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Setting
up your Cisco lab
It's never been easier or (relatively)
less expensive to build a Cisco lab to study for Cisco qualifications
- the CCIE, CCNP and CCNA. Though it is still expensive to home
study for Cisco Certifications than say the MSCE where generally
only a single machine will suffice.
An absolute basic lab would consist
of just two routers. The Cisco 2503 (2 serial, 1 Ethernet, 1
BRI) or 2501 (2 serial, 1 Ethernet) seems the most popular -
these are very abundant as they were a best seller as a local
office router. They are becoming replaced by the 1600 and 2600
series. These are the most likely routers you are going to find
secondhand or if you have to buy them new are most widely available
from retail catalogues at discounts.
|
2501 |
1 Ethernet 2 serial |
|
2503 |
1 Ethernet 2 Serial 1 ISDN BRI |
|
2505 |
8 port hub 2 Serial |
|
1601R |
1 Ethernet 1 serial 1 WAN Interface Card slot |
|
1603R |
1 Ethernet 1 ISDN BRI 1 WIC Interface |
|
1605R |
2 Ethernet 1 WIC slot |
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Remember with the 1600 to check which WIC card they are
fitted with (if any). |
Don't bother with the 2502 - Token Ring
unless you happen to have Token Ring NIC's and MAU's available
to build with. Beware of buying anything in the Cisco 700 series
- they don't run Cisco IOS which is what you are trying to learn.
You need to connect your two routers
serial interfaces back to back to bring the serial lines up using
a DCE cable on one and a DTE cable on the other. Part numbers
for cables for the 2500 routers are:
|
CAB-X21MT |
Male
DTE X.21 cable 10 feet long |
|
CAB-X21FC |
Female
DCE X.21 cable 10 feet long |
The 1600 cables depend which interfaces
you have (the WIC slot can accept different WAN interfaces) check
Cisco documentation.
For CCNP and CCIE you are going to need
at least three routers because the network scenarios you need
to set up are going to be much more complicated, re-distributing
routes into OSPF and BGP etc Again the 2503 is a popular choice
because they have two serial ports and one Ethernet. You are
not going to have fantastically large routing tables so memory
limitations will not matter too much. Adding multi interface
routers like a 4000 would be a luxury item in a home lab if you
keep an eye open for bargains. Obviously the 7000s and beyond
are out of reach of individuals.
Servers and workstations
You are going to need devices on your
network to test connectivity from and to. Here the rise of Linux,
FreeBSD and public domain software is a great help. Go get a
book about Linux (I recommend Caldera Linux as being easier to
install and administer) with a copy of Linux on CD and you can
use this to turn any old 486 PC into a web server, mail server,
DNS server. Caldera Open Linux will also spurt out IPX and AppleTalk
and soon Linux will also support DECnet. You can use the servers
to keep TFTP files of configs and IOS images.
Ethernet hubs
Luckily Ethernet hubs are really cheap
now and you can buy them in most PC shops - a 10 Mbps is OK.
Or you can string together lengths of Thinnet Ethernet cable
with transceivers which will cost less than buying hubs. Most
NIC's still have RJ connectors for Thinnet connectors.
Protocol Analyser
PC based protocol analysers are also
relatively inexpensive. See the side bar for URL's.
Nice to haves.
An ISDN line simulator (2000-4000 GBP
Black Box) - v.expensive cheaper to get an actual ISDN line or
two to do real life dial on demand.
A digital circuit simulator (400 GBP
Black Box) replaces the need to mess about with DTE-DCE cables
if you have devices where you can't simulate a digital circuit
(leased line) with IOS itself.
You can simulate a Frame Relay service
with a third router set up as a FR switch.
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Buying secondhand
Cisco gear for home labs
Guide prices
GBP (pounds sterling) (April 2003)
|
Item |
New (list) |
Used |
|
2501 |
n/a |
350 |
|
2503 |
n/a |
415 |
Online auctions
The easiest places to search for are online auctions
like QXL.com and ebay.com - we would add the caveat that as with
all online auctions be careful that the seller knows what they
are selling. We have seen some photographs of things which do
not match the description of what is being sold. You should at
least learn what
a 2503 looks like before buying one.
Used networking equipment
vendors
Prodec is a good source
of used Cisco gear in the UK and often do bundle deals 2x2503
plus cables 1xDTE 1xDCE for 1500-1700 GBP.
Ciscodata in the US specialize in used Cisco equipment and offer deals to Cisco Cert. students. Their CCNA bundle consists of 2x2501 and the cables for 950 USD, and a CCIE bundle consists of 1x4000 and 2x2501 is currently offered at 2795 USD.
Remember if you are importing equipment from the US into Europe you will have to pay VAT (sales tax) which the courier will normally collect from you upon delivery along with an admin. charge. A US dealer will not bill for VAT, or quote VAT inclusive prices.
Software based protocol
analysers
Triticom
Lansleuth
Precision Guesswork |