Beginner Home Lab

I am currently studying for the CCNA exams, and am interested in doing the CCNP next. What hardware and how many is needed for a basic home lab?

I don't really know much about the hardware yet, but would like to start looking and piecing together a lab.

And on another noob level...how do I go about installing it? Will it affect my current setup? I have my modem plugged into a wireless router, then an ethernet cable attached to a switch to connect all my computers, WDTV Live, and XBox together. What is the starting point for installing the home lab?

Thanks a lot for helping out a noob!

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GOZCU

3 x 2620xm routers
2 x 2950 switches
cables
rack
some WIC cards

deadhead85

Thanks a lot for the help!

...AND THE HUNT BEGINS!!!!

lordy

You could also look into the 3550 Switches. I have two of them and find them to be pretty neat.

They can act like the 2950 Switches but they are also L3-capable so you can do routing with them too.

MAC_Addy

I've heard that the 3560 switches will be very handy for the SWITCH exam.

Somnipotent

MAC_Addy wrote: »

I've heard that the 3560 switches will be very handy for the SWITCH exam.

mainly for implementing private vlans as the 3550s do not fully support PVLAN configurations. ipv6 support is also another big deal

nerdydad

MAC_Addy wrote: »

I've heard that the 3560 switches will be very handy for the SWITCH exam.

If you plan on going further than the NP soon, then the 3560's will be worth it, otherwise save your money and get the 3550's. Yes you need to know about PVLAN's, but you don't need to lab them, unless you are just curious, and then you can use the free lab at PacketLife.

Slowhand

There are quite a few threads in the CCNP FAQ on lab-recommendations that go in-depth on what hardware to buy, what version of the IOS you need, etc. That's a great place to start looking around so you don't have to re-invent the wheel when it comes to doing your research.