Ideal CCNA home Lab setup question

I am about to start studying 4 the CCNA exam and I am looking 4 the best advice on a home Lab setup. Different labs say you need 3 routers and 3 switches. Others say 2 routers and 1 switch. Which is it?

For routers, the 2500 or 2600 series?
And switches, 2900 series?

I am using Todd Lammele's CCNA book.

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tiersten

binaryhat wrote: »

I am about to start studying 4 the CCNA exam and I am looking 4 the best advice on a home Lab setup. Different labs say you need 3 routers and 3 switches. Others say 2 routers and 1 switch. Which is it?

For routers, the 2500 or 2600 series?
And switches, 2900 series?

I am using Todd Lammele's CCNA book.

Use for instead of 4 if you're going to be saying numbers of items as well :P

The ideal CCNA lab wouldn't have anything you've listed in it because they're all discontinued models. Ideal generally doesn't mean budget since you'd be buying current models which tend to be $$$$$$$$.

The minimum you want if you're going for the real hardware route is 2 routers and 1 switch.

If you can afford it then 3 routers and 3 switches would be better. If you've got loads of cash just lying around then buy more of each and you'd have even better experience but generally 3 routers + 3 switches will cover everything you'd do for CCNA.

Switches:
Get 2950s at a minimum. If you can, get the EI versions over the SI versions but SI still okay. Don't bother with 2900XL, 3500XL or 1900. If you think you'll be doing CCNP then get a 3550 or better as one of your switches.

Routers:
Get 2600XMs if you can. They're an upgraded version of the 2600. 2500s are cheap but they're pretty old and can't run a recent version of IOS so you'll have to remember all the differences and work around them.

Now if you've got bags of cash just lying around then buy 2801 routers and 3750 switches.

DPG

Which specific 2600 series routers would you recommend?

I am building a lab as well. So far, I have two 2950-12 switches and a 2621 router with no WICs installed.

CiskHo

Everyone will have different suggestions but my recos (with cost and usability in mind) are:

Routing:
(3) 26xxXM
(2) WIC-1T
(1) WIC-2T
Appropriate serial cables

Switching:
(3) 2950

The WICs will cover you for serial links and frame relay. The 2600s will cover all routing protocols in the material. The 2950s should cover all switching topics needed. You could get away with 2 2950s if needed but seeing they aren't too expensive anymore I would really go with 3 so you can get a better feel for STP.

Dilbert65

I got my stuff over at www.ciscokits.com. They have alot of packages and price ranges. Use the contact page or forums over there. Tell what you long term goals are and what you have to spend now. Robert is very cool about making sure you get the best bang for the buck. And they have a trade-up program so if you plan on just CCNA and 6 months later want ccnp you can trade in some of your equipement toward newer stuff to support you next goal.

I have:

2509 term server
2x 2501 router
1x 2611xm
1x 2620xm
2x 2950 switchs
1 2900 switch

and so far I can most of the ccnp labs to date. And all the CCNA labs from my book.

DPG

Do the XM models offer anything other than better performance?

mikej412

DPG wrote: »

Do the XM models offer anything other than better performance?

More memory, Fast Ethernet interfaces, and the ability to run the new IOS images through version 12.4T

DPG

mikej412 wrote: »

More memory, Fast Ethernet interfaces, and the ability to run the new IOS images through version 12.4T

Thanks. It looks like my 2621's have all of the above minus the extra memory.

Edit: The 2621 does NOT support 12.4T.

Cisco IOS Release 12.4T supports the following Cisco 2600 series routers:

•Cisco 2610XM and Cisco 2611XM

•Cisco 2620XM and Cisco 2621XM

•Cisco 2650XM and Cisco 2651XM

•Cisco 2691

rgutowski200

Hello everyone,

I am currently in my 2nd of the 4 Cisco classes in the Cicso academy at my college and I am working toward my CCNA. I found someone who is willing to sell me their LAB which consists of:

qty 5 Cisco 2501 routers with 2 searial and 1 ehtenet ports
qty 1 Cisco 2509 terminal server with 2 Serial, 1 Ethernet and 8 Async(reverse telnet) ports
qty 2 Cisco 3620 routers (one used as Fame Relay Switch)
qty 2 Cisco 2611 routers with 2 Ethernet
qty 2 NM4AS module
qty 2 NM1E2W (1 ethernet, 2 WIC) modules.

