Oh, boy. Where to start? What kind of budget have we got? Are we looking for a room full of racks? Check out www.ciscokits.com and look at their recommendations. Yeah, they're in business to sell used equipment, but their suggestions are pretty good.

Iolair MacWalter
Network Engineer

Hey Krrish,

I too am studying for CCNP, got the new ROUTE exam booked up next month.

I've got a combination of lab equipment and GNS3 router simulator (it uses real IOS) can be a little temperamental but it's good for those topologies where you can't afford the kit. (Frame relay etc)

I have 5 Cisco 2600s and a couple of switches. Seems to do the job.

I always expect CiscoGuy to jump on these posts since I think this is one of his all time favorite questions to answer.  Guess I get to beat him to the punch on this one.

Take a look at Wendell Odom's blog.  He did a posting a while back on LAB setup.  Granted, mostly for CCNA, but this still can be a good foundation for your NP lab.
http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/24916

GNS3/Dynagen are good, but like RossHoskins points out can be tempermental.  Plus, I don't think it does any of the switching justice.  Not to mention that you have to come up with the IOS images.

Ciscokits.com is a great place to start, but don't forget about Ebay.  Of course, on Ebay you have to be a little careful, but lots of people have had good luck building out there labs from there.

I did my CCNP with some 2500/2600 routers, and 2950 switches.  Can't do everything with the 2500's, but worked great (and are cheap) for just an end router off of a frame-relay scenario.  I know some other folks were using 3640 series (I think, been awhile now) and were really loving those routers because of all the different modules available on them.

I do recommend getting a small rack to mount everything in.  I picked up a small ~25U rack, and put it on a base with wheels so I could move it around as necessary.  I also got a 24port patch panel, and punched down a couple ports to be T1 cross-overs.  That way I just had to have straight thru cat 5 cables for T1 connections.

 

Wendell Odom did a blog just for CCNP in 2008, but recently did an updated one.

http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/64523

Shows 3 levels of lab ($400/800/1200) based on 1721 routers and 2950 or 3550 switches.

Lerdalt,

Yes I love the lab questions but I have been swamped with work at school - enrollment goes up when the jobs etc tank people retool !!!!

YES - Wendell Odom has several great blogs on CCNA and CCNP labs - a great place to start for the right information!!

Hands on labs are the best way to learn as well as to be ready for the job interviews!!!

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