CCNA/CCNP/CCIE Home Lab Setup Help

Hello everyone

I am putting my CCNA/CCNP/CCIE lab together; this is what I came up with so far.
I need some help, am I on the right track and am I using the right modules

And I have to scale it down to about 3,000.00 is there hope for me?

I was thinking of scaling down to five routers

10x 2621XM Routers, 1x 2811 Router

4x 3550/3560 Switches

10x Cisco 2621XM Routers, 10x NM-4A/S (4 port Serial Module)

1x Cisco 2811 Router (768 MB RAM), 1x NM-4A/S module

1x Cisco 2610 Router with NM-8A/S Module – 8 Serial, 2 Ethernet Ports
Use as frame relay switch

3x Cisco 2610 Router with WIC-1T Serial Module (Backbone Routers)

1x Cisco 2511 – 2 Serial, 1 Ethernet
16 Asynchronous Ports
Use this as your Terminal Server

2x Cisco 3550-24PWR Switches with Power Over Ethernet Option (PoE) and latest EMI IP Serves
Layer 3 IOS for CCIE LAB

2x Cisco 3560-24PS Switches with latest EMI Advanced IP Services Layer 3 IOS for CCIE LAB

2x NM-2V Voice Carrier Modules, 2x VIC-2FXS Voice Modules, 2x Touch Tone Telephones

All Routers Fully Upgraded
256 MB DRAM(Main Memory), 32MB Flash

12.4 Advanced Enterprise

IOS Includes IPSEC/VPN/FIREWALL/IPV6/VOICE/Everything!!

Thank you in advance

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Comments

apd123

The pieces you have listed would build about two CCIE racks and will in no way come in under $3000. First thing I would determine is whether this is a CCNA, CCNP, or CCIE rack? They have very little in common and I would honestly wait to do some of these purchases if you are not at the CCNA level. If you are set on the CCIE Lab and need to save money replace some of those 2621XM's with 2610XM's or 2611XM's, also the 3550's are much cheaper than the 3560's and QOS, private vlans aside are marginally different. I think you can skip the voice stuff and a lot of the serial interfaces you have listed just get some WIC-1T's instead. As far as IOS images go you don't need all the feature sets you have listed but thats sort of a non factor equipment wise as long as you have a login. If you are going through a vendor look at their recommended setup, if you are not I say good luck to you and I admire the bravery. Also **** the 2811 again unless you are trying to do voice or something.

Manuel_A

apd123 wrote: »

The pieces you have listed would build about two CCIE racks and will in no way come in under $3000. First thing I would determine is whether this is a CCNA, CCNP, or CCIE rack? They have very little in common and I would honestly wait to do some of these purchases if you are not at the CCNA level. If you are set on the CCIE Lab and need to save money replace some of those 2621XM's with 2610XM's or 2611XM's, also the 3550's are much cheaper than the 3560's and QOS, private vlans aside are marginally different. I think you can skip the voice stuff and a lot of the serial interfaces you have listed just get some WIC-1T's instead. As far as IOS images go you don't need all the feature sets you have listed but thats sort of a non factor equipment wise as long as you have a login. If you are going through a vendor look at their recommended setup, if you are not I say good luck to you and I admire the bravery. Also **** the 2811 again unless you are trying to do voice or something.

I need help please

[FONT=&quot]I am working on my CCNA then right into CCNP then CCIE[/FONT]

These are some of my ides for my home lab, this is still a work in progress input is welcome please.

[FONT=&quot]Routers[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]R1 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2610XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Dual Serial [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]R2 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2610XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Dual Serial [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]R3 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2611XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Four Serial [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]R4 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2611XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Dual Serial [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]R5 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2611XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Dual Serial [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]R6 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2611XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Serial [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]BB1 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2501 Ethernet Dual Serial Router 16D/16F Ent Plus 12.2 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]BB2 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2501 Ethernet Dual Serial Router 16D/16F Ent Plus 12.2 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]BB3 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2501 Ethernet Dual Serial Router 16D/16F Ent Plus 12.2 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]FRR - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2522 Ethernet Ten Serial Frane-Relay Router 16D/16F Ent Plus 12.2 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]AS - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2511 Ethernet Dual Serial 16-line Access Server Router 16D/16F Ent Plus 12.2[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Switches[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]SW1 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 3560-24-TS-S Layer 3 Switch Adv Ip Services K9 12.2 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]SW2 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 3560-24-TS-S Layer 3 Switch Adv Ip Services K9 12.2 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]SW3 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 3550-24 EMI Image Layer 3 Switch Ip Services K9 12.2 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]SW4 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 3550-24 EMI Image Layer 3 Switch Ip Services K9 12.2[/FONT]

