I'm from a microsoft certification background and I am wanting to get Cisco certification. I am currently planning to start off with a CCNA certification and work my way forward from there. So i guess my first question is with Lab simulators. Which one would be the best to handle CCNA and possible beyond that? What would be the recommended cert to take after that? Thanks in advance for any help.
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Certs and Lab Simulators 1
- Thread starter tizigman
- Start date
Boson/Cisco CCNA simulator. There is a "upgrade" path to the new CCNP simulator coming out shortly.
MikeS
Find me at
"Take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots."
Sun Tzu
MikeS
Find me at
"Take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots."
Sun Tzu
-
1
- #3
CiscoGuy33
Instructor
tizigman,
I agree the Cisco Press/Boson sim is one of the best out there but ....... do you just want a CCNA or do you plan to work with it?
With the sim - you really should go out to Ebay and pick up a few Cisco 2501 or 2503 routers and a 1900 switch and work on "real" routers. So many of my students work with sims all week and come into the lab on Saturday and just can not get over how "real" network hardware acts different then a software sim.
You just can not do some things on a sim. Have not seen it in a sim but I do not think that you can fake a corrupted flash or erased IOS and go to ROMON to reload the IOS from a TFTP server on a sim. Or break a password and I am sure a bunch of other things.
Don't get me wrong - sims are GREAT but they are not the end all beat all and I not saying you could not pass a CCNA or CCNP exam without a real router but .......
This is very important if you plan to work with the cert. or move onto CCNP or CCIE.
I am working on CCNP now (have passed the Advanced Routing exam) I have 15 Cisco routers and 6 switches so I can practice some very complicated concepts, but I also want to get my CCIE in the next 2-3 years.
I work on both sims and real routers as often as I can.
I hope this helps.
E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +
I agree the Cisco Press/Boson sim is one of the best out there but ....... do you just want a CCNA or do you plan to work with it?
With the sim - you really should go out to Ebay and pick up a few Cisco 2501 or 2503 routers and a 1900 switch and work on "real" routers. So many of my students work with sims all week and come into the lab on Saturday and just can not get over how "real" network hardware acts different then a software sim.
You just can not do some things on a sim. Have not seen it in a sim but I do not think that you can fake a corrupted flash or erased IOS and go to ROMON to reload the IOS from a TFTP server on a sim. Or break a password and I am sure a bunch of other things.
Don't get me wrong - sims are GREAT but they are not the end all beat all and I not saying you could not pass a CCNA or CCNP exam without a real router but .......
This is very important if you plan to work with the cert. or move onto CCNP or CCIE.
I am working on CCNP now (have passed the Advanced Routing exam) I have 15 Cisco routers and 6 switches so I can practice some very complicated concepts, but I also want to get my CCIE in the next 2-3 years.
I work on both sims and real routers as often as I can.
I hope this helps.
E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +
- Thread starter
- #4
I do plan on going further then just a ccna. Right now my mcsa, network+, etc seems to be worthless in the DAllas/Fort Worth area. Saw some interesting opportunities for ones that have cisco certs.
After the CCNA I take it that ccnp is next followed by? I agree that working with actual hardware is really the only way to go and I'll take a look on ebay tonight and tomorrow and see if i can pick up a few of them if the price doesn't go beyond a few hundred dollars.
After the CCNA I take it that ccnp is next followed by? I agree that working with actual hardware is really the only way to go and I'll take a look on ebay tonight and tomorrow and see if i can pick up a few of them if the price doesn't go beyond a few hundred dollars.
CiscoGuy33
Instructor
tizigman,
2 of several Cisco paths -
Routing and Switching -
CCNA - CCNP - CCIE (Routing and Switching)
Security -
CCNA - CCSP - CCIE (Security)
Go to for all the different paths depending on your interests and job market - security is hot.
I myself feel that I want to be at least a CCNP before I move onto CCSP - I feel I want to have a GREAT grasp of Cisco Networking before I try to defend it!!!
As far as routers on Ebay - look around. For 2500's, you want 16 RAM 16 FLASH - also make sure you get latest IOS unless you have access to Cisco IOS's.
Do a search for "labs" in the router - cisco area.
E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +
2 of several Cisco paths -
Routing and Switching -
CCNA - CCNP - CCIE (Routing and Switching)
Security -
CCNA - CCSP - CCIE (Security)
Go to for all the different paths depending on your interests and job market - security is hot.
I myself feel that I want to be at least a CCNP before I move onto CCSP - I feel I want to have a GREAT grasp of Cisco Networking before I try to defend it!!!
As far as routers on Ebay - look around. For 2500's, you want 16 RAM 16 FLASH - also make sure you get latest IOS unless you have access to Cisco IOS's.
Do a search for "labs" in the router - cisco area.
E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +
- Thread starter
- #6
The IOS is available from Cisco as long as you have an account or any number of people who might be willing to "share". Each of the routers should have come loaded with the IOS. You can make a copy of the IOS by using TFTP.
CCNA needs 3 routers... two end routers and one to act as a Frame switch. You can do anything needed for the CCNA at this point regarding routing.
Personal opinion.. forget the 1900 and get a 2900 series switch. The 1900 was EOL years ago and even though Cisco talks about them, your JOB focus more then likely will be of the 2900 type. The 1900 can be read about and be close enough.
MikeS
Find me at
"Take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots."
Sun Tzu
CCNA needs 3 routers... two end routers and one to act as a Frame switch. You can do anything needed for the CCNA at this point regarding routing.
Personal opinion.. forget the 1900 and get a 2900 series switch. The 1900 was EOL years ago and even though Cisco talks about them, your JOB focus more then likely will be of the 2900 type. The 1900 can be read about and be close enough.
MikeS
Find me at
"Take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots."
Sun Tzu
CiscoGuy33
Instructor
tizigman,
3 routers will normally let you practice most of what you need to do for the CCNA. You already have 2 Cisco ethernet routers, can pick up a Token Ring 2502 or 2504 usually very cheap on Ebay ($30-$40) and use it for the 2 serial interfaces.
I have a link to a "free" CCNA Lab Book - most the labs are for 1, 2 or 3 router setups.
Here is a link to a free (PDF download) CCNA Lab Book - Learning by Doing: Cisco Certified Network Administrator (CCNA) Lab Manual version 4 volume 2, eBook by Matthew Basham
Matt was my "train the trainer" instructor.
Updates for IOSs are not free unless you have a Cisco "Smartnet" agreement for your equipment.
E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +
3 routers will normally let you practice most of what you need to do for the CCNA. You already have 2 Cisco ethernet routers, can pick up a Token Ring 2502 or 2504 usually very cheap on Ebay ($30-$40) and use it for the 2 serial interfaces.
I have a link to a "free" CCNA Lab Book - most the labs are for 1, 2 or 3 router setups.
Here is a link to a free (PDF download) CCNA Lab Book - Learning by Doing: Cisco Certified Network Administrator (CCNA) Lab Manual version 4 volume 2, eBook by Matthew Basham
Matt was my "train the trainer" instructor.
Updates for IOSs are not free unless you have a Cisco "Smartnet" agreement for your equipment.
E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +
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