GNS3 QUESTION 3

[maczen]

Let's say that I have GNS3 up and running on a couple of PCs (Emulating a Cisco 7200 series) and I want to "see" those "Routers" on my network.. In other words I have my actual equipment and I wish to run a straight-through from the GNS3 box (PC1's NIC) to one of my switches and place him on a subnet so that he shows up so that I can ping/traceroute to him ETC.

Example----------3640------------------
-------------------Cat2924XL-----------
-------------------PC1 Emulating 7200--

I will of course expand upon this setup once I get the basics working.... Also, do I need to setup the Microsoft loopback for this to work? These are Windows XP machines that I will be playing with for this..

I will be perfectly content enulating one router per PC for this scenario but if it is possible to do more than even better.. (That way I can place them on separate subnets in pairs)... Anyway, just a thought... Thanks for everything guys!

 

[maczen]

I wanted to elaborate on this.. I did not explain it very well above..

I wish to take a PC with GNS3 installed and emulating a Cisco 7200 router. Let's assume that I have already done this and everything is working fine.
Now I wish to connect this PC to my lab. So I place the PC in the same subnet that I wish to connect to and configure the addressing so that:
3640 e0/0 = 192.168.1.1/24
PC1's NIC = 192.168.1.2/24
PC1's Default Gatway = 192.168.1.1/24 (3640 router)

Now that the addressing is properly configured, cabling is done and tested and GNS3 is properly installed and setup to this point.. What would I have to do to "see" the 7200 router on the 3640? I would like to be able to be able to ping and even telnet into the 7200 from my 3640.
I saw a post regarding setting the Microsoft Loopback Interface but was not sure if that is what I am looking for here... Any info would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks again guys!
~B
GNS3 Novice

 

[maczen]

OK.. I have located something similar to what I am wanting to do here...

http://www.blindhog.net/cisco-dynamips-virtual-wan-with-ethernet-connection/

This basically allows you to connect from your PC (via the MS/*Nix loopback interface) to the virtual WAN that you have created; however, this traffic makes it out to the internet through a Linksys router.. Bingo! At least I know that what I am hoping to accomplish can be done..

You can basically supplement your home lab with GNS3 to cater to nearly anything that you could want to do.. This is currently theoretical but if this is indeed the case then it would make more sense to build a "switch-centric" home lab as switches appear to be the weakness of GNS3 at the moment. Basically use GNS3 as your router base.. with 3640/7206 model support you shouldn't have an issue creating one heck-of-a lab! I now own 4x 3640, 1x 2610, 1x 2612 and 1x 2620... However, my laptop will emulate 4x 3640 without flinching... I am going to see if I can run a 12 to 13 router lab with 4 to 5 of them being emulated... Can kind of plug in the scenario that you want... This is actually really cool... Now.. just have to make sure that I can get it to work.. LoL

Later Guys!

 

[CiscoGuy33]

maczen,

Sounds like an interesting idea, I have never played with GNS3 - will have to give it a try.

Just rebuilt the CCNA lab at school for my use and the students - needed to get it up to the new test standards. Some things I just picked up for the lab - 3620 running 12.3 and SDM, 2610XM running 12.3 and SDM, 2 2650s (128/32) running 12.4 and 3 2924-XL, 2 with fiber uplinks.

I will use one of the existing (from old lab) 2610 (64/16) 12.3 for a Frame Relay Switch and one of the 2611 (64/16) 12.3 as another routing spot in the lab.

The lab is now 6 routers, 6 switches, 2 hubs and 10 computers. I will put links to pictures up once it is done!

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

 

[maczen]

Awesome!
The lab at school currently has three 2621XM (12.2) with 32DRAM.. (Won't take 12.4 yet but they are supposed to be buying more RAM/Flash) and three 2950's.. WIC-1T's in the 2600's.. The setup isn't as good as you have.. Definitely want to see the pics! I have my rack coming in tomorrow and am VERY close to where I want to be with my home lab! I will take a couple of pics too once I get it set up this weekend! (If UPS doesn't reschedule delivery) LoL...

Half way through the last book in the course.. Then a review.. (I have both of the 31 days before.. CiscoPress books) then I take ICND2... (After some quality time with my lab of course) LoL... Can't wait to dive into the first CCNP routing test!

GNS3 is awesome in some regards.. I definitely recommend playing with it... Takes a little to get it going the first time but it's worth the learning curve! No way would I say that it could replace a lab but it can definitely compliment one.

OK.. Talk to you guys later!

 

[maczen]

Hey Cisco.. Got my rack in.. Waiting on some 3640 mounts and some extra Skeletek nuts/bolts.. but threw some pics up on MySpace.. (Just created an account).. Been meaning to create a blog site but no time at the moment!

http://www.myspace.com/my_cisco_space

There is nothing there but my in-work lab... By the way that 2500 is actually a 2511 (not the RJ.. Sigh)

My lab is currently:
4x 3640
1x 2610
1x 2612
1x 2620 (Waiting on shipment.. Came with AdTran CSU/DSU ext)
1x 2511
4x 2924
1x 2950

Still to come:
2x 2950
1x 7206 nonVXR
1x 3550
Then I am done!!! LoL Other than toys like the iBoot/iBootBar ETC...