EdTheLad

As stated previously buy a lab that suits ccna, then upgrade for ccnp and then upgrade again for ccie. Cisco equipment depreciates fast, by the time you want to buy for the ccie lab the equipment will be half the price.If you want to throw money away buy the ccie lab now.

apd123

Manuel_A wrote: »

I need help please

[FONT=&quot]I am working on my CCNA then right into CCNP then CCIE[/FONT]

These are some of my ides for my home lab, this is still a work in progress input is welcome please.

[FONT=&quot]Routers[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]R1 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2610XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Dual Serial [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]R2 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2610XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Dual Serial [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]R3 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2611XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Four Serial [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]R4 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2611XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Dual Serial [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]R5 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2611XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Dual Serial [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]R6 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2611XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Serial [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]BB1 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2501 Ethernet Dual Serial Router 16D/16F Ent Plus 12.2 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]BB2 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2501 Ethernet Dual Serial Router 16D/16F Ent Plus 12.2 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]BB3 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2501 Ethernet Dual Serial Router 16D/16F Ent Plus 12.2 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]FRR - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2522 Ethernet Ten Serial Frane-Relay Router 16D/16F Ent Plus 12.2 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]AS - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2511 Ethernet Dual Serial 16-line Access Server Router 16D/16F Ent Plus 12.2[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Switches[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]SW1 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 3560-24-TS-S Layer 3 Switch Adv Ip Services K9 12.2 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]SW2 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 3560-24-TS-S Layer 3 Switch Adv Ip Services K9 12.2 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]SW3 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 3550-24 EMI Image Layer 3 Switch Ip Services K9 12.2 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]SW4 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 3550-24 EMI Image Layer 3 Switch Ip Services K9 12.2[/FONT]

The switches you have listed alone cost about $3000. For the CCNA you need one or two switches and two or three routers. These do not have to be 3550's or 2611XM's you can easily get by with 2950's and 2600's. For the CCNP you could probably get by with the same setup maybe add a router or two. Most labs I brainstorm on my own do not involve 10+ layer 3 devices, these are only necessary for the CCIE level workbooks. HTH

Forsaken_GA

3550's seem to have gotten cheap. This time last year, they were 450-500 easily, but now I'm seeing Buy It Now's on Ebay for 48 port 3550 EMI's for 225 bucks with Free shipping.

The 3560's are still very pricey though.

Manuel_A

Forsaken_GA wrote: »

3550's seem to have gotten cheap. This time last year, they were 450-500 easily, but now I'm seeing Buy It Now's on Ebay for 48 port 3550 EMI's for 225 bucks with Free shipping.

The 3560's are still very pricey though.

I was looking for scalability from CCNA to CCNP then to CCIE, without buying a new system within every step In my path to CCIE if at all passable.
And I would like to start working with IPv6 within my new system.

How do I set this up, with scalability.

apd123

Manuel_A wrote: »

I was looking for scalability from CCNA to CCNP then to CCIE, without buying a new system within every step In my path to CCIE if at all passable.
And I would like to start working with IPv6 within my new system.

How do I set this up, with scalability.

R1 - Cisco 2610XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Dual Serial
R2 - Cisco 2610XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Dual Serial
R3 - Cisco 2611XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Four Serial
SW3 - Cisco 3550-24 EMI Image Layer 3 Switch Ip Services K9 12.2
SW4 - Cisco 3550-24 EMI Image Layer 3 Switch Ip Services K9 12.2
AS - Cisco 2511 Ethernet Dual Serial 16-line Access Server Router 16D/16F Ent Plus 12.2

What do you feel is a realistic timeline is for accomplishing all of this?

Also FYI on IPv6 it is available on lower platforms and is in my opinion by far the easiest CCIE section of the blueprint given that you understand IPv4 routing at a CCIE level. If ALL your devices need to route IPv6 then you will need 3560's, but again this makes little sense for a CCNA/CCNP lab.