Additionally all necessary DCE/DTE serial cables, ethernet transceivers, power cables, Octal Cable (for use with Cisco 2509 for reverse telnet / terminal server) will be included.

I am paying $200 for this, is it worth it? Should I buy it or should I just use packet tracer and work with the equipment in the schools computer lab?
Thanks for you help

mikem2te

DPG wrote: »

Thanks. It looks like my 2621's have all of the above minus the extra memory.

Edit: The 2621 does NOT support 12.4T.

Cisco IOS Release 12.4T supports the following Cisco 2600 series routers:

•Cisco 2610XM and Cisco 2611XM

•Cisco 2620XM and Cisco 2621XM

•Cisco 2650XM and Cisco 2651XM

•Cisco 2691

I have read by booting a 2600 non XM from TFTP rather than flash they can be persuaded to run some smaller 12.4T images but never tried it myself.

It is a pain though as the router must be connected to the network to boot and it takes ages as it first loads the image in flash then loads the image from tftp. You would use a config command something like-

(config)#boot system tftp imagename.bin ip_address_of_tftp_server

CiskHo

rgutowski200 wrote: »

I am paying $200 for this, is it worth it?

Yes. And if you don't buy it then send him my way and I will

mikem2te

rgutowski200 wrote: »

Hello everyone,

I am currently in my 2nd of the 4 Cisco classes in the Cicso academy at my college and I am working toward my CCNA. I found someone who is willing to sell me their LAB which consists of:

qty 5 Cisco 2501 routers with 2 searial and 1 ehtenet ports
qty 1 Cisco 2509 terminal server with 2 Serial, 1 Ethernet and 8 Async(reverse telnet) ports
qty 2 Cisco 3620 routers (one used as Fame Relay Switch)
qty 2 Cisco 2611 routers with 2 Ethernet
qty 2 NM4AS module
qty 2 NM1E2W (1 ethernet, 2 WIC) modules.

Additionally all necessary DCE/DTE serial cables, ethernet transceivers, power cables, Octal Cable (for use with Cisco 2509 for reverse telnet / terminal server) will be included.

I am paying $200 for this, is it worth it? Should I buy it or should I just use packet tracer and work with the equipment in the schools computer lab?
Thanks for you help

Bite his hand off now. The 2509 alone is worth that.

Dilbert65

Pay the man $200 and then buy him a beer, maybe 2.

chrisone

you need 3 2600xm routers and 2 2950 switches.

Howling Monkey

$200 is a great hookup, consider yourself lucky

chrisone

Howling Monkey wrote: »

$200 is a great hookup, consider yourself lucky

Co-signed! buy that package for 200 bucks!

DPG

chrisone wrote: »

you need 3 2600xm routers and 2 2950 switches.

What specifically can't the 2600 non-XM series do that the XM series can?
I am only concerned about functionality for the CCNA and maybe CCNP.

CiskHo

DPG wrote: »

What specifically can't the 2600 non-XM series do that the XM series can?
I am only concerned about functionality for the CCNA and maybe CCNP.

Read this thread.

DPG

CiskHo wrote: »

Read this thread.

I know that I can't use the latest IOS. Is this a necessity for a CCNA lab?

blackninja

DPG wrote: »

I know that I can't use the latest IOS. Is this a necessity for a CCNA lab?

On the non-xm routers you can't set-up router on a stick, as it requires a Fast Ethernet interface & some commands maybe different.

I passed my CCNA using:

3 X 2610 (IOS 12.3)
1 X 2950
2 X 2924
1 X 2521 (Frame Relay Switch)

What I say is: Get the best you can afford and make it work for you.

Once you get used to the hardware, try GNS3 to fill in any gaps.

mikej412

DPG wrote: »

What specifically can't the 2600 non-XM series do that the XM series can?

Support SDM -- you want at least 1 router that supports SDM to properly prepare for the SDM tasks in the ICND1/CCNA exam blueprints (can't remember if there's also SDM task(s) in ICND2).

You can do Router on a Stick on the 262x routers (IP Plus image or greater feature set) and the 261x 10Mb with the 12.2( 8 )T (or greater) IP Plus IOS image (or greater).

DPG

mikej412 wrote: »

Support SDM -- you want at least 1 router that supports SDM to properly prepare for the SDM tasks in the ICND1/CCNA exam blueprints (can't remember if there's also SDM task(s) in ICND2).

