Is this good enough...

tibul · November 2006

Well after i finish my MCSA and security+, ill be starting on ccna so i have been looking at some labs on ebay and have seen this one

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CISCO-CCNA-Lab-CCNP-CCIE-Router-2501-2503-Switch-1924_W0QQitemZ110057126093QQihZ001QQcategoryZ73321QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

does this lab have everything i need for the ccna also does it have most of things i need if i decide to carry onto ccsp and last but not least is it good value for money.

bmauro · November 2006

Unfortunately the switch is no longer used in the CCNA. The commands used for the 1900 switches will be similar - but it will not be the same as a 29xx switch - which is what is on the CCNA and the CCNP.

If you can afford it - try finding a package that contains a 2950 - its an investment that you can use through the CCNP.

Humper · November 2006

As bmauro said the switch is crap, I wouldnt waste my money with the lab. A 2950 for CCNA would be nice...It can be used in your CCNP studies as well. For NP I highly recommend a 3550 with an EI image.

tibul · November 2006

the labs with the 2950 are much more expensive, would it be cheaper for me to buy the 2950 and the other parts i need sepparate.

Humper · November 2006

tibul wrote:

the labs with the 2950 are much more expensive, would it be cheaper for me to buy the 2950 and the other parts i need sepparate.

Most likely.

tibul · November 2006

hmm apart from the switch is everything else in the kit worth having, as i wonder if its a good idea to buy the kit, and then buy a 2950 switch?

loboernesto · November 2006

I bought the same lab a few months ago... I had hardly covered the topics for the INTRO when I bought it so in my case it was a good way to start (I wouldn't have known what to buy if I did it separately)although I bought a 2924 after that but I've hardly ever used it anyway so far but it will be useful later i suppose (it came with a ATM 155 mm fiber module

will I ever get to use that in my home lab?? I doubt it....).

The routers will do all you need, I bought a 2520 so I could do some frame-relay.

The other thing you have to consider is that if you start looking around to buy separately you may end up paying a lot of delivery (unless you get all the stuff from the same guy).

cheers

Netwurk · November 2006

2501's can be had cheaply

http://cgi.ebay.com/cisco-2501-router-lab-2500-ccna-ccnp-ccie_W0QQitemZ330053975098QQihZ014QQcategoryZ73321QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That lab doesn't look like a good deal at all (at least to me)

steve-o87 · November 2006

This guy's a dealer and his prices are crazy. The routers are still good for the NA but the switch is crap as everyone has said.

Go for a 2950 + a couple o' routers.

tibul · November 2006

ok thanks for the info all.

One last question if i buy a 2950 + some routers, what other parts will i need like cables etc.

bare in mind im very new to the cisco stuff.

Thanks for all the help all.

Netwurk · November 2006

You will need:

console cable
crossover cable to connect directly to a PC, or a standard (straight-through) patch cable to connect to a switch
transceiver (to convert the AUI port to ethernet RJ45)

It's not hard to find a 2501 for bid that includes some or all of the above

bmauro · November 2006

Also - to connect the routers back to back, you will need two serial cables. One will have to be a DTE cable and the other a DCE cable. Some dealers have serial cables that have one end DTE and the other end DCE. Those are nice because it's bascially two cables in one.

tibul · November 2006

thanks again all, ill let you know how the lab goes on once i start.

tibul · December 2006

just came across this LAB set up on ebay, it costs more but comes with more routers and a newer switch.

Would this be a good lab for the CCNA.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CISCO-CCNA-Lab-CCNP-CCIE-2924-2610-2501-2503-ISDN_W0QQitemZ110065986062QQihZ001QQcategoryZ73321QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

itdaddy · December 2006

get an access router 2511 or 2509 and octal cable
freaking awesome and somewhat easy to setup once you
understand the reverse telnet process and cabling.

no more moving cables back and forth back and forth

pr3d4t0r · December 2006

Is there any good sim for CCNP (BCMSN) ?

Slowhand · December 2006

pr3d4t0r wrote:

Is there any good sim for CCNP (BCMSN) ?

Boson makes a CCNP simulator. My cohorts at work tell me it's pretty decent, but I haven't gotten a chance to see it in action, for myself. I'm not sure on the specifics, but it's listed on their site as a simulator and virutal lab setup for the entirety of the CCNP, so I'd imagine that it would do what you need for BCMSN.

