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Passing The CCNA and CCNP: Home Lab Shopping On Ebay |
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Whether you're just getting ideas for your Cisco home lab
or adding to your existing lab, ebay is a great place to get
ideas for your lab as well as pick up some great bargains.
Of course, the internet being what it is, there are always
going to be a few people looking to take your money while
shipping you inferior merchandise, or worse, no merchandise
at all. While these "dealers" are in the minority,
you still need to be careful when purchasing Cisco equipment
on ebay. In this article, I'll give you several tips on browsing
ebay ads for home lab ideas, and a few things to look out
for when purchasing equipment on ebay.
For those of you just starting your Cisco certification pursuit,
the idea of purchasing a home lab kit -- a set of routers,
switches, and perhaps some cables and study guides -- seems
like a good idea. Instead of putting your lab together one
piece at a time, these kits allow you to get a head start
on your studies.
One thing to watch out for in these kits is outdated equipment,
or the inclusion of outdated study guides. Often, vendors
will use these kits as a way to get rid of unwanted inventory.
The Cisco 1900 family of switches falls into this category.
A recent search on ebay for "ccna lab" showed seven
different CCNA lab kits that contained 1900 switches. The
problem here is that the current CCNA exams do not test on
the 1900 switches, which are menu-driven and do not have an
IOS. You'll need to be well-versed with switches that do have
an IOS, such as the 2950s.
The plus side here is that you will probably save money by
using 1900 switches. If you're on a tight budget, having a
1900 switch is better than no switch at all. If at all possible,
though, get a Cisco switch with an IOS.
The cables and transceivers included with these kits are
generally exactly what you need to set up that particular
kit, and this can be very helpful to those CCNA candidates
who are new to the various cables needed to physically configure
a home lab. Just make sure you're not buying a kit with 10
transceivers (used on AUI ports) when you've only got two
routers with Ethernet ports.
Watch out for kits that include outdated study guides. I've
seen four-year-old CCNA books included with some kits. If
you already have your study guides, feel free to ask the vendor
how much the kit costs without the books.
That leads me to the most important point. Get to know the
vendor before buying anything. Visit their website and check
their ebay feedback. If buying from an individual as opposed
to a reseller, find out what conditions the router or switch
has been kept in, and make sure to define the terms under
which they will accept returns. There's nothing wrong with
buying equipment from someone who's selling their CCNA/CCNP/CCIE
home lab, but just make sure you ask the right questions first.
Professional resellers generally have their return policy
right in their ebay ad; if they don't, ask for a copy.
Building your own CCNA and/or CCNP home lab is a little intimidating
at first, but speaking as someone who has climbed the Cisco
certification ladder from the CCNA to the CCIE, I can tell
you that it is the best investment you can make in your career.
Use a little caution, ask the right question, and soon you'll
be leaving the world of "router simulators" behind
- and you'll be developing your skills as a true professional
should: On real Cisco routers and switches!
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!
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