N00bi3 to the Forum & CCNA w/ questions

First let me say hello to all the members!

I am completely new to the Cisco world, I just finished my CompTIA A+ 701/702, and I am now studying for the CompTIA Network+.

I have always been fascinated by the Cisco Products and the inter workings of the Internet, Computers & Networking in general, So being that the school I attend is an authorized Cisco Training Center, I am not in that class yet, but I thought I might as well start creating a Home Lab now, get a few books and get a jump on studying and learning about Cisco.

In the process of building my Home Lab I have come up with some questions that I have not easily found answers too(I did read the sticky's and FAQ). A note about the sticky's some of those post are 6 to 7 years old, it might be time to look at updating some of that information.

So let me get to my questions:

First, What is the real difference between the WIC-2T and the WIC-2A/S and why should I choose one over the other? For my lab unit I no intention of using the HD-60/WIC-1T, this seems like old stuff that is being phased out, plus the Smart Serial Cable seems like a better design.

Second, my current equipment in the Lab Rack is as follows:

(2) Cisco 2610XM Routers each w/ (1) WIC-2A/S (256 Ram & 48 Flash)
(2) Cisco 2611XM Routers each w/ (2) WIC-2A/S & NM-2W (256 Ram & 48 Flash)
(3) Cisco Catalyst 2950-24 port Switches (WS-C2950-24-XL's)
(1) Cisco Catalyst 3524 Switch (WS-C3524-PWR-XL-EN)

Now I have listed the equipment for 2 reasons to get opinions about what is there, what should be add, dropped, changed etc.

And I would like to know what cables I should get to go with the labs, I already order (3) Smart Serial, I have (10) Cat 5 Straight Through on hand and I will make (2) Cat 5 Cross-over cables, as I have seen that most of the kits come with two of those.

I look forward to comments and conversation that this might invoke, and I will post a picture of the lab as soon as I have the final piece in place, being a bit OCD, I have spend a good bit of time with placement of components in the rack, wiring and I had a Console Cable Plate made at http://www.frontpanelexpress.com

As you can see from the Panel I will have a Console Cable connected to each unit permanently and have easy access to each units serial interface from the front of the Lab Rack Panel, like I said I am a bit OCD.

Z3r0

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Comments

Chris:/*

Welcome to TE.

earweed

Welcome to TE!
With your minor case of OCD you should fit in here just fine.

ZeroHunter

Oh I guess I should mention some study material I got so far and see what everyone suggest about that:

I got the following books:

Sybex CCNA - Cisco Certified Network Assoc - Study Guide (this was suggested in the Sticky's)
Cisco Press - Networking Basics - CCNA 1 Companion Guide

I order the Cisco Kits - CCNA Study Kit, and I think I will get the Cisco Press CCNA 1 & 2 book next.

I also got the TRAIN - CCNA DVDs

Z3r0

Netwurk

phoeneous wrote: »

P.S. 1337 speak died in the 90's

It should have died in 1337 AD if you ask me

The OP's lab seems like a good start if those 2600's are XMs.

Asif Dasl

Welcome to TE!

I'm a newb with Cisco stuff too, and I've just started going throught the Cisco CCENT book. But the only thing I would say is you could do with an access server 2511RJ or 2509RJ that way you wouldn't have to switch the console cable over each time, though your solution is ingenius and deserves credit too!

If you go with GNS3 over time you'll probably won't need an access server or the routers but that'll depend on whether you want a physical or virtual lab setup. I think a physical lab is good when you are starting out but as you get more experienced GNS3 is the way to go for most Cisco paths.

Netwurk

Asif Dasl wrote: »

If you go with GNS3 over time you'll probably won't need an access server or the routers but that'll depend on whether you want a physical or virtual lab setup. I think a physical lab is good when you are starting out but as you get more experienced GNS3 is the way to go for most Cisco paths.

And a lot of people (like me) use both.

ZeroHunter

Asif Dasl wrote: »

Welcome to TE!

I'm a newb with Cisco stuff too, and I've just started going throught the Cisco CCENT book. But the only thing I would say is you could do with an access server 2511RJ or 2509RJ that way you wouldn't have to switch the console cable over each time, though your solution is ingenius and deserves credit too!

Wow that Cisco Access Server 2511 RJ, is pretty cool, I had never even seen that, but I must say my way was WAYyyyy cheaper, the panel I had made was only 57.oo$ shipped. Though not as cool as that access server.

ZeroHunter

phoeneous wrote: »

P.S. 1337 speak died in the 90's

Well if that's the case then you might want to ask the admins to remove the "g33k" rating under your name/handle. Doh!

______________________________
Z3r0

Somnipotent

ZeroHunter wrote: »

Wow that Cisco Access Server 2511 RJ, is pretty cool, I had never even seen that, but I must say my way was WAYyyyy cheaper, the panel I had made was only 57.oo$ shipped. Though not as cool as that access server.

NM-16A in one of your 2600s and some octals and you'll be running smooth. your set up is cheaper, but that's the way to go if your OCD. Plus it saves you from having to have a 2500 series in your rack. All mine are 2600XMs with one 3800 acting as my powerhouse.

ZeroHunter

Somnipotent wrote: »

NM-16A in one of your 2600s and some octals and you'll be running smooth. your set up is cheaper, but that's the way to go if your OCD. Plus it saves you from having to have a 2500 series in your rack. All mine are 2600XMs with one 3800 acting as my powerhouse.

