Help me build my lab.

I just passed Network+ 2 weeks ago and I am about 9 chapters in on the official INCD1 book from Cisco. I am at the point where I am actually running comands on the switches and routers.

I have the sybex simulator titanium edition but some of the commands in the book are not available to me on the sim. The sim is cool and I will use it but I would like to get my hands on the real deal. I have also purchased the CBTNuggets for ICND1/ICND2.

I plan on getting my CCNA and then taking it even further.

So far I have purchased 2 Cisco 2950 switches.

What else should I be looking for? Should I pick up another switch? How many routers should I be looking at? Can someone point me in the right direction? I want something scaleable for future Cisco tests. I actually want to do the wireless one once I complete the CCNA.

Any help is appreciated. I would rather spend a little extra now then have to replace things later.

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Comments

tiersten

hopkinsje wrote: »

So far I have purchased 2 Cisco 2950 switches.

The 2950 switches will work well for the CCNA. Are they running the Standard Image or Enhanced Image? Ideally you want 3 switches and at least one of them running the Enhanced Image.

You could buy a 3550 instead of a 2950 EI however and it will be needed for the CCNP.

hopkinsje wrote: »

What else should I be looking for?

How much do you want to spend...

hopkinsje wrote: »

Should I pick up another switch?

Get some routers first

hopkinsje wrote: »

How many routers should I be looking at?

At least 2 and they should have a WAN port that you can connect together.

People have managed to pass the CCNA with no hardware at all and just sims. It really depends on how much you want to spend.

hopkinsje

I would like to stay under $250 per device if possible. Maybe go a little higher if it is worth it.

The 2950's details:

Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software
IOS (tm) C2950 Software (C2950-I6Q4L2-M), Version 12.1(13)EA1c, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
Copyright (c) 1986-2003 by cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Tue 24-Jun-03 17:31 by yenanh
Image text-base: 0x80010000, data-base: 0x805A8000ROM: Bootstrap program is CALHOUN boot loader
Switch uptime is 8 minutes
System returned to ROM by power-on
System image file is "flash:/c2950-i6q4l2-mz.121-13.EA1c.bin"
cisco WS-C2950T-24 (RC32300) processor (revision H0) with 20839K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID FHK0******4
Last reset from system-reset
Running Enhanced Image
24 FastEthernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s)
2 Gigabit Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s)32K bytes of flash-simulated non-volatile configuration memory.
Base ethernet MAC Address: 00:0B:FD:FE:93:40
Motherboard assembly number: 73-6114-08
Power supply part number: 34-0965-01
Motherboard serial number: FOC0******U
Power supply serial number: PHI07*****M
Model revision number: H0
Motherboard revision number: A0
Model number: WS-C2950T-24
System serial number: FHK07*****4
Configuration register is 0xF

tiersten

Something like a 1721, 2610XM/611XM or 3640 would probably do then. 3640 routers are cheap but you need to buy NMs for them since they don't actually have any interfaces at all built in. They're all EoS/EoL routers so they're cheap. They all can run the latest mainline IOS as well. 2500 routers also are available but they're pretty old and can't run the latest mainline IOS. They tend to be very cheap tho.

You'll want to get a frame relay switch as well. A 2600/2600XM with a NM-4A/S or NM-8A/S. A 2520/2522 will also work.

Steer clear of 1900, 2900XL or 3500XL switches. They're cheap but the command line interface has some differences. The 1900 doesn't even run IOS.

If you really want to blow some cash then look at 1841, 2800 or 3800 routers. They're all current models and therefore expensive.

hopkinsje

lol, I checked out the prices on the 1841, 2800 and 3800 and yeah, way too expensive for me.

I will look into the ones you first posted about.

Most if not all of this is new to me. Can you explain the NM-4A/S?

I should probably spend a week or two and just look at every current model of Cisco gear and try and understand the specs and what they mean right?

tiersten

hopkinsje wrote: »

lol, I checked out the prices on the 1841, 2800 and 3800 and yeah, way too expensive for me.

The 1841 is quite a nice small router. I've got one running my home network.

Read Wendell Odom's CCNA lab guide and CCNP lab guide.

hopkinsje

You spend around $500-$600 for it?

Going to read the CCNA lab guide now.

tiersten

hopkinsje wrote: »

Most if not all of this is new to me. Can you explain the NM-4A/S?

It is a plug in Network Module that gives you 4 async/sync serial ports. The NM-8A/S is just a bigger version of it. NMs go into 2600, 2800, 3600, 3700 and 3800 routers. The small 1700 and 1800 routers don't have the slot for them.

A 2520/2522 has the async/sync serial ports built into the router itself. Nearly all of the 2500 routers aren't modular and are fixed configuration. You buy the exact model with the interfaces you need. The problem is that people know the 2520/2522 is popular as a frame relay switch and accordingly increase the price. You may be able to get a better deal on a 2600 (non XM will do and usually is cheaper) and a NM-4A/S or NM-8A/S

You want a Frame Relay Switch to do some of the WAN parts of the cert.

hopkinsje wrote: »

I should probably spend a week or two and just look at every current model of Cisco gear and try and understand the specs and what they mean right?

If you can wait then that would be a good idea. Just get an idea of what you want and what you can do without. You don't want to buy something and then find out its completely useless or overpriced.

tiersten

hopkinsje wrote: »

You spend around $500-$600 for it?

I got mine for $300.

hopkinsje

Sounds good man. I just ordered the CBT Nuggets today so still 2 days away from seeing those. I am going to try and knock out a few more chapters and read up on all the different routers and switches and see what I need.

I appreciate the help dude. I have been doing Domino administration now for 7 years so I am ready for a change.

hopkinsje

I picked up an 1841 and a 3640 with the serial 4 A/S card.

What else should I look into?