Equipment for the CCENT?

Hi everyone,

I was looking for suggestions on some equipment that would help me pass the CCENT. Any suggestions would be very helpful. Thanks in advance.

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rogue2shadow

Here are a few choices:

1. Packet Tracer (must be enrolled in the Cisco Network Academy)
2. GNS3 (free online; requires IOS images)
3. Live routers (you could start a real lab setup if you want gear for CCNA/CCNP; there are some lab setup threads floating around)

LAN_Man

Thanks!

Chris:/*

rogue2shadow wrote: »

Here are a few choices:

1. Packet Tracer (must be enrolled in the Cisco Network Academy)
2. GNS3 (free online; requires IOS images)
3. Live routers (you could start a real lab setup if you want gear for CCNA/CCNP; there are some lab setup threads floating around)

^Agreed if you want real equipment the sponsored link Certification Kits is awesome I have ordered stuff from them and their service was outstanding.

QHalo

Do some quick searching around these forums. This has been covered a few times. My recommendation are switches and dynamips if you have access to IOS. Save you some cash.

bermovick

Ugh, no; avoid kit sites like the plague.

Cheapest kit @ certificationkits: 2 2501 routers for $160. Price for 2 on eBay? $30 (and you might be able to make offers for $25 total)

For CCENT, you could get away with 1 router (I'd suggest a 2610) and 1 switch (a 2950). Simply to get familiar with the IOS.

Chris:/*

Sorry but I don't buy electronics from eBay the difference in price to me is minor. Being able to send gear back and get it replaced is what I want if the product fails. I have seen and heard far to many horror stories with eBay purchases of electronics.

veritas_libertas

I'm a huge fan of: CablesAndKits.Com

earweed

veritas_libertas wrote: »

I'm a huge fan of: CablesAndKits.Com

The customer service guy said their routers ship with the IOS. Is that true?

WillTech105

You may not like buying from Ebay but its alot cheaper from the online stores and I've never had a problem buying through sellers. The only thing I'd establish before buying is the terms of shipping if the device is DoA (dead on arrival) and who's paying shipping.

I have a friend who had to return a dead 3550 only to spend 60$ on return shipping and got refunded 200$ -- so he basically almost took a 100$ lose in shipping.

LAN_Man

Any specific routers or equipment I should buy for the CCENT?

QHalo

I never buy from solo sellers and only from a reputable reseller. Don't be afraid of eBay. Just choose the companies you deal with carefully which is the same for buying anything on eBay.

Essendon

earweed wrote: »

The customer service guy said their routers ship with the IOS. Is that true?

That'll be quite unlikely, IMO. Anyone have their stuff delivered with the IOS on them?

sthompson86

LAN_Man wrote: »

Any specific routers or equipment I should buy for the CCENT?

I am in the same boat as you, and per my research it looks like

26xx series for your routers - I purchased a 2611 off eBay
2950 Series for your switches.

alan2308

Essendon wrote: »

That'll be quite unlikely, IMO. Anyone have their stuff delivered with the IOS on them?

Yes, everything I bought from them had an image.

pham0329

For the CCENT, I only used Packet Tracer. I purchased real equipments but never got around to using them as it was way more convient for me to create a new lab in PT than to rewire my equipments.

Also, the CCENT seems to focus a lot more on subnetting than labs so I would say PT is really all you need.