Cisco CCNA / CCNP Tutorial: Where one lives stress Lab Fitting Specimen About
Region of your CCNA / CCNP edification is deciding what network topology to acquisition when you’re putting together your home lab. Some of you are starting with one or two routers or switches, while others are starting with more. A character recently sent me a rota of his Cisco routers and switches that he has available by reason of a home lab and asked in search my cure in coming up with the most qualified way to put them.
There is no “favourably” or “wrong” rebuttal to this theme; again, fragment of the information development is configuring and reconfiguring the diplomate topology of your lab. Let’s look at the routers and switches he has within reach, including the interfaces on each, and come up up with ditty achievable CCNA / CCNP haunt lab setup.
The apparatus list:
Two 3620 routers. Each has 1 serial refuge and 2 ethernet ports.
At one 3640 router. This has two ethernet cards, each with two ports, and two AUI ports.
Three 2503s, my special favorite in search home labs! These compel ought to 1 AUI anchorage, 2 serial interfaces, and single BRI interface apiece.
A particular 2524 router. This has one serial seaport, 1 ethernet mooring, and bromide BRI interface.
A woman 4500 router. This has eight BRI ports, 2 ethernet ports, and more importantly, four serial ports.
He also has a 5200 access server, an ISDN simulator, undivided 2924 whip, and joke 1924 switch.
Now, if you don’t arrange this much outfit to creation with, don’t dismay! Most CCNA / CCNP candidates don’t; this is more of an action in looking at what you do possess and using it to the utmost.
As I’ve mentioned in multifarious of my CCNA / CCNP to the heart lab articles, an access server is a great id‚e fixe to have. All he needs is an octal radiogram to connect his AS to the other devices we judge to from, and he’s all set. (If you be in want of an access server example configuration, there is harmonious on my website in the Home base Lab section.)
A frame relay lash is also huge to have, and the 4500 will make a skilful FR switch. Having a pattern relay cloud in your CCNA / CCNP cosy lab is a eximious character to punch experience configuring and troubleshooting put together relay, an fundamental artistry instead of CCNA success.
I would put away both of the 3620s on the layout relay cloud via the Serial interface, as well as two of the 2503s. That gives you four routers that liking be using mould relay to offer, and that’s the most we can from since the 4500 has four serial ports. The 4500 devise desideratum to be configured as a enclose relay switch and connected to the other routers via a DTE/DCE cable. (Again, if you for a scaffolding relay switch configuration, the one I drink in my pods is on the website in the verbatim at the same time situation as the access server configuration.)
The two 2503s that are on the frame relay cloud should also be connected via their BRI interfaces. The people’s home lab also includes an ISDN simulator, which is life-or-death to concede routers to communicate via their BRI interfaces. Principled get a couple of straight-through cables to link those two routers to the ISDN simulator and that segment is acquiescent to go. (Recall that you can’t fasten Cisco routers without delay via their BRI interfaces.)
All of the routers in this lab arrange at least anyone ethernet or AUI refuge, so we can tie them all to either one of the switches. The switches should be connected via at least two crossover cables to allow usage with trunking, forefathers span referendum, and VLANs. Having two switches really does count up somewhat a jot to a CCNA / CCNP home lab’s capabilities. You can procedure with different subnets and vlans with as well. Don’t be on edge to sink in - that’s what a home base lab is all almost!
So in the present climate we’ve got four routers connected via frame relay, two via ISDN, and the others via ethernet segments. Two of the routers that are not using their serial interfaces should be connected directly via their serial ports. For this, you’ll just fundamental another DTE/DCE cable. Sly how to diminish up the policy between two soon connected serial ports is an important CCNA finesse, and so is troubleshooting it. You should be qualified to bring such a influence up with your eyes closed, and in a minute you work with your own CCNA / CCNP cosy lab, you’ll be able to!
Also, don’t forget to combine a loopback interface to each sole of your routers. I like to utilize 1.1.1.1 an eye to R1, 2.2.2.2 for R2, and so on. Advertising loopbacks is another high-minded way to hire practice with RIP, OSPF, EIGRP, IGRP, and unvarying routing.
We’ve entranced a holdings of routers and switches and turned them into a nightmarish CCNA / CCNP home lab. Whether you’re working with two Cisco devices or ten, coming up with your own home lab topology is a immense learning contact and the beginning of developing your analytical and troubleshooting skills.
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