There is a real revolution today among CCNA and CCNP candidates. More and more of you are turning your back on "router simulators" and putting your own CCNA and/or CCNP Home Lab together, which is the best way to totally prepare to pass these tough Cisco exams.
Laptop Battery I get hundreds of emails every month from CCNA and CCNP candidate who are putting together their first lab or adding to their existing one. I'm always glad to help with suggestions, and I thought I'd list five common questions regarding home labs here.
Errata Description Table of Contents Author Information Perfect Your Cisco(r) Networking Skills on a Virtual Network! If you're serious about passing the CCNA exam, on experience with routers and switches. This unique software product offers unlimited opportunities for you to practice your skills on a virtual network. -or design your own custom networks and labs. An affordable alternative to products and courses costing hundreds, even thousands, of dollars, the CCNA Virtual Lab, -and in the real world.
Thinkpad Do I have to spend thousands of dollars?
Occasionally, during your CCNA and CCNP studies, you'll run into a term that just doesn't quite make sense to you. (Okay, more than occasionally!) One such term is "reverse telnet". As a Cisco certification candidate, you know that telnet is simply a protocol that allows you to remotely connect to a networking device such as a router or switch. But what is "reverse telnet", CCNP home lab setup
Microsoft No! There are vendors all over the web, as well as on ebay, who sell used Cisco routers and switches to Cisco exam candidates like you every single day. They sell kits that consist of multiple routers and switches, as well as single routers and switches. You can add one piece at a time, or make a larger investment. You can spend just a few hundred dollars and put together a very nice lab.
CCNA Virtual Lab, Titanium Edition ( 0470148942)-- on practice with routers and switches is critical for success on the CCNA exam, yet the costs associated with the required hardware are prohibitive. drop technology, the CCNA Virtual Lab, Titanium Edition allows users to create a simulated lab using an unlimited number of routers and switches. Users can then either follow the lab exercises provided or experiment with the hundreds of configuration commands built into the simulator. An extensive Help menu is available to guide users through complex tasks.
Laptop Computers What's an "access server"?
Cisco networking authority Todd Lammle has completely updated this new edition to cover all of the exam objectives for the latest version of the CCNA exam. Todd’s straightforward style provides lively examples, understand analogies, world scenarios that will not only help you prepare for the exam, but also give you a solid foundation as a Cisco networking professional.
Laptop Computer It's not what it sounds like. When I first heard the term, I thought of a typical server like we see in LANs every single day. An access server is actually a Cisco router that allows you to connect to multiple other routers and switches without continually moving the rolled cable around.
821, the first exam in Cisco' exam Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification track. Understand networking for the small or home office market, prepare for the exam, and acquire the skills you need with this comprehensive guide. Inside you'
Desktop Computer You don't have to have an access server right away, but once you add a few more routers and switches to your lab, you'll get tired of moving the rollover cable from console port to console port. (The console port is used to directly connect your PC to the router.) You'll find an access server is easy to set up and configure, and will save you quite a bit of time.
Notebooks What's a "frame relay switch"?
Lenovo Again, it's not quite what it sounds like. A frame relay switch is not a switch; it's a Cisco router that has been configured to serve as a frame relay provider in your home lab.
Hard Drive This is very close to being a "must" for your home lab. You don't need it right away if your budget allows for only one or two routers to get started. To truly practice frame relay map statements and see the effect of different frame relay statements, you'll need a Cisco router to serve as a frame switch. Again, the configuration is easy, and having a frame relay switch in your home lab will give you practice that will be invaluable on exam day.
Travelstar Do I need a switch? What switch should I buy?
Gateway I recommend you get at least one switch in your lab; two if your budget allows. Make sure that at least one of your switches has an IOS; 1900 switches do not have an IOS and while they're better than not having a switch, they're not going to give you the practice you need to pass the CCNA and CCNP. Look to the 2500 family of switches.
Laptop Parts I want to build my CCNP lab and then use it for the CCIE. What should I buy?
Software It's impossible to tell what technologies and devices will be on the CCIE lab, even if you zip through the CCNP and then take the IE within six months. Cisco refreshing the CCIE lab blueprint every six months, and different technologies can be taken off the lab. While Cisco gives plenty of notice that these changes are going to take effect, it can be a big pain in your wallet if Cisco takes something off of the exam after you spend a bundle to add it to your lab.
Hard Drives As an example, Cisco is in the process of removing ISDN and ATM from the CCIE Routing & Switching lab. If you bought an ATM switch for your lab, you've got an expensive paperweight right now. While you may be able to practice your core protocols on a CCIE home lab, it's going to be difficult and expensive to keep your home lab totally current with the Cisco lab blueprint.
Electronics The decision to put together your own CCNA or CCNP home lab is the best decision you can ever make - and I speak from experience. With home labs becoming less expensive every day, it's becoming more affordable as well. Start looking into used Cisco router vendors today (ebay is a great place to find some vendors, as is Google), and you can be practicing on REAL Cisco routers and switches soon - and be totally prepared for CCNA and CCNP exam success.
Canon
Desktop Pc Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage (http://www.thebryantadvantage.com), home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, Ultimate CCNP Study Packages, and CCNA CBT video training. Pass the CCNA exam ,BSCI exam , and BCMSN exam with Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933!
Desktop Computers For a copy of his FREE "How To Pass The CCNA" or "How To Pass The CCNP" ebook and receive a FREE CCNA and CCNP question every day, just visit the website and claim your free copies!
[ Comment, Edit or Article Submission ]