Manuel_A

apd123 wrote: »

R1 - Cisco 2610XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Dual Serial
R2 - Cisco 2610XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Dual Serial
R3 - Cisco 2611XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Four Serial
SW3 - Cisco 3550-24 EMI Image Layer 3 Switch Ip Services K9 12.2
SW4 - Cisco 3550-24 EMI Image Layer 3 Switch Ip Services K9 12.2
AS - Cisco 2511 Ethernet Dual Serial 16-line Access Server Router 16D/16F Ent Plus 12.2

What do you feel is a realistic timeline is for accomplishing all of this?

Also FYI on IPv6 it is available on lower platforms and is in my opinion by far the easiest CCIE section of the blueprint given that you understand IPv4 routing at a CCIE level. If ALL your devices need to route IPv6 then you will need 3560's, but again this makes little sense for a CCNA/CCNP lab.

This setup looks good to me; I can add the 3560s by next term.
What else will I need?

Where do you think is a good place to buy my home lab?

My timeline, My goal is to have my CCIE by this time next year if not sooner.

Do you think this is realistic?

tim100

Manuel_A wrote: »

These are some of my ides for my home lab, this is still a work in progress input is welcome please.

[FONT=&quot]Routers[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]R1 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2610XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Dual Serial [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]R2 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2610XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Dual Serial [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]R3 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2611XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Four Serial [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]R4 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2611XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Dual Serial [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]R5 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2611XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Dual Serial [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]R6 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2611XM Fast Ethernet Router 128D/32F Adv Ent 12.4T Serial [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]BB1 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2501 Ethernet Dual Serial Router 16D/16F Ent Plus 12.2 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]BB2 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2501 Ethernet Dual Serial Router 16D/16F Ent Plus 12.2 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]BB3 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2501 Ethernet Dual Serial Router 16D/16F Ent Plus 12.2 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]FRR - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2522 Ethernet Ten Serial Frane-Relay Router 16D/16F Ent Plus 12.2 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]AS - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 2511 Ethernet Dual Serial 16-line Access Server Router 16D/16F Ent Plus 12.2[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Switches[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]SW1 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 3560-24-TS-S Layer 3 Switch Adv Ip Services K9 12.2 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]SW2 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 3560-24-TS-S Layer 3 Switch Adv Ip Services K9 12.2 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]SW3 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 3550-24 EMI Image Layer 3 Switch Ip Services K9 12.2 [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]SW4 - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cisco 3550-24 EMI Image Layer 3 Switch Ip Services K9 12.2[/FONT]

This would be a sufficient CCIE home lab setup since it follows the lab blueprint based on IOS versions and amount of routers, switches etc...

Manuel_A wrote: »

This setup looks good to me; I can add the 3560s by next term.
What else will I need?

Where do you think is a good place to buy my home lab?

My timeline, My goal is to have my CCIE by this time next year if not sooner.

Do you think this is realistic?

It is realistic depending on how much dedication you put into it as well as sufficient rack time. If your goal is to have your CCIE by this time next year then purchase the equipment and a CCIE Lab workbook sold by some vendors such as InternetworkExpert, Narbik's Micronics Training, and IP Expert and get some hands on. Even if you are at the CCNA level it is definitely ok to start off with these workbooks to get that rack time and you'll get a better understanding of the technologies as you go along.

Manuel_A

It is realistic depending on how much dedication you put into it as well as sufficient rack time. If your goal is to have your CCIE by this time next year then purchase the equipment and a CCIE Lab workbook sold by some vendors such as InternetworkExpert, Narbik's Micronics Training, and IP Expert and get some hands on. Even if you are at the CCNA level it is definitely ok to start off with these workbooks to get that rack time and you'll get a better understanding of the technologies as you go along.

Thank you, tim 100 that’s what I wanted to hear.

Know with that being said, what do you think is a good setup to accomplish my goals

Manuel_A

tim100 wrote: »

This would be a sufficient CCIE home lab setup since it follows the lab blueprint based on IOS versions and amount of routers, switches etc...

It is realistic depending on how much dedication you put into it as well as sufficient rack time. If your goal is to have your CCIE by this time next year then purchase the equipment and a CCIE Lab workbook sold by some vendors such as InternetworkExpert, Narbik's Micronics Training, and IP Expert and get some hands on. Even if you are at the CCNA level it is definitely ok to start off with these workbooks to get that rack time and you'll get a better understanding of the technologies as you go along.