OK.. Later!!! Have some studying to do...

 

[burtsbees]

Just remember---keep those routers about 2U spaces apart from eachother---the fans are on the bottom! The switches blow out the back, so keep the back of the rack itself at least 3 feet away from a wall.

Burt

 

[CiscoGuy33]

Burt,

Good point on the fans/heat with the routers and switches!

I have wire management things 1 u right below each of the routers and they do not extend under the routers at all - they extend forward and hold any wires between the router and switch under it so I have about 2 u under each router.

The stack is divided into 4 cities Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and Denver (A, B, C and D) each city is a different color for the LANs - Atlanta - Blue and Black networks (2611), Boston - Red - 2610XM, Chicago - Green 2650 and Denver - Grey - 2650 - Denver connects by Fast Ethernet to Denver "E" (Denver is a campus in my network world) Denver "E" is a 2611 and has the grey LAN connecting to "D" and a yellow LAN.

This 5 router setup was based on the Cisco Academy orginal "pod" of 2 2514s and 3 2501s and at least 2 1900 switches.

I have 10 computers connecting in all along the way - each screen is set to the LAN color so it is easy to know that you are in Boston, of course all cat 5e cables match the LAN. I want the students to understand that if you are at the console in Boston and you telnet to Atlanta and "screw" something up - you just can not reach over and move the "baby blue cable" ! At one point I had a large room for the lab and was able to spread stuff out - each city had it's own rack and 2-3 computers.

As for WAN - the stack has a Frame Relay switch (2610) in Boston, Boston is the hub and Atlanta, Chicago and Denver are all spokes.

Labs are a great way to learn - fixing the routers, backing up to TFTPs, racking the equipment and just understanding the "lay of the land" has been a great help to many students!

Enjoy!


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

 

[CiscoGuy33]

maczen,

Saw your pictures - I sent you a "friend" request.

I will get pictures up next week!


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

 

[maczen]

Thanks Guys!
I will rearrange again! Question... I do not see any vents for fans on the bottom of the 3640's like I see on the 25/2600's... Can I stack the 3640's directly on top of one another like the switches or do they need 2U of space as well?

I will be sure to space the 25/2600's apart but am curious about the 3600's...

Thanks again!
~B

 

[burtsbees]

Well, I'm not sure where the 3640's vent---they must vent out of the back, in which case it's okay to stack them one on top of another. Just the 2600's, 1U apart. Thanks for the star---that gives me 219, and lgarner has the most (227, or something...)lol---just kidding! Not that I've actually counted or anything...lol

Burt

 

[maczen]

Congrats on the stars! Good luck! And thanks for the advice on the rack!

 

[CiscoGuy33]

maczen,

I have a 3620 (got it at Cables and Kits - said you referred me) and the fans are on the front under the green bezel - I am sure the 3640 is the same. Of course I feel the back with all the connections (except the con and aux) is the front - or at least that is what I face out!

So yes you can stack them - just give the 2600s some room to breathe

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

 

[lerdalt]

With all the talk about home lab racks, here is a trick one of the electricians at work gave me. He marks the outlet to the primary and secondary ups with different colored electrical tape. He goes so far as to use a primary color for the primary ups and secondary color to the secondary ups.

I've taken it a little further, I use the colored tape to mark both ends of a power cord. Makes it really easy to trace the cables in the back of a rack. Looks kind of funny, and I got made fun of by a couple of coworkers right up until they had to trace a power cord to figure out where it was plugged in.

 

[burtsbees]

I do the same thing, but with different colored wireties---comes in handy when doing clustered Alphas running OpenVMS, and split bus shelves connected to an HSZ-80 (SCSI) with all 6 channels!

Burt

 

[maczen]

Awesome.. Thanks for the advice guys!!! And thanks for the referral CiscoG!

 

[maczen]

Here is a really nice GNS3 topology! Thougt that I would share! Plus the James Bond Penguin is awesome too! LoL

http://www.monids.org/2008/01/my-cisco-virtual-lab-topology-i.html

Later All!

 

[burtsbees]

I don't understand connecting the routers with serial links and frame relay---I guess to practice with backup links...

Burt

 

[maczen]

I am about to reach the frame relay point with my lab.. What would you suggest connection-wise???

 

[CiscoGuy33]

Burt,

I agree - even a CCIE practice lab only has a few extra serial connections (other then the Frame Relay) as back-up links between just a few of the routers.

Here is a good site with a CCIE lab topology -

http://www.internetworkexpert.com/resources/ccierack.htm

When I set up a lab - I try to emulate what is done in the "real world" as much as possible or how the labs are set up for CCIE ( or as close as possible).

Then I know the students are seeing what they would on the job or on the ultimate exam. With so many connections - a mesh on a mesh you would never have to troubleshoot - if something failed - you would never know

Idea is to practice what you might really do.......

Just some thoughts!

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