Post Your Lab (PICS)

I actually got it off of Craigslist. You can get them new here: DSI 14U Server Rack Enclosure - DSI 1014

I've been studying to get my first certification, A+, sometime in May after the Spring Semester ends. Today I was browsing through the Summer course list at my community college and I saw they had a CCNA course. Now, I'm planning on taking the course from May-July and then taking the exam in August.

I want to build a home lab, but I'm not really sure where to start. I have a budget of $500 and I plan on trying to pick everything up used or refurbished.

I was thinking about picking up this:
Cisco CCNA Lab Kit Best for Cisco Certification Exams | eBay

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks

Hi, just joined this forum as I am starting the CCNA path. I've been putting the lab together by sourcing the components on ebay, so far it's just two 2950s and two 2620s. Ignore the two 1924s at the top, I'll replace them with another 2950 and 26xx. Picked up the 12u rack from amazon for under $30 shipped

IMG_20120315_231332.jpg

MAC_Addy

LinuxRacr wrote: »

I actually got it off of Craigslist. You can get them new here: DSI 14U Server Rack Enclosure - DSI 1014

Sweet. I want to get an enclosure but they're just so expensive. I'll have to keep my eyes out for one on CL!

Oh, you have an 881W, too. How is it? I've been thinking of getting one for my home network. Just wondering if it's worth the price tag or not.

MAC_Addy

JeanM wrote: »

Hi, just joined this forum as I am starting the CCNA path. I've been putting the lab together by sourcing the components on ebay, so far it's just two 2950s and two 2620s. Ignore the two 1924s at the top, I'll replace them with another 2950 and 26xx. Picked up the 12u rack from amazon for under $30 shipped

Nice setup! Looks like you're on the right path!

cyberguypr

JeanM wrote: »

Hi, just joined this forum as I am starting the CCNA path. I've been putting the lab together by sourcing the components on ebay, so far it's just two 2950s and two 2620s. Ignore the two 1924s at the top, I'll replace them with another 2950 and 26xx. Picked up the 12u rack from amazon for under $30 shipped

Welcome to TE!

leese wrote: »

Thank you, ITV.

Yes, you have to be careful.

For you never know what evil lurks in the shadows here at techexams.

Hey, I like to call it multitasking!

Hey Brad, nice setup!
XM's are so cool, though! Nice and compact, and sleek. It kind of makes me think of an e30 bmw m3, compared to just an e30 325. All that extra power under the hood, and the performance that goes with it. (Sorry, I like vintage beemers)
Vintage Iron is Cool.

I am reading through this thread, this caused me to re-read what I just read haha (mtechnicI e30 owner with m30b35swap)! Vintage cars are cool!

MAC_Addy wrote: »

Sweet. I want to get an enclosure but they're just so expensive. I'll have to keep my eyes out for one on CL!

Oh, you have an 881W, too. How is it? I've been thinking of getting one for my home network. Just wondering if it's worth the price tag or not.

I got the enclosure for $450. Not bad considering. A local IT consultant had moved his hardware from his home closet (literally) to a colo. His wife was so happy to see it go. The 881W I snagged for $250 off of Craigslist as well. Someone just wanted to part with it because they changed direction in their career. I haven't had the chance to configure it yet, but soon I will have it up and running.

veritas_libertas

My Dantrak C12U just arrived on the door step. I'll post some images tomorrow.

cmorris1441 wrote: »

I've been studying to get my first certification, A+, sometime in May after the Spring Semester ends. Today I was browsing through the Summer course list at my community college and I saw they had a CCNA course. Now, I'm planning on taking the course from May-July and then taking the exam in August.

I want to build a home lab, but I'm not really sure where to start. I have a budget of $500 and I plan on trying to pick everything up used or refurbished.

I was thinking about picking up this:
Cisco CCNA Lab Kit Best for Cisco Certification Exams* | eBay

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks

I too am studying through the A+ now so I can start on my CCNA stuff later this month. The general consensus is that you will save money by NOt buying pre-made kits, and you will also learn more by doing the research to figure out which routers and switches to purchase. If you can, get your hardware individually from eBay or Craigslist. I found a lot of great deals.

TBev0

http://www.homecomputerlab.com/wp-content/media/HomeLab_update_22_11_2011/HomeLab_22-11-2011.jpg

Long time lurker, decided to finally sign up and say hello!

I've got a bit of everything going on in my lab: ESXi, Xen, Hyper-V, Windows, Linux, Cisco, Openfiler iscsi SAN etc .Its also a 'live' environment so it forces me a little bit more to think things through properly first and plan a lot of changes i make before implementing. I'm not really studying anything and have no certs and I've always done ok, but im beginning to wonder now if i should choose a field and specialize in one area? anyway for anyone who might be interested my blog is here:

homecomputerlab

SUBnet192

Mrock4 wrote: »

My lab, it's not complete, but should be soon (including cabling/beautification!)

3x 1841's, 4x 3550's (not all racked up), 2x 3560's (waiting on 1 to arrive), 2x 2610XM's, 2x 2610's (1 not pictured), 1x 2611XM, 2522, 2501, 2x dell servers, 1x ASA 5505, Digi CM terminal server. I think that's pretty much it.

Hmm... I am in the final stages of building INE's topology (How To Build A CCIE Rack | INE) lab with some differences. My lab has similarities with yours

3 x 1841

1 x 2651XM
1 x 2621XM with NM-4A/S
1 x 2610XM

1 x 2621 with NM-8A/S (Frame relay switch)
1 x 2501
1 x 2503

4 x 3550 (2 are for sale, I'm getting 2 3560s at the end of the month).
1 x ASA 5505
and
1 x Digi CM32 (great device for access, much easier to work with than a cisco access server).