Thank you, tim 100 that’s what I wanted to hear.

nel

I would hold off buying a lab for the CCIE for now imo. wait until you've done the NP and decide how you want to progress.

Have you thought about using dynamips for parts of your lab?

apd123

Depending on the amount of time you put in one year could be fairly realistic to completely unreasonable. It seems to take people who can dedicate 24/7 a fairly short time to earn their CCIE while those with families and jobs take much longer. A large factor will be your current knowledge and experience. It really helps with retaining the knowledge long term if you work with the technologies so you understand why you are doing something.

Also ask yourself what the end goal is. For me while between jobs I decided to do it as I felt that if I didn't take the opportunity now I might never find the time. I now work for a Cisco Gold Partner and can say you really do have to use your knowledge.

One product I wished I would have had when I was going through the CCNP was Internetwork Experts volume 1 labs. I second Nel about dynamips/gns3, but you seem to have your heart set on a live rack.

msethk

Manuel_A wrote: »

My timeline, My goal is to have my CCIE by this time next year if not sooner.

Do you think this is realistic?

Do you plan on living and breathing Cisco for the next year? Yeah, it might could be done then, but if not then no way you will get all that in 1 year! Personally, I couldn't do it and fully understand all the material, but that's just me. Everyone learns differently...
As for the lab setup. I would do like everyone else is saying and get the equipment as I need it at different levels. CCNA, CCNP... etc. Afterall, you may get into this and discover you don't want this afterall. That would suck if you spent $5000 in equipment and then decided that!

mikej412

Let's see...

R3 (with the 4 Serial Ports) could act as your frame relay switch for your CCNA/CCNP Lab. That also gives you a router for SDM and 802.1q trunking (router-on-a-stick).

AS could act as one of your CCNA Routers (and access server) -- and could be a BB router for your CCIE lab (but that only saves $10-20 here in the US). If you add two of the other BB routers now, that gives you a hub router and 2 spoke routers for frame-relay (for the CCNA). If you've never seen or used a 2950 or 2960 switch, you should probably get one ($50-70) and use it as your "3rd switch" in your CCNA Lab (along with the 2 3550 switches).

I used 3640s for MPLS support when I did the CCIP. Since they've added some MPLS to the updated CCNP (since I took it), what's your plan for that? Have you checked the Cisco IOS Feature Navigator to see if the 2600XM support MPLS?

Toss in R1 to your CCNA Lab purchases and you should have enough routers for the CCNP.

Then hunt for deals for FRR and the other routers and 3560 switches as you finish up your CCNP Studies.

You may want to get your CCIE Lab Workbook "solution" at the start of your CCNP studies and start using the "technology labs" as part of your CCNP study and lab time. Same with the CCIE Reading List -- if you haven't already read the books, read them as part of your CCNP studies.

Manuel_A wrote: »

My timeline, My goal is to have my CCIE by this time next year if not sooner.

A lot depends on your current knowledge and experience, but if the Certifications were your full time job for the year -- and you were motivated and dedicated (and smart and put in a lot of "overtime") -- then it could probably be done. The more work, family, and/or school obligations you have, the less likely it is to happen.

jrs91

Good luck. Depending on how familiar you are with networking and your intelligence/aptitude for this stuff, it's definitely doable, as others have told me, and as a couple people have proven. I'm doing the same thing. I have a 9-5 job (used to work a lot more but was just told no more overtime). I just started but i'm putting in 50hrs/wk of study, 5 hrs a night and 12/day on weekends. It's all about motivation and drive. You see a lot of people saying it takes about 1000-1200 hours of prep for the lab plus an extra 200-300 for reading. If you're a smart guy, even if it takes double that because it's mostly new to you, it is doable in a year or just over a year (2600hrs at 50hrs/wk). The only thing I can say is to study well. Don't just try to get through things as fast as you can. If you don't understand something, don't move on, because much of it is cumulative. You don't want to be one of those tools that has a cert but doesn't know how to do anything because he crammed and only just got through the exams...

I'd suggest starting with dynamips + 3350 switches though (I bought 4 for my lab). CCNP has lab portfolio books that you'll probably want to look in to. Get the cisco press libraries as well. Turgon made a post with a bunch of good books that i'd recommend buying on top of those. Put your money into books and workbooks imo. I've got about 20 on my shelf so far. Unless you've never touched a router, dynamips is preferable, but you could always mix in a couple real routers if you chose.

irom77

Is it for CCIE Voice ? If not , why not use Dynamips and IE Workbook II ?

