HI IT experts. I want to break in the field of routers and switches. I pick Cisco because majority of universities validate it as credits. But I'm the kind of person that learns by doing it. I was contemplating buying some use equipment but further down I saw that is a high risk and ofcourse Cisco OEM equipment is expensive. Y contemplated Cisco packet tracer but It was asking for other subscription. Any suggestions? As far as labs here. Everything seems to be well in placed. Not to build something from scratch.
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Router and Switches
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If you're looking to build a lab, I would recommend you check ebay for used cisco routers and switches that run the 15.x IOS. You could probably get by with 5 devices. 3 routers and 2 layer 3 switches. But that doesn't include the cost of cabling and racking it...so pretty expensive even for a small stack as I've suggested.
If you've got about $200 US dollars, you can wait about a week and get the Cisco CML...this is a virtualized simulation platform that runs emulators of the devices...and they come with them. But it does require you to have a machine that can do virtualization and plenty of RAM (min 16...but really min 32)...so still not cheap.
If you're sole purpose is to learn, through ITProTV you have access to our lab partner labs that have real equipment if you're a premium member subscriber. This is your most cost effective option and will give you experience with real equipment. Also you get access to their lab they've setup...essential a lab guide.
So those are your options, you have before you now. Thanks for being a member!
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Yes. My company has a premium subscription. But About that Lab, How can I access Cisco CML? I have two computers prepare for it. one 16 G other 32 G and Others. But yes I want to learn because I have lost opportunities because I haven't been too much involved in routers and switches world.
Thanks for your reply.
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@Victor-Rosa-Serrano Word is the personal CML will be released on May 12th.
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Yes..it's actually announced now. Like all things, we must wait...sometimes Cisco announces a date...and it's not there.. 🧐 There are other times, Cisco doesn't announce a date and then it appears. (e.g. the new certification track back in 2018, the exam blueprints didn't get announced until June...then it was. sometime before the exam date was announced.😮