You can do Router on a Stick on the 262x routers (IP Plus image or greater feature set) and the 261x 10Mb with the 12.2( 8 )T (or greater) IP Plus IOS image (or greater).

I'm guessing a 2610XM would suffice?

blackninja

mikej412 wrote: »

Support SDM -- you want at least 1 router that supports SDM to properly prepare for the SDM tasks in the ICND1/CCNA exam blueprints (can't remember if there's also SDM task(s) in ICND2).

You can do Router on a Stick on the 262x routers (IP Plus image or greater feature set) and the 261x 10Mb with the 12.2( 8 )T (or greater) IP Plus IOS image (or greater).

So I could have practised ROAS using a different IOS - Hangs head in shame

Kaminsky

blackninja wrote: »

Hangs head in shame

You been Mike'd

nash0924

The ideal lab for CCNA is packet tracer.. doi..lol

Seriously..it is a very good program!! And i still can't understand why people would shell out that much money for equipment for an entry level cert like the CCNA. Most of the CCNA is theory with memorizing commands and learning how to use them.

CCNP on the other hand you might have to get some real stuff to play with..

mikej412

DPG wrote: »

I'm guessing a 2610XM would suffice?

It will do the job.

The 1721 is probably the "cheap" solution for SDM (and ROAS and the ios zone firewall for CCNA:Security) -- just make sure you're either getting max memory or one with the maximum fixed memory so that you can upgrade to the max memory.

CiscoInside

nash0924 wrote: »

The ideal lab for CCNA is packet tracer.. doi..lol

Seriously..it is a very good program!! And i still can't understand why people would shell out that much money for equipment for an entry level cert like the CCNA. Most of the CCNA is theory with memorizing commands and learning how to use them.

CCNP on the other hand you might have to get some real stuff to play with..

Because there is a debate on simulators/real hardware. Its preference, as I rather work with real equipment and get a real hands on feel. In my opinion, doing so I learn better as well. That is just me.

Plus, if you want to take the approach that Cisco made packet tracer for this, look at the Academy. I am current in it for the 4 semester class. Yea, it has us use packet tracer but a larger majority has us working with real equipment.

mikem2te

nash0924 wrote: »

The ideal lab for CCNA is packet tracer.. doi..lol

Seriously..it is a very good program!! And i still can't understand why people would shell out that much money for equipment for an entry level cert like the CCNA. Most of the CCNA is theory with memorizing commands and learning how to use them.

CCNP on the other hand you might have to get some real stuff to play with..

Don't fully agree.

If a person allready has the hands on hardware experience thourgh working with Cisco kit then yes PacketTracer is good.

If someone has no hands on experience then getting some kit is a seriously very good idea. There's just too much stuff that will be missed that a good CCNA network engineer should know such as IOS upgades, troubleshooting faulty cabling, tftp, rommon, general knowledge and handling of WICs etc.

I think there is no better way to get to grips with some of this stuff than to replace your existing internet router with a Cisco router. It really teaches you the ins and outs of access lists, NAT, dialers etc.

DPG

mikej412 wrote: »

It will do the job.

The 1721 is probably the "cheap" solution for SDM (and ROAS and the ios zone firewall for CCNA:Security) -- just make sure you're either getting max memory or one with the maximum fixed memory so that you can upgrade to the max memory.

Would you take a 2650XM over a 2610XM for the same price?

DPG

mikem2te wrote: »

Don't fully agree.

If a person allready has the hands on hardware experience thourgh working with Cisco kit then yes PacketTracer is good.

If someone has no hands on experience then getting some kit is a seriously very good idea. There's just too much stuff that will be missed that a good CCNA network engineer should know such as IOS upgades, troubleshooting faulty cabling, tftp, rommon, general knowledge and handling of WICs etc.

I think there is no better way to get to grips with some of this stuff than to replace your existing internet router with a Cisco router. It really teaches you the ins and outs of access lists, NAT, dialers etc.

There is nothing like working with real equipment.

I have plenty of hands-on experience with Cisco. The problem is that I haven't worked with any of the lower-end stuff that the CCNA covers. This is why I am building a lab.

CiskHo

DPG wrote: »

Would you take a 2650XM over a 2610XM for the same price?

I would.