I want to purchase a ASA 5506 x specially to consider potential future certifications like the CCNP Security track. However, I am still confused which model I should buy.
The licence model of cisco tells me not much ....I guess, for the ccna sec track it is enough with out the sec+ license and later on at ccnp I need all the $$$ licenses and even a 2nd firewall ???
My lab setup consists of 6 L3 switches, 2 L2 switches and 4 routers with IOS 15.x and some hwics and wic for serial connections.
Well if you're preparing with an eye to the future and not only the CCNA Security track. You may need to the consider the 5506-x with firepower. For the CCNA Sec, you really just need to be able to configure it for security and understand the basic configuration but the objectives do call out identifying and seeing some of the firepower details.
If you've got the money to do so, by all means get it! but a more cost effective solution you may want to look into would possibly online equipment rental through a lab solution provider. There are pros and cons to this approach. for example, one of the benefits of this approach is that the equipment is setup and some of them even have preconfigured lab guides to help you prepare. The negative of this approach is time limits when you schedule a time, you've got to use it or lose it.
Cordially,
Ronnie Wong
Edutainer, ITProTV
*if the post above has answered the question, please mark the topic as solved.
**All "answers" and responses are offered "as is" and my opinion. There is no implied support or guarantee by the ITProTV team.
So you suggest to get the base model (around 400$) and buy FirePower later ?
Regarding to rack rentals...yes I have more than 180 hours in that at INE. However....when I turn my head to the left and seeing my cisco stack...it would be such a pitty to me, not to keep using the hardware. Even the investment in cables cost a fortune.
Yes, I would think so. I hate telling people how much to spend and what to spend it on. 
I do love the idea of having the equipment but at the same time the cost in cabling and electricity is a big consideration for me if I were doing it too.
For the CCNA Security it really is concentrating on the Router IOS security and some of the configuration for the Cisco ASA. I would do everything I could by CLI and then worry about the GUI. If you can do the CLI and understand it, then finding it on the GUI is easy by comparison.
Cordially,
Ronnie Wong
Edutainer, ITProTV
*if the post above has answered the question, please mark the topic as solved.
**All "answers" and responses are offered "as is" and my opinion. There is no implied support or guarantee by the ITProTV team.
I am a CLI warror since C-64 times 
This will serve you well on the CCNA Security Exam. Have fun!
Cordially,
Ronnie Wong
Edutainer, ITProTV
*if the post above has answered the question, please mark the topic as solved.
**All "answers" and responses are offered "as is" and my opinion. There is no implied support or guarantee by the ITProTV team.