Manuel_A wrote: »

Hello everyone

I am putting my CCNA/CCNP/CCIE lab together; this is what I came up with so far.
I need some help, am I on the right track and am I using the right modules

And I have to scale it down to about 3,000.00 is there hope for me?

I was thinking of scaling down to five routers

10x 2621XM Routers, 1x 2811 Router

4x 3550/3560 Switches

10x Cisco 2621XM Routers, 10x NM-4A/S (4 port Serial Module)

1x Cisco 2811 Router (768 MB RAM), 1x NM-4A/S module

1x Cisco 2610 Router with NM-8A/S Module – 8 Serial, 2 Ethernet Ports
Use as frame relay switch

3x Cisco 2610 Router with WIC-1T Serial Module (Backbone Routers)

1x Cisco 2511 – 2 Serial, 1 Ethernet
16 Asynchronous Ports
Use this as your Terminal Server

2x Cisco 3550-24PWR Switches with Power Over Ethernet Option (PoE) and latest EMI IP Serves
Layer 3 IOS for CCIE LAB

2x Cisco 3560-24PS Switches with latest EMI Advanced IP Services Layer 3 IOS for CCIE LAB

2x NM-2V Voice Carrier Modules, 2x VIC-2FXS Voice Modules, 2x Touch Tone Telephones

All Routers Fully Upgraded
256 MB DRAM(Main Memory), 32MB Flash

12.4 Advanced Enterprise

IOS Includes IPSEC/VPN/FIREWALL/IPV6/VOICE/Everything!!

Thank you in advance

keenon

you could scale this way down. I was buying gear like crazy and sold majority of it off to virtualize.

5 switches- 4x 3550s and 1 -2950 (this is used to break up the virtual routers) waiting on last 3550..
1- 2511 in the rack now
3 - physical routers (although those could be virtual as well) I still have at least 7 in the rack
1 - Server or Hog of a PC running dynamips with 3 quad nics- waiting on the delivery of this one

this could be done way under 2k with ease. the bulk of the expense is the switches and 50% of that goes for the server/pc

Manuel_A

What do you think about?

Product MPN CISCO2610XM-RPS

A Cisco 2610XM Router W/WIC 2T

It only has 96MB of RAM
Flash Memory: 32MB

The deal is three 2610XM and one 3550 48 port switch
And a heavy-duty half rack for $800.00

What do you think?

Good deal or not

keenon

nope not a deal at all over priced.

Turgon

Manuel_A wrote: »

Hello everyone

I am putting my CCNA/CCNP/CCIE lab together; this is what I came up with so far.
I need some help, am I on the right track and am I using the right modules

And I have to scale it down to about 3,000.00 is there hope for me?

I was thinking of scaling down to five routers

10x 2621XM Routers, 1x 2811 Router

4x 3550/3560 Switches

10x Cisco 2621XM Routers, 10x NM-4A/S (4 port Serial Module)

1x Cisco 2811 Router (768 MB RAM), 1x NM-4A/S module

1x Cisco 2610 Router with NM-8A/S Module – 8 Serial, 2 Ethernet Ports
Use as frame relay switch

3x Cisco 2610 Router with WIC-1T Serial Module (Backbone Routers)

1x Cisco 2511 – 2 Serial, 1 Ethernet
16 Asynchronous Ports
Use this as your Terminal Server

2x Cisco 3550-24PWR Switches with Power Over Ethernet Option (PoE) and latest EMI IP Serves
Layer 3 IOS for CCIE LAB

2x Cisco 3560-24PS Switches with latest EMI Advanced IP Services Layer 3 IOS for CCIE LAB

2x NM-2V Voice Carrier Modules, 2x VIC-2FXS Voice Modules, 2x Touch Tone Telephones

All Routers Fully Upgraded
256 MB DRAM(Main Memory), 32MB Flash

12.4 Advanced Enterprise

IOS Includes IPSEC/VPN/FIREWALL/IPV6/VOICE/Everything!!

