My Home Lab CCNA Setup

[MacDiesel12]

Would the following be a good setup for a home lab to study for CCNA?

(2) Cisco 2514 Routers
(2) Cisco Switches - One is a 2950 and the other is a 1924
(1) Console Cable
(2) Back to Back Serial Cables

Thanks in advance!!

 

[maczen]

Mac,
I would suggest losing the 1924 switch and purchasing another 2950 (Actually three switches would be best!)

Other than that it looks good with the exception of a 12.4 IOS capable router. I would suggest buying either a 2600 series XM or a 3640 router and adding it to your stack! Then a few CAT5e cables in addition to the B-to-B serials and you should be goood! List below..

1x 3640 w/ NM-1FE2W and WIC-1T <OR> 2620/21XM w/ WIC-1T
2x 2500 series routers
3x 2950 Switches
3x Serial Back-to-Back cables
3x CAT5e patch cables
1x CAT5e crossover cable

Also you will eventually want an Access Server for your lab! We have discussed options on several occasions in this forum so just digg a little (look for labs)

B Haines
CCNA R&S, ETA FOI

 

[CiscoGuy33]

MacDiesel12,

Billy is right on target above HOWEVER , so that you have a little understanding ............

Do yourself a favor before you BUY anything - READ this 9 part blog on setting up a home CCNA lab at Network World by Wendell Odom, CCIE and Cisco Press author -

http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/24916

It will answer questions you did not even know that you had

E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[CiscoGuy33]

MacDiesel12,

One more thing, make sure you check your prices AND if you are going to go with 2514's (these are very old and should be DIRT cheap) make sure that they have 16 DRAM and 16 FLASH - this is the max for these units.

I would also try to get them with a 12.3 IOS and remember YOU WILL NEED 4 TRANCEIVERS FOR THE AUI ETHERNET INTERFACES ON THOSE 2514's, that will run you another 4 X $11 = $44 if they are not including them.

To give you some kind of idea of $$$, I just got 2 2610's on Ebay for $33 (for both of them ), these are a bit newer then the 2514's, they have 5 serial interfaces with the modules that came with them so you can find some deals if you look!!

Just be very aware of any CCNA labs with 2500 routers and 1900 switches UNLESS the price is very low!!!!!

Good luck!!

E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[burtsbees]

Uh oh...now there are two mac's...

 

[silverhairb]

Just what I was thinking. I guess one is "zen" and the other "truck"? And we haven't even discussed message authentication yet.

[the other] Bill

 

[maczen]

LoL... Funny!

B Haines
CCNA R&S, ETA FOI