CCNA lab setup

[Geo502]

I am in a little bind here. I take my test on monday and have been studing for quite a while now. I have been doing most of my stuff on the boson Netsim. I just purchased Cisco 2503,2514 and a Catalyst 1900 switch. I am having trouble with the setup of these routers. I only have one aui to rj45 transceiver and 1 back to back DTE/DCE cable. I have a linksys router that can feed the switch an ip.

what is the best way to set my lab up to get the most out of it for the exam? Also with the setup that i have what should I focus on the most with my setup?

I am getting really nervous, I dont want to have to study for a whole new test after NOV. 6. If I fail this coming test, I gave myself time to be able to take it before the deadline.

Thanks for all of the help you guys provide.

GEO502

 

[CiscoGuy33]

Geo502,

You are taking your exam Monday and you are asking how to setup your routers

First the CAT 1900 is NO LONGER on the "old" exam - so you can just use it as a place to plug in your Ethernet cables.

It might help a little with some basic switching concepts but other then that stick to the 2950 on the Sim if you have one.

Not sure why you need the Linksys to give an IP to the switch? Not sure WHAT your thinking is here!

As far as the routers - erase the configs and then configure them from top to bottom - do all the interfaces, set passwords, setup RIP v2 and EIGRP and OSPF if you can. Setup your banner, console, aux. and telnet with passwords.

Setup the interfaces with the back-to-back connecting the serial ports and setup the 3 Ethernet interfaces.

Not much you can do without the 2 other transceivers but you should still be able to config the Ethernet interfaces.

Make sure CDP is running and try the different "show" commands and see what you learn about the other router and the switch.

Run ALL other your show commands etc.

Practice backing up the config and IOS to a TFTP on your PC through the Ethernet port to the switch.

Practice password recovery on the routers and try some different debug commands!

Just setup the routers and then try the different commands you read about in your book.

Hope this helps!


E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[Geo502]

Thanks Broda,

I have been using the Netsim so I am use to setting up virtual networks. As far as the cabling and different scenarios went i didn't know where to go once i had the equipment. This is a great example to those that say hands on is better then the simulator.

As far as the linksys router coming into play. I wanted to be able to telnet into the equipment from my labtop and the way i figured to do this was to give an ip to the switch and then from the fastethernet of the switch go to the 2514 aui to rj45 transceiver and then from the 2514 serial 0 to serial 0 on the 2503(I hope that made cents). With the 1 cable and transceiver I had this was the only way I could see this happening.

Your tips are great and well appreciated.

The only thing i have going on now is that when i bought the 2514 from ebay the jerk gave me the wrong console user and pass.. Any ideas on this.


GEO502

 

[CiscoGuy33]

GEO502,

First your post may help others who do not know why we preach to have a "home lab" for networking and CCNA practice

You said - "I wanted to be able to telnet into the equipment from my labtop and the way i figured to do this was to give an ip to the switch and then from the fastethernet of the switch go to the 2514 aui to rj45 transceiver ....."

1) The CAT 1900 is a layer 2 device and DOES NOT NEED AN IP - you can set one so that you can telnet to it but that is NOT needed for what you want to do.

2) The Cisco 2514 is a 10base T (10mg) Ethernet router - you are NOT going to connect it to the "Fast Ethernet" trunking ports of the 1900 - you will connect it to the other 10base T ports! You should be able to connect your Linksys to the "Fast Ethernet" ports if you want.

As for the IP on the 2514 - that is where a good understanding of networking comes in - you should be able to go into the Linksys and set a "static" IP for the 2514, or if you have the right IOS on the 2514 you might be able to have it take a DHCP address from the Linksys (throught the 1900 switch). If not if you just use an IP about 10 above what your Laptop is using - you should be fine unless you have a bunch of computers on that Linksys.

You said - "The only thing i have going on now is that when i bought the 2514 from ebay the jerk gave me the wrong console user and pass.. Any ideas on this." uhhhhhh - you are working to be a CCNA - it is called "password recovery" I would suggest that you understand it at least before you try to get a job :-(

Just "Google" - "cisco password recovery" or look back a few posts and you should find what you SHOULD KNOW to break that password.

Good luck - I think that this hands-on work is going to help you a lot based on some of your questions that you have posted.




E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[burtsbees]

Do you know if they plan on covering password recovery on CCENT? They should. Buying routers and switches off of Ebay makes one a pro at that! Also, if I'm a CCNP, does that automatically make me a CCENT as well as CCNA and CCNP? If I pass a CCIE written, I know that recertifies me as CCNP and CCNA, but what about CCENT? I ask because so many employers have asked what certs I have. If I simply say CCNP, they tell me, "Oh---we're looking for someone who has a CCNA, sorry...". Mindless dolts...lol

Burt

 

[Geo502]

Another question, (CISCO 2514) Why wouldn't the IOS be able to detect the Serial ports.

When i do a configuration on the interface serial 0 it states that is is an unrecognized command. when I do a interface ?, serial is not an option.

ccna-router1(config)#interface ser?
% Unrecognized command



ccna-router1#SHOW VER
00:08:32: %SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console by console
Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software
IOS (tm) 2500 Software (C2500-G-L), Version 12.2(19a), RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2)
Copyright (c) 1986-2003 by cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Tue 30-Sep-03 02:27 by pwade
Image text-base: 0x0303F80C, dat



ROM: System Bootstrap, Version 5.2(8a), RELEASE SOFTWARE
BOOTLDR: 3000 Bootstrap Software (IGS-RXBOOT), Version 10.2(8a), RELEASE SOFTWAR
E (fc1)

ccna-router1 uptime is 8 minutes
System returned to ROM by power-on
System image file is "flash:c2500-g-l.122-19a.bin"

cisco 2500 (68030) processor (revision L) with 2048K/2048K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID 02935496, with hardware revision 00000000
Bridging software.
2 Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s)
32K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory.
8192K bytes of processor board System flash (Read ONLY)

Configuration register is 0x2102

Thanks guys

Geo502

 

[burtsbees]

Try IOS Hunter (Google it) for a different IOS for the 2500. If no luck, I can send you one in about a week---I'm going out of town, and I'm not taking any of my routers!

Burt