Advice on a home lab

legendmir · New Member Joined: 30 Nov 2010 Posts: 4 Location: uk

Hi

I'd like to use ebay to set up a home lab, to study for the CCNA

Can anyone help recommend what I should use / be looking for?

Many thanks

fjohnson · **Post subject:** **Posted:** Tue Nov 30, 2010 10:29 am

You will need some basic switches and routers. Try to stay away from the 2500 routers and 1900 switches.
It's usually cheaper if you buy them in a bundle like 2 switches, 2 routers and it comes with all the cables you need.
To start off your lab I would recommend 2-2950 switches and 2-2600 routers. Make sure the routers have at least 1-ethernet port, the ports on the switch would depend on you.

Good luck with your studies.
_________________
FJohnson
A+, Network+, MCSE 2000.
soon CCNA.

legendmir · New Member Joined: 30 Nov 2010 Posts: 4 Location: uk

thankyou for the advice

how vital is it for all of the devices to have the latest ios.. ( i take it that the lastes is 12.4??)?

thanks

Headhunter · **Post subject:** **Posted:** Tue Nov 30, 2010 2:50 pm

not that vital for CCNA, 12.3 will do
_________________
Koen
CCSI #30501 CCNP CCIP CCVP CCSP CCDP Cisco Advanced Wireless LAN Field Specialist Cisco Unity Design Specialist Cisco IP Telephony Design Specialist JNCIS-ES JNCIA-ER JNCIA-EX MCSE MCSA:Messaging

legendmir · New Member Joined: 30 Nov 2010 Posts: 4 Location: uk

sorry just to confirm - to all devices need ios 12.3 plus? or just some of them?

thanks

kidvelvet · **Post subject:** **Posted:** Tue Nov 30, 2010 9:07 pm

Only the routers. Even the newer switches run 12.2.
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kidvelvet
www.kidvelvet.net

Yes, your problem is the most important. Just like everybody else's.

legendmir · New Member Joined: 30 Nov 2010 Posts: 4 Location: uk

if buy a 2620 which has .. say ios 12.0 how easy is it to upgrade to 12.4?

.. and how would i do it?

sorry to be a pain!!!

many thanks

kidvelvet · **Post subject:** **Posted:** Wed Dec 01, 2010 6:00 am

You would download any new code for a box from www.cisco.com and login with your account. If you don't have an account with a cisco contract, then you are not going to be able to download code.

The latest code for the 2620 is 12.3.

Once you download the code, you will need to upload the code through TFTP. The process can be found here:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/routers/ps259/products_tech_note09186a00801fc986.shtml
_________________
kidvelvet
www.kidvelvet.net

Yes, your problem is the most important. Just like everybody else's.

anandsoft · New Member Joined: 13 Apr 2010 Posts: 2 Location: India

Have you tried using Network simulators like Boson NetSim or CertExams.com Network Sim? They are cheaper and come with hundreds of worked out lab exercises and good for beginners. One can purchase a home lab when attempting advanced certs like CCNP and CCIE.