Thank you in advance

Interesting thread

I don't know if you have bought any equipment yet or if you are really into your studies at this stage. Dynamips is popular these days and with some switches thrown in you can assemble a very useful lab at home. I prefer real equipment myself but I suppose I'm just old school

But to be honest before you shell out lots of money on lots of equipment I would advise that you just grab 200 dollars of rackhire from a vendor and see how much mileage you get out of that first. If you find that you can't sit still and put the hours in productively using remote racks to learn cisco technologies then at least you are not out of the cost of all the equipment you bought neither are you left with equipment taking up space in your home which you now need to sell on to a buyer someplace.

200 dollars can buy you a lot of racktime to fill without the commitment of equipment ownership. How you efficiently and regularly use that racktime will be a decent barometer of just how well the whole cisco study thing sits with you. I wish you luck with your studies, it's just I have seen lots of people with bags of enthusiasm starting out spend a whole lot of money and effort equipping labs at home only for the whole lot to go dormant well inside twelve months and end up on ebay.

If you fly with the rackhire for a few weeks then go get some gear.

Good luck!

Manuel_A

I decided to start with:

6 – 3725 Routers
2 – 3550 switches
1 – 3640 Router for F/R
1 – 2511 Router for A/S

And I will pick up two 3560 switches within the next two months, just a start you know you have to start somewhere.

Thank You

astorrs

Manuel_A wrote: »

If you ever need some really high-quality cables checkout the website: http://www.diablocable.com/cisco-compatible-cables-c93.html at a reasonable price.

I just perched some Smart Serial DTE to DCE Male Crossover Cables from them. I do not want to use the old v25 in my lab, checkout the video on that page.

They have the world’s best consol cable kit, if you need to use your USB for a Serial Adapter. And Checkout the video on that page,

Checkout this website you will like it I do.

Come on seriously you've cross-posted this in 4 different forums and it reads like a paid advertisement. Whether or not that is your intention there is no need to post what amounts to an ad more than once.

My 2¢

Manuel_A

astorrs wrote: »

Come on seriously you've cross-posted this in 4 different forums and it reads like a paid advertisement. Whether or not that is your intention there is no need to post what amounts to an ad more than once.

My 2¢

NO it's not an advertisement.

I started this Post, looking for help on setting up my home lab. I still have not seen that help. What I have seen is discouragement and to use a simulator.

I want the real deal hands on experience. This way if something is wrong, it’s up to me to finger it out and fix the problem. That’s what it is all about right.

In the CCIE lab it will be up to me to do my job, trouble shouting is the fun part you get to test yourself at the same time you’re having the time of your life

I received an infraction for this how do i remove this?
Please delete that QUOTE, Thank You; god forbid it might help someone.

They helped me, so I tried to point anyone how needed some good cables to them.

I am truly sorry for the misunderstanding; I will not let it happen again.

Thank You

Manuel_A

tiersten

Manuel_A wrote: »

I started this Post, looking for help on setting up my home lab. I still have not seen that help. What I have seen is discouragement and to use a simulator.

We're trying to save you money. If you'd prefer not to then that is your choice at the end of the day.

Manuel_A

tiersten wrote: »

We're trying to save you money. If you'd prefer not to then that is your choice at the end of the day.

Know that was a lot of help, Thank You for your help on this matter.

Manuel_A

I decided to start with:

6 – 3725 Routers
2 – 3550 switches
1 – 3640 Router for F/R
1 – 2511 Router for A/S

Please I could use some cabling ideas, for my frame-relay.

networker050184

Manuel_A wrote: »

I decided to start with:

6 – 3725 Routers
2 – 3550 switches
1 – 3640 Router for F/R
1 – 2511 Router for A/S

Please I could use some cabling ideas, for my frame-relay.

Just cable all your routers to the frame switch. You can create all of the connections logically using DLCIs.

rossonieri#1

hi manuel

i think you'd better to start all these one step at a time.
do your CCNA study first - buy enough & equal equipment to study with,
and take the exam.

after you've passed that CCNA - move forward to study CCNP stuff and again, add some more equipment needed for it & as supplement to your existing CCNA rack, and the same goes for the CCIE.

from those study stages - you will experience how to do something eg. how to design your network, how to equip your network and so forth. and, all that counts.

enjoy the study & good luck

btw, with all due respect - i think this thread should be moved to the CCNA subforum so that any other CCNA-level member can learn together.

Manuel_A

And then connect the octal cable from my 2511 A/S to each device, to configure them.

Thank You