Just bought a Lab (i think, lol)

Operator

Hello everyone,

This is my first post here. I’m not sure how I found it, but this forum has been very educational for me. I purchased Odom’s Certification Library book package (Amazon has it really cheap with free s/h). Eventually, I might purchase the CBT Nugget CCNA DVD package as I read here that their videos are a nice supplement. I also just purchased some routers for a home lab. All the information I learned so far, are mainly from google searches and the searches I’ve done here on the forum (really glad, because I almost purchased a kit from ebay before coming here).

I just graduated from San Jose State with a MIS degree, and this will be my first certificate I took one general networking class, but didn’t take the 2nd class because it wasn’t offered during the next semester, so I opted for Advanced Database (i.e Oracle). I have lots of experience in programming, as I started college as a software engineer major . In the future, I plan to get the MCTIP: Systems Administrator and CEH certificates, with a goal of becoming an Information Security Specialist (hopefully).

Anyways, enough of the rabble babble, I plan on doing the 2 test route, and I just purchased the following, I hope I purchased some acceptable items

// Hardware
2x 3640 routers (both have 128MB/32MB, IOS 12.4)
2x 2950 switches

// Modules
3x NM-1E1R2W
2x WIC-1T WAN
2x WIC-1B-U WAN
1x NM-1E2W
1x WIC-1DSU-56K4 WAN

// Cables
1x Console cable
4x Power cords


I still need to purchase more cables, and a USB adapter for the console cable. The modules were included with the purchase.

alan2308

There's value in a third router and third switch, but you can get by with what you have for the CCENT and the CCNA. I'm sure even Scott Morris has something else that he would like in his lab too.

Welcome to the forum.

odysseyelite

Welcome.

Good choice on making Cisco your first cert. Congrats on the getting the degree as well. The lab setup is ok. I second getting a third router and maybe one more switch. The 3640's are great to have.

I'm going through the Odom book and really like the style. The CBT nuggets are also great to have.

Good luck.

Operator

Yeah, I eventually might purchase another router and switch, but at the moment, need to save some money.

I had a question about USB to DB9 console cables. I read a few people say that the cable should be short so that their isnt much strain on the USB port. What kind of strain are they referring to? Is it regarding that the cable itself is placing a physical strain on the port? or is something to do with the power going through it.

Reason I asked, is because I was thinking of getting the TRENDnet USB to Serial Converter TU-S9 (Amazon) and attaching a USB extension cable to it.

Also found the Sabrent SBT-USC1K (Amazon), a USB 2.0 cable. I was also wondering if there will be a performance difference between a USB 2 and a USB 1.1 console cable. All my laptops/desktops support USB 2.

alan2308

Operator wrote: »

Also found the Sabrent SBT-USC1K (Amazon), a USB 2.0 cable. I was also wondering if there will be a performance difference between a USB 2 and a USB 1.1 console cable. All my laptops/desktops support USB 2.

You're sending commands (or in other words, text characters) through the console cable. Performance really isn't a factor in choosing one cable over another.

Operator

Thanks everyone for all the info and help so far. Just a few more questions. My books haven't arrived, and i'm trying to learn everything from Odom's blog, his youtube vids, and various other sources. I rather get all the needed hardware now.

So, the main reason for getting a 3rd router is to set it up as a dedicated Frame Relay switch?

Can't I do that with one of my 3640s and adding a NM-4A/S for Frame Relay, or is it better to have a dedicated router for the role?

alan2308

A frame relay switch is one use for a third router, but there are plenty of other things to do with it. For example, setting up a triangle topology and seeing which routes end up in your routing table as you change settings is a lot more helpful than just taking the book's word for it.

And as far as which router to use for the FR switch, that depends on what you get as a third router. Pretty much anything can be a FR switch, so I use the router with the lowest IOS version. No sense making your best router the one that you're not going to be doing much with.