 |
Passing The CCNA And CCNP: Cisco Home Lab FAQ |
 |
|
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.
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.
Do I have to spend thousands of dollars?
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.
What's an "access server"?
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.
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.
What's a "frame relay switch"?
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. 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.
Do I need a switch? What switch should I buy?
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.
I want to build my CCNP lab and then use it for the CCIE.
What should I buy?
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.
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.
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.
About the Author:
Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage,
home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study
Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages. For a FREE copy
of his latest e-books, “How To Pass The CCNA” and
“How To Pass The CCNP”, visit the website and download
your free copies. You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam
questions every day! Pass the CCNA exam with The Bryant Advantage!
|
|
|
|
Relevant Resources |
|
|
|
|
|
Need Cisco Hardware for your Cert? |
|
|
| Call 813.852.6400 now for more information to find the best router or switch to best help you with your certification exam. Having "real" hands-on experience is extremely beneficial not just for testing, but also ensures you are actually familiar with the device you are working on.
|
|
|
|
|
Cisco Routers |
|
|
|
|
|
Cisco Switches |
|
|
|
|
|
