th I start the CCNP course for the Cisco Network Academy. I have started putting together a lab and from what I have read, I'm heading in the right direction. Currently this is what I have:

1x3550 24 port + 2 GBIC slots(64/16) 70$<-- especially proud of this one
1x2610(48/16) -55$
1x3640(32/16) -136$

I know I'll need to invest in a couple 2950's and some individual modules and WIC's but I'm not sure what else I should invest in to get me through NP. I'll have full access to equipment in class but 2 days a week isn't enough for me. I plan on moving on to CCIP and eventually IE so I'll be using this lab for a long time.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

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Comments

scheistermeister

Make sure you get routers that support the SDM and also get some with a security IOS.

GT-Rob

Are there any mods in the 2600/3600? And a 3550 for $70 is insane!

I would say 1 more router, and being able to connect them all together (maybe a serial port in each, and an ethernet in 2). Then maybe 1 more switch. This would let you run most of whats going to be thrown at you throughout CCNP.

Panzer919

So far no mods, but I'm shopping around for what I'll need next.

As for the 3550, that's a story all it's own.

I started my parts hunt on craigslist.com. (not always the best option I know) I searched my local area (Cincinnati) for cisco equipment. I came across this persons page

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/sys/786200846.html

Which if you read it, it clearly states that he is selling a CISCO 2950 / 12Port switch. So I start communicating with the owner. The equipment was kept in a climate controlled collocation that they recently stopped using. So I took a chance and told him I was interested in the switch. I met up with him here locally and when he handed it to me I said, "this isn't a 2950, its a 3550. This is a layer 3 switch", all he said was yup your getting a good deal!

Its in PERFECT condition! It looks like it just came out of the box, runs like it too!

I'm already looking to get 2 Fiber GBIC's for the switch. I found a Cisco WS-C2916M-XL 16-Port Network Switch w/2-Fibre Channels that I might get. Since I use Fiber at work I should have it in my lab somewhere. Plus the 3640 doesn't have any mods in it so ill need to get started on those as well.

dtlokee

Don't waste money on the GBICs, they're not needed for a lab

Panzer919

dtlokee wrote:

Don't waste money on the GBICs, they're not needed for a lab

Ok, so I mainly need a couple serial mods and a couple Fast ethernet mods then. Plus I will have to upgrade all the IOS to the most current revision that it will accept.

scheistermeister wrote:

Make sure you get routers that support the SDM and also get some with a security IOS.

Whats the most recommended router for SDM? Any particular equipment to stay away from?

dtlokee

You will want to upgrade the flash and RAM to the highest level supported by the routers. You can run SDM on the 3640 you have.

redwarrior

I like my 1710 for SDM...I've enjoyed using it for my ONT practice and it wasn't that expensive...check and see if you see any on ebay.

human151

Panzer919 wrote:

So far no mods, but I'm shopping around for what I'll need next.

As for the 3550, that's a story all it's own.

I started my parts hunt on craigslist.com. (not always the best option I know) I searched my local area (Cincinnati) for cisco equipment. I came across this persons page

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/sys/786200846.html

Which if you read it, it clearly states that he is selling a CISCO 2950 / 12Port switch. So I start communicating with the owner. The equipment was kept in a climate controlled collocation that they recently stopped using. So I took a chance and told him I was interested in the switch. I met up with him here locally and when he handed it to me I said, "this isn't a 2950, its a 3550. This is a layer 3 switch", all he said was yup your getting a good deal!

Its in PERFECT condition! It looks like it just came out of the box, runs like it too!

I'm already looking to get 2 Fiber GBIC's for the switch. I found a Cisco WS-C2916M-XL 16-Port Network Switch w/2-Fibre Channels that I might get. Since I use Fiber at work I should have it in my lab somewhere. Plus the 3640 doesn't have any mods in it so ill need to get started on those as well.

Wow, sweet deal.

I just bid on a 12 port 2950 on ebay. Can anyoone give me a ball park on the highest I should pay?

lildeezul

i paid 90 bucks for my 2950 -12

alot of people pay around 125-150 for a 2950 switch

tiersten

I got my 2950G-24 EI for $90 as well but I'm in the UK.

Panzer919

Thats what I was going to go for 1-2 2950 12 or 24 port switches depending on the price.

Netwurk

dtlokee wrote:

Don't waste money on the GBICs, they're not needed for a lab

Well, you do have to know how to enable/use UDLD, although you can enable it on non-fiber ports depsite the fact that it won't accomplish anything. And knowing what a GBIC is would be a good idea.

But you can certainly get by without having any.

Slowhand

Take a look at the CCNP FAQ as well, Mike's listed a good number of threads discussing suggestions and ideas for what equipment to buy for CCNP.

Panzer919

Yeah I read through those. They all have good ideas I'm just trying to find out what all I need at a minimum for CCNP. It will need to be a system that I can keep for a while since CCNP is a 1 year course, plus what ever I may end up doing after that!

Slowhand

Then I recommend you take a look at the first posting under

: I want to setup my own home CCNP lab. What should I buy and how do I set it up?

It's got some suggestions for what you need for CCNP and beyond. (This is why we always recommend people take a closer look at the FAQ, it's all there, and I'm not about to re-post my entire thread on the same subject.

)

kryolla

also Wendell Odom did a blog on network world on what you need to build a CCNP lab

Panzer919

kryolla wrote:

also Wendell Odom did a blog on network world on what you need to build a CCNP lab

http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/27576

Wendell does a great job of breaking labs down by cost, and then breaking down the pros and cons and why. Going off his recommendations, I think I'm going to head in this direction:

1 X 1720 - can borrow from work!
2 X 3640 - already have 1
1 x 3550 - already have
1 x 2610 - already have
2 X 2950

Maybe a 1 x 2509

I think this would be a decent start seeing how I will be moving on to CCVP or CCIP after words.
So along with looking for various devices, as pay allows, I'm going to follow dtlokee's advice of upgrading the flash and RAM to the max.

I'm sure I'll learn quite a bit between this site, my job and the network acad.

human151

I won my auction for a 12 port 2950 on ebay yay

45 dollars +12 for shipping.

I made out like a bandit(I think).

so now I have:

2509
1721
2620
2950

Pretty good so far.

scheistermeister

Just tell Cindi to get her ass in gear and get an access server and set it up so you can VPN in like she said she was going to do when I was going through my CCNP :P

Or tell her to tell Phil to get his ass in gear to do it or whoever else is her lab assistant this quarter. :P

Netwurk

Panzer919 wrote:

I'm already looking to get 2 Fiber GBIC's for the switch. I found a Cisco WS-C2916M-XL 16-Port Network Switch w/2-Fibre Channels that I might get. Since I use Fiber at work I should have it in my lab somewhere. Plus the 3640 doesn't have any mods in it so ill need to get started on those as well.

If you do get fiber on an old 2900 series switch, make sure it has a 2922 module installed. That's the only way you'll get gigabit ports, and only those will be able to talk to the GBICs. The original fiber ports for the 2900's run at 100mb/s and won't be able to connect to the 3550's even though the fiber cable is the same.