Lab kit advice...

Thiassi · June 2008

Yeah, I know, another lab kit thread...sorry!

I'm starting out on the the CCNA and, probably, the CCNP eventually.

So I'm looking at getting the proper kit (instead of sims) and have been looking at a couple of kits on Ebay...could someone advise which would be the best to get (if either)?

With the view of moving onto the CCNP eventually so getting the kit which be a basis for that (and added upon obviously) would be very useful.

Kit 1:

Cisco 2610XM Fast Ethernet Serial ADSL Router 64D/16F
Cisco 2610 Ethernet Router 64D/16F with NM-4A/S Four Serial Frame-Relay Module
Cisco 2610 Ethernet Serial Router 64D/16F
1 x Cisco 2950-24 Advanced Switch running latest Cisco IOS
1 x Cisco 2924-XL Enterprise Switch running latest Cisco IOS
2 x serial DB60-DB60 crossover cables
4 x cat 5E straight-through cables
4 x cat 5E crossover cables
2 x RJ45 / DB9 console cables

Kit 2:

1x Cisco 2611 with 2 Ethernet Ports, 2xWIC-1T, Flash 16MB, DRAM 64MB.
1x Cisco 2611 with 2 Ehernet Ports , 1xWIC-1T, Flash 16MB, DRAM 64MB.
1x Cisco 2610 with 1 Ethernet Port, 1x WIC-1T, Flash 16MB, DRAM 64MB.
2x Cisco 2924-XL vlan capable fully managed 24 port switches.
2x 1ft long DB60 DTE-DCE Cables.
2x Console Cables.
2x Crossover Ethernet cables.
4x Straight Ethernet Cables.

Thanks in advance!

dynamik · June 2008

You're going to want your switches to be 2950/2960 (not 2924).

Paul Boz · June 2008

Piece together your own kit.

I advise you buy:

2 2621's (they can be had for around $100 a piece
2 2950 switches

This minimal lab can be created for as little as $350. you shouldn't be paying people for ethernet cables that you can make yourself for next to free. Two routers and two switches will let you lab all of the routing protocols on the exam. The switches will permit you to configure inter-vlan routing (trunking from switch to a router), as well as VTP and spanning tree.

If you want to shave off a few bucks you can probably pick up a 1700 series router in place of one of the 2600's.

Thiassi · June 2008

Cheers lads. The buying individually definitely makes more sense and is far cheaper.

Off to do the deeds now.

suffah · June 2008

One more thing if you're buying individually. If you are setting them up in a rack, make sure the routers/switches come with the ear mounts. I had to track down a couple of mounts, and they were a rip off.

Paul Boz · June 2008

I wouldn't bother buying or making a rack for 3-4 devices. Cisco routers and switches have very low-power / low-heat CPU's so you can stack them on a table and save another $50-$100.

Lab kit advice...

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