No 2500 series in my rack those look like junk to me, all mine are XMs also (w/ max RAM & Flash). But I have to ask what is an Octal.

Only thing I have seen that one is the 2950 switches that have that Centronics type port on the back to 'stack' more 2950's, remember I said I am new to all this.

Netwurk

ZeroHunter wrote: »

No 2500 series in my rack those look like junk to me, all mine are XMs also (w/ max RAM & Flash). But I have to ask what is an Octal.

Only thing I have seen that one is the 2950 switches that have that Centronics type port on the back to 'stack' more 2950's, remember I said I am new to all this.

An octal cable is for a Cisco 25xx access server router. There are also models that use rollover cables instead of the octal.

And I know they seem ancient and uncool, but 2500's have some versatile models that let you simulate large frame clouds, have an access server, and can run up to 12.3 if maxed out. They're a heck of a bargain, but of course none of them are powerful enough to be your first line routers. But your first line routers won't care that they're connecting to a lowly Cisco 2520 running a frame relay cloud.

Yes, frame relay is becoming less popular in the real world. But Cisco still tests heavily on it, so we all still need to know it for now.

And there is the flip side where real world scenarios present old school challenges such as small branch offices that still use ISDN as a backup. 2500 ISDN routers are dirt cheap (although an ISDN simulator isn't). I'm going to stop now before it gets too obvious how really ancient I am.

Anyhow, good luck with your lab.

Somnipotent

ZeroHunter wrote: »

No 2500 series in my rack those look like junk to me, all mine are XMs also (w/ max RAM & Flash). But I have to ask what is an Octal.

Only thing I have seen that one is the 2950 switches that have that Centronics type port on the back to 'stack' more 2950's, remember I said I am new to all this.

an octal cable looks like this:

https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/servlet/JiveServlet/showImage/2-68382-12339/octal-cable.JPG

it hooks up to the back of one of these:

http://www.usedciscoseller.com/images/NM-16A.png

and provides with a single point of contact for all your devices. a "hub" of sorts where you reverse telnet to your routers/switches/etc. through their console ports. pretty nifty

oh and for frame-relay, the more ports the better... so i got one of these:

http://www.shopricom.com/NM_8A_S

btw, those ports on the back of the Cat2950s are for redundant power supplies.

Netwurk

phoeneous wrote: »

I was born in 1337 so I'm permitted to use it

Wow, you're old

ZeroHunter

phoeneous wrote: »

I was born in the 70's so I'm permitted to use it, but next time I'll include a [/sarcasm] tag.

Yeah, well if being born in the 70's means you can use l33t speak, then I must be even more entitled, as I was born in the late 60's!

ZeroHunter

Somnipotent wrote: »

an octal cable looks like this:

https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/servlet/JiveServlet/showImage/2-68382-12339/octal-cable.JPG

it hooks up to the back of one of these:

http://www.usedciscoseller.com/images/NM-16A.png

and provides with a single point of contact for all your devices. a "hub" of sorts where you reverse telnet to your routers/switches/etc. through their console ports. pretty nifty

oh and for frame-relay, the more ports the better... so i got one of these:

Buy Cisco NM-8A/S 8-port Async/Sync Serial network module

btw, those ports on the back of the Cat2950s are for redundant power supplies.

See this is the type of post I need, you kinda gotta spell it out for me, I have never really played with much of this stuff, everything I learn in the last few weeks about building a home lab I learned from reading post and sticky's here, and looking at the kits offered on CiscoKits as well as eBay.

I assume that you are referring to the Molex style connector on the back when you talk about the redundant power supply connector, what i was talking about on the back of some of the 2950 Catalyst Switches looks like a Centronics printer port, it is pictured in the 2950 manual, and it refers to a Octal/Stack-able port/cable.

So thanx for the good post, Somnipotent

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Z3r0

Somnipotent

ZeroHunter wrote: »

See this is the type of post I need, you kinda gotta spell it out for me, I have never really played with much of this stuff, everything I learn in the last few weeks about building a home lab I learned from reading post and sticky's here, and looking at the kits offered on CiscoKits as well as eBay.

I assume that you are referring to the Molex style connector on the back when you talk about the redundant power supply connector, what i was talking about on the back of some of the 2950 Catalyst Switches looks like a Centronics printer port, it is pictured in the 2950 manual, and it refers to a Octal/Stack-able port/cable.

So thanx for the good post, Somnipotent

_____________________________________
Z3r0

no prob man. i don't have any of those async ports on the back of my 2950s so i can't comment on that. good luck with your lab. i'm gonna post some pix of mine when i get the chance

ZeroHunter

Somnipotent wrote: »

i'm gonna post some pix of mine when i get the chance

I would love to see them (and anyone else that would like to post a photo of their home lab), that is how I got alot of the information about how to build my lab, was looking at labs that people had for sale on eBay, Ciscokits, and other sources.

I should have a finished picture of mine up next week, just finished the power wiring last night, waiting on the RAM upgrades to show and of course the new Console Port Panel (plus a couple of the WIC-2A/S cards).

But all the equipment is in the rack, mounted & powered, so it pretty much just have finishing touches and then the first thing I have to learn is how to re-flash all the routers up to the newest software, and complete reset

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Z3r0

Netwurk

ZeroHunter wrote: »

I would love to see them (and anyone else that would like to post a photo of their home lab

Here's our thread for lab pics

http://www.techexams.net/forums/ccna-ccent/15235-post-your-lab-pics.html