Kaminsky · December 2006

I've got the Bosun ccnp sim (still studying ccna but the ccnp includes all the bosun ccna sims in it aswell)

It's very good but it's what you do with it. The sims labs are very much step by step. do this, now do this, now do this. BUT if you just invent real world networks in your head and then try to build them in the sim you can learn lots

It would be nice (and purist) to buy the real gear but if your like me and broke most of the time supporting a wife and 3 kids al at primary school, it will do for now until I can get the cash for the real thing and trust putting my cash into ebay.

There is a growning market of router/switch sellers on ebay and they are all competing with each other for selling ccna/ccnp labs and equipment.

Do an ebay search on the router / switch your after (ie 2950 switch) and look. You don't have to bid/buy and if your like me and petrified of even letting my credit card in the same room as my computer, it can just be an education and maybe an eventual purchase.

tibul · December 2006

I prefer to use the real thing to be honest same with the MS stuff always prefer to build my own lab if i dont have access at work to them or even if i do i prefer to have one at home (nothing beats the real thing

) . always better to have the actual hands on with things than to use sims in my opinion, i buy all the time online have done for years so i dont worry about my credit card.

Netwurk · December 2006

tibul wrote:

just came across this LAB set up on ebay, it costs more but comes with more routers and a newer switch.

Would this be a good lab for the CCNA.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CISCO-CCNA-Lab-CCNP-CCIE-2924-2610-2501-2503-ISDN_W0QQitemZ110065986062QQihZ001QQcategoryZ73321QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Est. value by piece:
2610 $80
2503 $25
2521 $20 (it's token ring which is not tested anymore)
2924 $90

(and notice that he says the ISDN gear is "optional")

The price quoted is in pounds so the guy wants over $500!

Shop around and buy piece by piece. These dealers are a rip-off.

Pash · December 2006

Netwurk wrote:

tibul wrote:

just came across this LAB set up on ebay, it costs more but comes with more routers and a newer switch.

Would this be a good lab for the CCNA.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CISCO-CCNA-Lab-CCNP-CCIE-2924-2610-2501-2503-ISDN_W0QQitemZ110065986062QQihZ001QQcategoryZ73321QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Est. value by piece:
2610 $80
2503 $25
2521 $20 (it's token ring which is not tested anymore)
2924 $90

(and notice that he says the ISDN gear is "optional")

The price quoted is in pounds so the guy wants over $500!

Shop around and buy piece by piece. These dealers are a rip-off.

That sounds like some sound advice to me. I guess in some cases it might be worth paying the shipping charges and getting it internationally and just get yourself a power adapter I guess...

pr3d4t0r · December 2006

Slowhand wrote:

pr3d4t0r wrote:

Is there any good sim for CCNP (BCMSN) ?

Boson makes a CCNP simulator. My cohorts at work tell me it's pretty decent, but I haven't gotten a chance to see it in action, for myself. I'm not sure on the specifics, but it's listed on their site as a simulator and virutal lab setup for the entirety of the CCNP, so I'd imagine that it would do what you need for BCMSN.

Unfortunately for BCMSN the sim very weak...

Slowhand · December 2006

pr3d4t0r wrote:

Unfortunately for BCMSN the sim very weak...

Well, damn. There goes my good advice, right out the window.

I'll do some checking and see if there's any other sims out there that can do the job of helping you get prepared for BCMSN.

tibul · December 2006

Netwurk wrote:

tibul wrote:

just came across this LAB set up on ebay, it costs more but comes with more routers and a newer switch.

Would this be a good lab for the CCNA.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CISCO-CCNA-Lab-CCNP-CCIE-2924-2610-2501-2503-ISDN_W0QQitemZ110065986062QQihZ001QQcategoryZ73321QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Est. value by piece:
2610 $80
2503 $25
2521 $20 (it's token ring which is not tested anymore)
2924 $90

(and notice that he says the ISDN gear is "optional")

The price quoted is in pounds so the guy wants over $500!

Shop around and buy piece by piece. These dealers are a rip-off.

ah i see, thanks for the advice ill shop around and buy them piece by piece.

bmauro · December 2006

Boson SIM is ...well... its OK. It's great to get your feet wet, but beyond that I can't stand it. The debug commands don't function that well at all, and it you deviate from the pre-built labs your results can vary greatly.

I don't know why I don't hear more about Dynamips.....

It bascially looks like a SIM, but it take REAL IOS code and emulates the hardware. As long as you have enough RAM, and access to IOS code, you can build any lab you could want!

Best part - completely free.

Do a search for Dynamips, most of the hits will be in the CCNP forum.

Unbelievable tool.

Is this good enough...

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