Post Your Lab (PICS)

Hey Everyone,
I couldn't find any other thread similar to this after searching for a while, so I wanted to get one going. It would be great if everyone could post pictures of their current home or work lab (Big or Small). Hopefully we can get the CCNP/CCIE folks to post in here as well.

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JoseJimenez

Corndork2 wrote: »

These are the Quad Intel Gigabit NIC's installed Dell Servers. They can be found on Ebay for about 20.00. If you guys need some I have close to 20 of them from server decommissions.

More like $100+ for quad and about $50 for dual port.
Cheapest Sun Happy Meal Quad FastEthernet can be found for $20, but there's whole procedure to make it work on linux.

rowelld

Lots of great labs posted here.

My lab is rather simple, for now. On the top are two old Cisco 2507s which aren't being used at all. On the bottom I have two 2950s and one 3550 that I use to practice CCNP SWITCH labs on. Not quite enough to do all the labs but enough to get me going.

I use a Raspberry Pi as a console server to the switches. I keep the lab at work so all I do is VPN in and telnet to the rpi to access each switch.

lab.jpg

LinuxRacr

fov001 wrote: »

After reading all the comments here....this is what I got!

How are you liking the DLI rackmount PDU? I thought about getting that one, but ended up going with the 8-port. Also, make sure you get the Android app if you have an Android phone.

Route->This

@fov001

What are your server specs? You have a nice clean setup! Whats the purpose of the patch panel?

fov001

LinuxRacr wrote: »

How are you liking the DLI rackmount PDU? I thought about getting that one, but ended up going with the 8-port. Also, make sure you get the Android app if you have an Android phone.

The ethernet controller is one of the best investments in this setup. I created a wake on lan script to send from the controller to the server and another Synology NAS I have.

this is well worth the money!! and the android app works fine, but I mostly use the web based interface from work.

fov001

Route->This wrote: »

@fov001

What are your server specs? You have a nice clean setup! Whats the purpose of the patch panel?

Basically I have an i7 2600K 32GB RAM and 256GB SSD - I have a separate Synology NAS with 8TB (Hybrid for redundancy) for data store.

the purpose of the patch panel is for practice on crimping, and makes the setup a bit more complex, similar to what you would see on the job (I am not a network admin, yet

staticz

Rebuilt the lab with some new equipment on Friday -

Server has 2 quad core Xeons, 20 GB of RAM and 12 NICs and will be used for GNS3. 2 3750G's and 3 3650's for layer 3 switching.
Should last through CCNP at a minimum.
Even though I didn't get it all finished, I thought I'd share. The ASA will be used as a VPN for remote access from home, and there is a KVM over IP sitting in the top of the rack to allow for access on the prod network. Also have patched a few network drops in our cubes for direct access.
We have a ton of equipment laying around so it was fun to get some of it back into service. Now it is time to get some studying done!

WP_20131206_15_53_26_Pro.jpg

Doyen

This is my geeky network rack:

SWITCHES (11 Total):
1 x 3560-24-PS
7 x 2950-24
1 x 2950G-12
1 x 2950G-24
1 x 2950G-48

Routers (8 Total):
3 x 1760 (2 128MB/64 Flash)
1 x 2621XM Max Ram/Flash/VPN Module
1 x 2651XM Max Ram/Flash/VPN Module
1 x 2691 Max Ram/Flash/VPN Module
1 x 3725 Max Ram/Flash/VPN Module
1 x 3640

Access Console Server:
1 x Cyclades Afterpath Console Server-32

Storage:
2 x 6 unit drawers

Voice and Wireless Stuff:
2 x 7960G Cisco IP Phones
2 x Analog Telephones
2 x Cisco ATA 186
1 x Cisco ATA 188
2 x Cisco AP 1220B-A-K9
1 x Cisco AIR AP 1242G-A-K9

Rack:
7ft 2 Post Heavy Duty 19in Black Network Rack

Modules:
4 x Serial-4T
4 x WIC-2T
1 x WIC-1T
1 x Voice-2V

The room is still kinda messy from having to rearrange the room for my Cisco lab rack. I am still making rollover cords and straight cables. The only 3 things missing on the top were 3 power supplies that will probably be 8 or 11 AC slots. The primary purpose of this lab is to cover the routing/switching CCNA to CCIE, but unsure about the new "version 5" of CCIE. Since the security is similar to the routing/switching side, I may invest in getting an ASA firewall to play with. Ultimately, given the time, I do plan on getting CCNA in wireless and voice as well, at the very least, since that intrigues me as well. An opinions on how to improve it are greatly appreciated.

EDIT:
When I get around to it, I'll take a better photo. I didn't realize how fuzzy it was until I uploaded it

My Network Rack 20131202.jpg

veritas_libertas

Is that rack leaning?

FloOz

I'd recommend bolting that kind of rack down. I've heard horror stories of them falling.

tprice5

Leaning tower of Cisco?

JustFred

Lol......

Doyen

veritas_libertas wrote: »

Is that rack leaning?

Yep. I may have to position the various routers and switches to connect in the middle so it would balance out.

