Young Cisco Learners

[MrNick0483]

Working in a K-12 enviroment as i do, i have some high school seniors ask me what switches and routers i would recommend them picking up for them to build a lab enviroment to practice on for the CCNA in the furture. I know when i was practicing i was using 3550's and a 2501 router. Is there something a little cheaper on the switching side that would be recommended for them to buy instead of a 3550 that could do the job for them and not cost them an arm and a leg.

 

[vipergg]

For a layer 2 switch it would be a 2950 . The 3550 is going to be the cheapest layer 3 switch you can get . 2500 routers are really old probably something out of the 2600 series would be better these days.

 

[burtsbees]

Three switches (2924 or 2950) and 3 routers, two 2620 and one 2620XM

Burt

 

[burtsbees]

http://www.tek-tips.com/threadminder.cfm?pid=473

 

[Minue]

Hi Burt
I wouldn't recommend the 2924 anymore.These switches don't support "Rapid spanning tree",some mac-address security features and update cisco commands,that are needed for the CCNA.
Regards

 

[CiscoGuy33]

MrNick0483,

Wendel Odom, CCIE and Cisco author has a great post at Network World on setting up a CCNA lab, both routers and switches, this would be a great place for these young students to learn exactly what would make a great CCNA lab -

http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/24916

He has also done the same for CCNP!!

Hope this helps!


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

 

[billyj1900]

I suggest taking the cheapest route by using Packet Tracer 5.0 or GNS3. GNS3 is much better, but the only fall back is it uses dynamips that sucks up your CPU. If you have one of those duo computers than it would be no problem running GNS3. GNS3 uses a real IOS so working with it is like using the real router. You can use GNS3 to study for the BSCI, ONT, and ISCW. Then use Packet Tracer to study for BCMSN.

 

[burtsbees]

Router sims and emulators might be okay for some things, but real routers and switches are definitely the best, as you can see different ways to physically cable things together, quickly unplug things (like floating static routes to see how the other takes over), and plus GNS3 does not support all platforms. Packet Tracer for CCNP tests? LOL!

Burt

 

[CiscoGuy33]

Burt,

I am with you especially at the high school level! These students need hands on with Cisco routers and switches and need to understand cabling from end to end. From a PC to a switch to a router to another router on to a switch and then another PC.

It is much different for people in the industry who work with the technology, first time learners such as high school students need to see the equipment, how the cables connect, what the different cables are for and how it all comes together.

Packet Tracer 5.0 or GNS3 and other sims are great for some things, but at least 1 rack of equipment let the students understand what it is all about.

Having taught CCNA at the college level for about 10 years, I can tell you first hand that the majority of students on the first day can not tell one cable from another and can not tell a router, from a bridge, from a switch and from a hub!

Just some thoughts!

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

 

[Cluebird]

Isn't the router the round thing that looks like a hockey puck? I don't see any in the racks so everything must be switches."

Simulators/emulators are good as supplements for real gear. 2950/2960 are the CCNA switches. 3550 with Enhanced Image for CCNP. 2600XM for routers.

With real gear, there are no excuses, "That's not the way a real router works!" Experience just cabling the devices together is invaluable.

 

[lerdalt]

hockey puck...that's good. Never heard that one before. I thought my explanation one time to the question "what does a router do?" ..."It routes." was good, but I have to remember the hockey puck thing.

 

[dearingkr]

You mean they don't look like hockey pucks?
Oh crap!
I just ordered a bunch from this nice salesman...

MCSE CCNA CCDA

 

[lerdalt]

I think this also brings new meaning to "router on a stick".

 

[CiscoGuy33]

Don't Laugh - I had students looking for the round blue things when I asked them which was the router

As Cluebird said - "Simulators/emulators are good as supplements for real gear" like I said earlier - some people get lots of hands on pratice with real gear at work ....... and some people or from my experience A LOT OF PEOPLE have never seen anything more then a Linksys or D-Link router :-(

These are high school kids - I KNOW ALL they have seen is dad's NetGear, D-Link or Linksys at home!!!

Just some thoughts!!

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

 

[lerdalt]

Having a couple of Dilbert flashbacks...the token ring is lost in the ethernet sort of thing.

 

[maczen]

Now that is funny! I agree completely! There is no substitution for the real thing... Also, GNS3 does not use a real IOS for switches.. Only for routers..

I would take a peek at the Wendell Odom blog listed above or even scroll through the Cisco Cert and testing forum also linked to above as there are several threads in regard to labs in there!!! Here are some links to other specific lab threads..

https://cisco.hosted.jivesoftware.com/message/3724#3724

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1497835

B Haines
CCNA R&S, ETA FOI

 

[maczen]

Actually read the first link... Scroll up to my first post... There are some good posts by Brian Mcgahan as well...

https://cisco.hosted.jivesoftware.com/message/3724#3724

I referenced a lot of info in regard to using 3640's and there is also an explanation in regard to why we shouldn't use a 2511 as an access server for remote access (unless you are willing to use telnet..lol)

B Haines
CCNA R&S, ETA FOI