Why the 2 servers though?

Roguetadhg

end hosts to test connectivity is my guess.

LinuxRacr wrote: »

I too am studying through the A+ now so I can start on my CCNA stuff later this month. The general consensus is that you will save money by NOt buying pre-made kits, and you will also learn more by doing the research to figure out which routers and switches to purchase. If you can, get your hardware individually from eBay or Craigslist. I found a lot of great deals.

Thanks for the advice. That's what I'm trying now and I think I'll save about $30.

I just picked up a 2620 that I got used for $36. I'm also planning on getting 2 ws-2950-24 switches and a 2650 router for my home lab. Will this be enough for studying for CCENT and CCNA (2 test route)? Any recommendations?

SUBnet192

cmorris1441 wrote: »

Thanks for the advice. That's what I'm trying now and I think I'll save about $30.

I just picked up a 2620 that I got used for $36. I'm also planning on getting 2 ws-2950-24 switches and a 2610 router for my home lab. Will this be enough for studying for CCENT and CCNA (2 test route)? Any recommendations?

If you intend to go further (CCNP, CCIE), skip the low end stuff (2950s etc) and go for 3550 for example. You won't have to buy & sell the gear, simply build towards your final lab.

Look at the INE topology for CCIE and start building around that... That's what I wish I had done.

http://www.homecomputerlab.com/wp-content/media/HomeLab_update_22_11_2011/HomeLab_22-11-2011.jpg

homecomputerlab

SUBnet192 wrote: »

If you intend to go further (CCNP, CCIE), skip the low end stuff (2950s etc) and go for 3550 for example. You won't have to buy & sell the gear, simply build towards your final lab.

Look at the INE topology for CCIE and start building around that... That's what I wish I had done.

I'm planning on getting the CCNP, but I don't have the money to set up much of a home lab right now.

TBev0

TBev0, I just noticed your initial post at the top of this page. Nice setup, and nice site.

MAC_Addy wrote: »

Nice setup! Looks like you're on the right path!

Thanks, another 2620 and 2950 are coming along with 3640 & nm-4a/s card

I picked up another switch to practice vlan/trunking, should have gone with the 24 ports but 12 ports will have to do for now. I think I'll be fine with that. Got another 2620 + 3640 to try the frame relay stuff.

3x 2620s
1x 3640+nm-4a/s + nm-1e2w
3x 2950-12
2x 2950-24
3x wic-2t cards

The XM's are expensive, so they'll have to wait for later once I put these all to use.

EDIT1 - Digi CM32 on the way

EDIT2 - won a NEW 2950-24 for $32 :O
EDIT3 - won a 2nd NEW 2950-24 for $15!

I just bought this 2620 with a WIC-1B-U and a WIC-2T (had been 40% off yesterday):
eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

and this 2650 with a WIC-1DSU-T1, WIC-1BU, and a NM-1E1R
eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

I did some research and noticed the WIC-2T on the 2620 has a different serial port than the serial port on the 2650. I plan on connecting these routers, but what cable should I use?

I was looking at this, but I'm not sure and it's coming from the UK so it takes a while to ship...

TBev0 wrote: »

http://www.homecomputerlab.com/wp-content/media/HomeLab_update_22_11_2011/HomeLab_22-11-2011.jpg

Long time lurker, decided to finally sign up and say hello!

I've got a bit of everything going on in my lab: ESXi, Xen, Hyper-V, Windows, Linux, Cisco, Openfiler iscsi SAN etc .Its also a 'live' environment so it forces me a little bit more to think things through properly first and plan a lot of changes i make before implementing. I'm not really studying anything and have no certs and I've always done ok, but im beginning to wonder now if i should choose a field and specialize in one area? anyway for anyone who might be interested my blog is here:

homecomputerlab

very cool! I want an AS bad

PC509

TBev0 wrote: »

http://www.homecomputerlab.com/wp-content/media/HomeLab_update_22_11_2011/HomeLab_22-11-2011.jpg

homecomputerlab

Didn't I see you on the [H]? I saw this lab a while back - had to be there. Welcome to TechExams!

Drew210

Hi all, Im new here, I just started rebuilding my CCNP lab

1 2811 with one NME-16ES-1G-P (3750 Switch)
1 2610
2 2610xm
2 3725 256mb
1 2924
2 2950
1 3550
1 Cisco Aironet 1232AG
1 851

I hope to add two more 3550's next week.

Keanoknick

Hi guys,

I'm pretty new here, and thought I'd post up my lab and see what you guys thought, and if I need anything else.
Sorry no pics at the moment, will try to get some soon.

Here's a list of my gear

6x 2651xm with 6x wic 1t's, 1x nm-4a/s, 2x nm-8a/s dispersed among them.
1x 1721
1x 2960
1x 2950 (on loan from work)
1x 3550 (on loan from work)
2x 2940
Digi CM 32 (access switch)

all mounted in a Skeletec 20U rack.

Right now I've got it all set up to match the scenario for "freeccnaworkbook.com"

I might be getting a 2511 also, in a couple of weeks from a buddy.

Anything else you guys would recommend? I plan on going at least though my CCNP, and possible CCNA Voice, will this gear get me there?

Thanks.

Roguetadhg

make sure to get a wide-angle shot

alan2308

Keanoknick wrote: »

Anything else you guys would recommend? I plan on going at least though my CCNP, and possible CCNA Voice, will this gear get me there?

Thanks.

For the CCNP, you're going to want a couple of L3 switches. 3550's will do most of what you need and cost around $100 - $150 each, 3560's will do all of what you need and cost $350 - $400.

Roguetadhg wrote: »

make sure to get a wide-angle shot

^^^ This.