| CCNAs and CCNA candidates hear it all the
| |
| | come with a minimum of two serial ports
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| time: 'Get some hands-on experience'.
| |
| | and an Ethernet port. You will need to
|
| From my personal experience climbing the
| |
| | add a transceiver to this unit to convert
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| Cisco certification ladder, I can tell
| |
| | the Ethernet AUI port to an RJ-45 style
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| you firsthand that there is no learning
| |
| | Ethernet port.2) Cisco 2503 Router with
|
| like hands-on learning. No simulator in
| |
| | 16 MB Flash/16MB DRAM $119.99. This is
|
| the world is going to give you the
| |
| | the same as a Cisco 2501, except it adds
|
| experience you will get cabling and
| |
| | an ISDN port so you can complete all your
|
| configuring your own routers.Whenever I
| |
| | ISDN commands for the CCNA test. You
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| mention this to one of my students, they
| |
| | will need to add a transceiver to convert
|
| always say it costs too much. The truth
| |
| | the Ethernet AUI port to an RJ-45 style
|
| is, it is cheaper now to build your own
| |
| | Ethernet port.3) Cisco 2505/2507 with 16
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| CCNA and CCNP lab than it has ever been.
| |
| | MB Flash/16MB DRAM $109.99. The same as
|
| The secret? Used routers.The word 'used'
| |
| | a Cisco 2501 except it has a built-in 8
|
| turns off a lot of people; not many of us
| |
| | or 16 port hub so you do not have to
|
| buy used computers or used servers.
| |
| | purchase a transceiver.4) Cisco 2514
|
| Cisco routers, though, are robust; I
| |
| | Router with 16 MB Flash/16MB DRAM
|
| personally own a Cisco 4000 router that I
| |
| | $149.99. This router is the same as a
|
| use as a Frame Relay switch in my lab
| |
| | Cisco 2501 except instead of one Ethernet
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| that I've had for about four years, and
| |
| | port you have two. You may ask, what is
|
| I've never had a problem with it.The good
| |
| | the big deal? Well, you can use this as
|
| news for current CCNA and CCNP candidates
| |
| | your Cable Modem/DSL Modem router. Now
|
| interested in building their own labs is
| |
| | you can test your ability to setup a
|
| that used Cisco equipment has never been
| |
| | firewall and router in a live environment
|
| more plentiful or cheaper. eBay is a
| |
| | on the Internet. Lots of fun! You will
|
| good way to get an idea of what's out
| |
| | need to add two transceivers to convert
|
| there and what the prices are, but you
| |
| | the Ethernet AUI ports to an RJ-45 style
|
| don't have to assemble your lab one piece
| |
| | Ethernet ports.5) Cisco 2520 Router with
|
| at a time. Many eBay vendors who sell
| |
| | 16 MB Flash/16MB DRAM $119.99. This is
|
| used Cisco equipment sell ready-made CCNA
| |
| | the same as a 2503 but it also adds two
|
| and CCNP labs for one price, including
| |
| | more serial ports so you can use this as
|
| cables.I asked one major vendor of CCNA
| |
| | a frame relay switch later in your CCNA
|
| and CCNP labs, what the most common
| |
| | studies. It costs the same as a 2503, so
|
| questions are regarding building your own
| |
| | this is a great money saving tip.6) Cisco
|
| home lab. Here's what they had to
| |
| | 2612 Router with 32 DRAM and 8 MB Flash
|
| say:Why do I need real routers instead of
| |
| | $199.99. This is a modular router unlike
|
| a simulator?You need a physical router as
| |
| | any of the 2500 series routers. So the
|
| the simulators just don't have the
| |
| | big benefit of this is you can buy extra
|
| ability to give you the 'hands on' you
| |
| | modules to add functionality such as more
|
| need to see what happens when you
| |
| | serial ports, ISDN ports, Ethernet ports,
|
| disconnect a cable or put a cable in the
| |
| | WICs and such. However, due to the
|
| wrong location. You will come to find
| |
| | flexibility you will pay a bit more. One
|
| quite quickly that mistakes you make on
| |
| | day it is a frame relay switch, the next
|
| Router 1 are affecting Router 5 all
| |
| | it is your ISDN router. In the long run
|
| because you did not screw in a cable
| |
| | it will be cheaper than purchasing a
|
| properly. No simulator can simulate
| |
| | bunch of dedicated routers for each
|
| that.How many routers do I need?Two
| |
| | discipline you want to learn.7) Cisco
|
| routers really are required to see if
| |
| | 1912 or 1924 Switch with Enterprise
|
| anything works. If you have a very
| |
| | Software $109.99. This is a good low
|
| limited budget, you can receive value
| |
| | cost switch.. The only draw back is it
|
| from only purchasing a single router over
| |
| | is a 10 MB switch except for the two 100
|
| working with a simulator. However, you
| |
| | MB uplink ports. Not a big deal since
|
| will not be able to see the main thing we
| |
| | you have 10 MB routers.8) Cisco 2912 or
|
| are trying to accomplish. The
| |
| | 2924 Switch with Enterprise Software
|
| propagation of route tables! The only
| |
| | $249.99. This switch will run all the
|
| way you can see if your configurations
| |
| | current commands needed for the test and
|
| work, is to have at least two routers.
| |
| | is a full 100 MB switch.And should you
|
| Therefore, I strongly recommend that you
| |
| | desire to sell your lab after you
|
| purchase a dual router kit that comes
| |
| | complete your certification, you can
|
| with all the accessories you need.
| |
| | either negotiate a price with the vendor
|
| Otherwise you can spend days trying to
| |
| | who sold it to you, or you can sell it
|
| find all the little extra pieces you need
| |
| | yourself on ebay. It's my experience
|
| to get your lab up and running.Do I need
| |
| | that 95% of candidates who earn their
|
| a switch?Well, it is nice to have.
| |
| | CCNA go on to pursue their CCNP within
|
| However, with only about 2 questions on
| |
| | one year, though, so don't sell it too
|
| the test dedicated to 'hands on' switch
| |
| | quickly.In the end, you spend only a few
|
| knowledge, if you have to skimp on
| |
| | hundred dollars, and you gain invaluable
|
| something, skimp on the switch.What
| |
| | experience and knowledge that will help
|
| routers and switches should I
| |
| | you both in your certification quest and
|
| buy?Choices, choices, choices! Which
| |
| | your job performance. Having been there,
|
| 2500/2600 router do I pick? I will list
| |
| | I can tell you that you will learn much
|
| some pros and cons of each router below,
| |
| | more from actually configuring and
|
| along with current prices (note that
| |
| | cabling your own equipment than you ever
|
| prices are generally lower if you buy a
| |
| | will from any simulation of the real
|
| dual router kit instead of a single
| |
| | thing.To your success,Chris Bryant, CCIE
|
| router):1) Cisco 2501 Router with 16 MB
| |
| | #12933, is the owner of The Bryant
|
| Flash/16MB DRAM $94.99. The cheapest
| |
| | Advantage, home of free CCNA and CCNP
|
| introduction router, and it can support a
| |
| | tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study
|
| vast majority of the commands that you
| |
| | Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study
|
| will need to learn for your CCNA test.
| |
| | Packages.
|
| All 2500 routers that we will discuss
| |
| |
|
