My home lab has been sold, but the info below is still helpful for anyone who's interested in building a practice lab.
I built my lab with only one purpose in mind - to be used with ccbootcamp.com lab scenarios. When I started pursuing CCIE certification more than a year ago, ccbootcamp.com was the only place that offered complex lab scenarios similar to the real CCIE Routing and Switching lab exam. It is still true today, IMHO.
Using ccbootcamp.com Lab 8 as an example, below is the list of routers I have:
|
IOS, Enterprise + |
RAM, Flash (MB) |
Note |
||
| R1 - 2501 | 11.2(22) | 4, 8 | 1 Ethernet, 2 serial | |
| R2 - 2513 | 11.2(22) | 16, 8 | 1 Ethernet, 1 token ring, 2 serial | |
| R3 - 2504 | 11.2(22) | 8, 8 | 1 token ring, 2 serial, 1 BRI* | * No built-in NT-1 |
| R4 - 2505 | 11.2(22) | 8, 8 | 1 Ethernet* w/ 8 hub ports, 2 serial | * No transceiver required |
| R5 - 2522 | 12.0(7)T | 16, 16 | 1 Ethernet¹, 10 serial², 1 BRI³ |
|
| R6 - 2503 | 12.0(7)T | 16, 16 | 1 Ethernet, 2 serial, 1 BRI* | * No built-in NT-1 |
| R7 - 2514 | 12.0(7)T | 16, 16 | 2 Ethernet, 2 serial | |
| R8 - 2513 | 11.2(22) | 4, 8 | 1 Ethernet, 1 token ring, 2 serial | |
| R9 - 2511 | 11.2(22) | 16, 8 | 1 Ethernet, 2 serial, 16 terminal lines |
You can get more info from Cisco on the 2500 series routers and the 2511 access server.
Besides trying to save money, I bought only 2500 series routers because they are the cheapest ones used in the real lab exam. With these 9 routers, I can easily set up Lab 8 with very few adjustments:
I could have probably gotten away with fewer interfaces on some routers, but I like my equipment as close to the lab scenario as possible.
There's actually a 10th router, 2501, which was replaced by a 2513. The extra token ring interface on the 2513 was needed for Lab 12, hence the upgrade. There's nothing wrong with the replaced 2501.
| R10 - 2501 | 11.2(22) | 8, 8 | 1 Ethernet, 2 serial |
The following is a list of accessories. Some came with the routers when I purchased them, some were purchased separately:
What you will also need is Category 5 cables, both straight-thru and cross-over. Use cross-over cables when connecting Ethernet interfaces without a hub, but remember, 2505 has a built-in hub, so you should use regular (straight-thru) cables with it. I learned it the hard way, if you know what I mean.
By now, you probably already noticed this home lab does not have the following:
For the things I don't have (I did have two ISDN connections to my apartment), I just used ccbootcamp.com's on-line racks. Now that ATM LANE isn't covered on the lab exam anymore, you shouldn't need to use their racks as much as I did.
You are bidding on all 10 routers and all the accessories listed above. Minimum price is $7,000 because I can get at least that much if sold separately. Buyer pays actual shipping. I will ship within USA only. Everything is located in my apartment in Cambridge, MA (Boston suburb), pick-up welcome. I will accept Money Order, Bank/Cashier's Check, PayPal, or something equivalent. These routers have been my best friends for the last year or so, so I can guarantee everything is in working order. This is by no means a small investment, so please feel free to call or e-mail if you have any questions.
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After 14 months of part-time study (not counting time spent for CCNP), on May 9th, I received #7364 in San Jose. And who did I call minutes after I passed? Verizon... to disconnect ISDN lines as soon as possible.
Now the lab is for sale, so I can put the money back in the stock market and then lose it all.
And for anyone who's interested, I paid for almost everything myself from the very beginning. Below is the summary:
Last Update: June 16, 2001