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