How essential is an actual hardware lab?

I am a reservist and my MOS deals with networking, we covered all of CCNA, though we didn't take the cert test.

I got a job as a NOC tech and during the downtime at night, I am studying for my CCNA using CBT Nuggets, which I know people say isn't the greatest, but after 9 months of schooling, I feel as if I just need a decent refresher on some of the subjects.

My question is, if you study the material online and in plenty of books, and use network sims, is it essential to practice on a physical hardware lab to pass the CCNA?

And what about the other certs, I would like to get my CCNA-V and CCNA-S, and eventually my CCNP. With enough reading and study, without having a physical test lab, would they be achievable?

Thanks.

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Comments

sizeon

You dont need a lab to pass the CCNA. Just get packet tracer and your good to go.

theanimal

sizeon wrote: »

You dont need a lab to pass the CCNA. Just get packet tracer and your good to go.

Thanks.

What about the CCNA:V,S,W? Or CCNP?

NetworkVeteran

Building a home lab is not essential for passing the CCNA, CCNP, or CCIE.

With enough reading and study, without having a physical test lab, would they be achievable?

With enough reading and study and practice, they are achievable.

No home lab doesn't eliminate or even lessen the requirement to get in plenty of practice.

theanimal

NetworkVeteran wrote: »

Building a home lab is not essential for passing the CCNA, CCNP, or CCIE.

With enough reading and study and practice, they are achievable.

No home lab doesn't eliminate or even lessen the requirement to get in plenty of practice.

Thanks a lot, that was just what I was hoping to hear.

Now by practice, I assume you mean things such as Packet Tracer and practice exams? I'd hate to derail this thread, but being as I'm already here, I might as well ask. I'm currently in a NOC position, and as I saw someone posted in some other thread, the duties can vary from sitting and answering phones all the way up to engineer projects. I do enjoy this and would like to move up to more of an engineer/analyst field, and probably more security oriented. Would there be any other certs that would be great to get besides the Cisco ones?

Patel128

In my opinion it may not be necessary, but it does help a great deal. Actually having the physical machines running, that you will be working on at work to me seems like a must. Plus building a lab is a great learning experience.

theanimal

Patel128 wrote: »

In my opinion it may not be necessary, but it does help a great deal. Actually having the physical machines running, that you will be working on at work to me seems like a must. Plus building a lab is a great learning experience.

That is why I was curious, on the job side of things, I see a lot of employeers or managers on here saying that if the employee has no practical experience, then it's a no-go. I have no experience and no certs, though I went through the full Cisco CCNA courses. When I landed in the job, I had no problems piecing everything together and going at it, and as I said, some of the jobs end up being stuff the engineers and analyst would normally do.

On the cert side of things I do not want to go into it thinking I will have no problems though, heh. So I will definitely study my ass off, and if I manage to, get myself some equipment for a lab.

NetworkVeteran

theanimal wrote: »

Now by practice, I assume you mean things such as Packet Tracer and practice exams?

For CCNP/CCIE, I'm thinking more along the lines of a real IOS--IOU, GNS3, or renting rack time.

Practice tests aren't essential. They're sometimes helpful.

In my opinion it may not be necessary, but it does help a great deal.

In terms of mastering the CCNA/CCNP exam content, I would say building a home lab has near zero value.

Actually having the physical machines running, that you will be working on at work to me seems like a must.

Not only is it not a must--for passing your certifications, learning about routing/switching, and getting paid more--it's really hard to come by Catalyst 6500s or a CRS-1 for a home lab ("what you may be working on at work")! I'd add, in many cases when you are debugging large-scale networking issues, you won't be anywhere near most of the hardware.

Plus building a lab is a great learning experience.

I agree! Building your own lab sounds like a great learning experience, especially for someone who has never worked with network cables (straight, cross-over, rolled) before or doesn't know what an AUX/CON port looks like.

NetworkVeteran

That is why I was curious, on the job side of things, I see a lot of employeers or managers on here saying that if the employee has no practical experience, then it's a no-go.

It depends on the position. For an entry-level hire, a degree and/or relevant certification is the bomb. For a more senior role, you're going to have to have relevant job experience. There's room for both candidates in the job market.

SteveO86

Packet Tracer is extremely buggy. I haven't used packet tracer is years so I don't know how much it has improved but back then it was pretty horrible.

I'd take the time and setup GNS3, if real hardware is out of reach. I used GNS3 for a while but then I just got a little tired of the setup/performance/bugs. GNS3 is buggy but it's no where near as buggy as my experience with Packet Tracer.

Just my 2 cents.

zrockstar

Animal, are you a 25B by chance?

theanimal

zrockstar wrote: »

Animal, are you a 25B by chance?

I wasn't quite sure what that was until a google search, hah. But no, I am USMC 0651.

JeanM

Lots of people pass w/o a physical lab for CCNA and even CCNP, but it sure doesn't hurt you any to have physical hands-on as well. Some things you just can't "learn" in packet tracker or gns3 etc... like physical hardware/boot/loader etc issues and cabling.

imho