Cisco equipment

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Hi,

I am new learner to Cisco Networking. I am looking to start Ccent followed by CCNA.

I needed some advice on Cisco equipment. As I learn from the video provided by you, I am also looking to gain practical skills through the virtual lab as well as physical Cisco second hand switches and routers.

I would like to know which switch and router you would recommend I should purchase?

Many thanks

Hi Ronnie,

Thank you for your response, I really appreciate the help you have provided me with. I would like to also know, which router would you recommend I purchase?

Many Thanks,

@nida-khan,

For the CCNA path on equipment, you'll want to consider
a couple of layer 2 switches like a cisco 2950
a layer 3 switch like a 3560
ideally 3 routers (but you could make do with 2)

This will allow you to configure a triangle topology between routers ( 3 routers or 2 routers and layer 3 switch) for the routing protocols.

The switches can be attach as broadcast domain off of each router. You'll also be able to configure for STP and PVSTP+ and make routers as nodes to test for your port security features.

Because you have physical equipment available to you, you can also practice IOS resilence and password recovery.

routers should be running IOS 15.x and later with crypto (k9) features
the switches not as important in terms of the 15x but should have k9 or at least the 3560 should support the crypto

This may add up to a considerable monetary, space, electric bill investment. You may want to look at cisco kits available on ebay. If you the latest and best equipment without having to buy, you can also consider rack rentals in which you'll access them in the cloud.

Don't forget that with your ITProTV subscription you have access to the cisco labs through practice-labs.com too. Having said this, you don't have to do everything I listed, you could just buy a router and switch and configurations that require more you could use practice-labs.

It is hard getting Cisco hardware with up to date IOS installed. I did a Cisco Virtual Lab and use Packet Tracer. I messed with GNS but I would need to strip VIRL of the IOS files to get it to work completely and violate my EULA. Cisco also has 3000 minute practice labs for CCNP level that contain everything. I have not tried the ITPro stuff.

Hi Ronnie/Don, am ready to take my ccnp switch exam and I want to get my own home lab setup and running before I start my Tshoot study. Can you kindly help me check this listing on ebay.(https://www.ebay.com/itm/181701655498?ul_noapp=true) and give your candid advice? I have also requested 2 IP Phones to be added. My plan is to use these same devices for security cert and add a dedicated server along the line. In addition, I want the lab to have ccie R&S capability but not really taking the exam. By the way, what do you mean by "you can also consider rack rentals in which you'll access them in the cloud" in your reply to Khan.

Finally, I have read a lot of this and that about newbies setting up their own home lab and get confused at some point so I decided to seek your advice and strictly stick with it. I would really appreciate your assistance.

@ayodeji-oyekunle-0,

I believe the equipment will suffice if you are ready to develop your own labs to practice everything you need. Just remember to have a place to put the equipment because it will be heavy and they run at full speed. It's a nice lab. You'll enjoy this setup but it does come at a considerable out of pocket expense but it's the best experience.

Rack Rentals allow you access to same type of equipment and even more but you pay for access. You're renting access to the equipment that is already properly cabled. You'll have to schedule the time to use it wisely. The nice thing though is that you'll always have access to the latest equipment without having to worry about devices that may fail. Also, after achieving your certification, you don't have to figure out how to store or sell your equipment. It may be worth you time to consider

https://ine.com/collections/best-selling-products/products/rack-rentals

https://learningnetworkstore.cisco.com/cisco-learning-labs/for-ccnp-route-v2-0-50-hour-180-day-cll-ccnpr-v2-0-50h180d-020161

@ronnie-wong

Thanks, Ronnie. while I wait for the gears to arrive I have a quick question. Is it a must to have the Cisco Access Server? If not what is another alternative to avoid moving the console cable from device to device.

@ayodeji-oyekunle-0,

Your other option if you're not going to set up a terminal server with the octal cables to just SSH to each one using a tabbed terminal is what I do. The disadvantage of this is that you won't be connected via console cable but IP. This also means additional setup in terms of ssh. This will mimic what you'll normally do if you rented a rack equipment from a provider.

@ayodeji-oyekunle-0 On Amazon for about $40 you can get a USB to 4 serial cable. You can then connect blue console cables to this (a few bucks each). I bought two of these and 7 console cables for under $100. I now have 10 serial ports on my PC and I just static assign them to an entry in Devolutions remote desktop manager (home version - free for non commercial). This lets me have nice tabbed access to all my equipment without the cost of an access server. The drawback is the equipment must be in close proximity to your computer for the cables to reach.

https://www.amazon.com/Gearmo-Serial-Windows-Certified-Drivers/dp/B004ETDC8K/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1533849268&sr=8-5&keywords=usb+to+4+serial

My only issue of doing physical Cisco hardware is the power load, heat and noise in your house. First power, you might need a dedicated circuit for it and either a UPS or Line Conditoner from Tripp Lite to help with power issues. My house has dedicated circuits and Tripp Lite line conditioners because of the low power problems in the summer. Next, I put it in the basement to keep it cooler. They generate a lot of heat and when they get hotter the other fans come on. The noise is not for a house but a data center.

Thanks for the suggestions. I added the ssh config to the devices and it worked but there are few questions I want to ask.

1. Must the PC be connected physically to either of the devices for the ssh to work
2. Must the devices be connected together before you can ssh from one to another?

Coming to the TSHOOT lab, I was working on the FTP lab and I tried to replace the running config on NYEDGE1 from the FTP server 192.168.16.10 but i get this error:
NYEDGE1#$eplace ftp://192.168.16.10/NYEDGE1-configAug-15-09-46-35.295-1

This will apply all necessary additions and deletions

to replace the current running configuration with the

contents of the specified configuration file, which is

assumed to be a complete configuration, not a partial

configuration. Enter Y if you are sure you want to proceed. ? [no]: yes

Error: Could not open file ftp://192.168.16.10/NYEDGE1-configAug-15-09-46-35.295-1 for reading.
Please what did you think i did wrong to get this error?

@ayodeji-oyekunle-0 said in Cisco equipment:

Thanks for the suggestions. I added the ssh config to the devices and it worked but there are few questions I want to ask.

1. Must the PC be connected physically to either of the devices for the ssh to work
2. Must the devices be connected together before you can ssh from one to another?

For SSH to work, you do have to have connectivity between your test machine and the equipment. It doesn't mean they must be on the same subnet but they must have connectivity. So if you have them on different subnets, you'll have to provide routing between those subnets.

For SSH between two routers, this would be the same as the above.

Coming to the TSHOOT lab, I was working on the FTP lab and I tried to replace the running config on NYEDGE1 from the FTP server 192.168.16.10 but i get this error:
NYEDGE1#$eplace ftp://192.168.16.10/NYEDGE1-configAug-15-09-46-35.295-1

This will apply all necessary additions and deletions

to replace the current running configuration with the

contents of the specified configuration file, which is

assumed to be a complete configuration, not a partial

configuration. Enter Y if you are sure you want to proceed. ? [no]: yes

Error: Could not open file ftp://192.168.16.10/NYEDGE1-configAug-15-09-46-35.295-1 for reading.
Please what did you think i did wrong to get this error?

I'll have to run that lab to see what is happening...I'll post back here.

Check to see if you have connectivity to NYEDGE1 from the PLABCSCO01. If not you'll have to work through that...first.

My only suggestion is blocking SSH on your firewall router to your ISP. You don't want someone coming in from the outside.