JustFred

I was worried, imagine sitting down watching tv with a beer only for all that equipment to land on top of you? Looks pretty dangerous, good thing you are aware of it.

veritas_libertas

I would seriously consider mounting that to studs in the wall.

Death Dream

Scary looking, Doyen!

Doyen

Another option that I was considering was instead of mounting them directly to the rack, I could mount a shelf for each piece and then just put the equipment on the shelf in an attempt to balance it out.

tprice5

Fill the rack from the bottom to the top for a lower center of gravity. If that doesn't solve the lean, get a new rack. $800 bucks for a new rack is a lot cheaper than replacing equipment + medical + time off work. Also if you have kids ...

tl;dr: that thing looks like a death trap.

swild

Here is my new lab. We just got rid of a bunch of servers at work so we had an empty server rack on the data center floor. I have access to all of the routers I could possibly want and just managed to get these 4 switches. This lab is built to the INE workbook (using 2811s) at the moment. The only thing on the network is one 2811 terminal server that I can connect to via VPN from anywhere, including the coffee shop I am currently labbing from. The only item I had to buy is the NM-32a in the last picture that I got off of eBay for only $90 shipped (actually, I bought 2 of them since it was such a good price). But with that, I don't run the risk of messing up any routing.All the cables are color coded: Blue for T1 crossover, Red for straght-through, Grey for Ethernet crossover.I'm just labbing for switching at the moment. However, as you can see, we didn't have any of the really old WIC-1T cards or the serial cables, so I upgraded to the VWIC2-2MFT-T1/E1 cards and RJ-45 cables. When I get to the Routing portion, I am going to be stumbling though getting the Frame-Relay switch up and running since that config isn't included with the others, but I found an article by Chris Bryant that I think will get me though it.This will eventually be a CCIE Collaboration lab once I get though my CCNP R&S.

Hello Everyone.

I finally got most of my lab built. I still need one more switch but will have to wait. I plan on sitting for CCNA R/S -->> CCNA Voice then who knows.

3 x Cisco WIC-2T 2 Port Serial Card
3 x Cisco 2801 Routers
2 x Cisco 3750 Switches
1 Digi Cm 32

I'm worried about heat if I leave the routers/switches stacked on top of each other was shown. Just don't have the room or money for a rack right now.

My basic set-up at the moment, looking to upgrade to the more recent technology that supports the more recent IOS :P

$_12.JPG

Matro

NotQuiteCertified wrote: »

My basic set-up at the moment, looking to upgrade to the more recent technology that supports the more recent IOS :P

Very Good Lab!

This is my new lab:

I've bought:

3x 2621XM routers
3x Catalyst 2950 switches
6x Wic-1t card for interconnecting routers

I'm waiting for serial cables, so i can start to connect routers!

NotQuiteCertified

Matro wrote: »

Very Good Lab!

This is my new lab:

I've bought:

3x 2621XM routers
3x Catalyst 2950 switches
6x Wic-1t card for interconnecting routers

I'm waiting for serial cables, so i can start to connect routers!

Real nice, that's a full CCNA lab once you get the serial cables, I presume you got the majority of this from a business, assuming by the stickers, they always label switches :P
I got most all of my kit on Ebay, for £80, I was really chuffed

I also assume you either have a VERY old PC with RS232 ports, or an RS232 to USB adapter (it's what I have)

JeanM

Mine changed a bit again, I've added a NAS 2u rack mount and a 4U case for my Hyper-V/ESXi hypervisor. Also just configured 2811 and 3550 for CUCME, finally can make calls between the two 7940 phones

mylab.jpg

R-Legend

Here is my latest lab / home setup.

HOME
Cisco ASA 5505 Security plus
Synology NAS DS110j
Cisco 1242 AP
Cisco 2610xm with NM-16A (terminal server)
Comcast Bridged wireless gateway
CyberPower OR1500 UPS
Dell Poweredge 860 (8GB ECC Ram / (2)2 TB HDD RAID1

LAB
1 Cisco 1841 router
2 Cisco 2610xm router
1 Cisco 1760 router
1 Cisco 2610 router (Frame Relay)
3 Cisco 2950 Switches
2 Cisco 1200 Access points (used for host)
Cyberpower CPS-1215 RMS Surge protector

IMG_20140115_134341.jpg

IMG_20140115_135201.jpg

IMG_20140115_135210.jpg

Matro

I've already posted my lab, but today I've bought an Ikea LACK table, and I've made my own LackRack!

pitviper

HA! A+++++++++++ for the creative use of binder clips

MAC_Addy

@pitviper. We need an updated picture or pictures of your lab!

pitviper

MAC_Addy wrote: »

@pitviper. We need an updated picture or pictures of your lab!

soon - It's a bit of a mess at the moment lol

Jollycork

Here's mine... added a few items.

2 1760s
2 2801s
3 2620xm
1 3550
2 2950s

3 Dell Dual Xeon L5520s with 8GB 1Us They run Callmanager Pub/Sub Unity, UCCX, Presence, and MS Active Directory

2 7970s
2 7960s
1 7940

Did away with the 2500 Access Router.. just move the console cable around. just plain easier and faster.