Router Requirements

[TSCustomer]

Can I use my Linksys router to follow allong with the CCNA training?

[Gosia]

For the CCNA course, you will not be able to use Linksys router to perform your configurations as this is a Cisco training and you are required to have Cisco equipment. There are no requirements as to what exact router or switch you need, as the Cisco configurations are the same on all of their routers and switches. Some more advanced routers will have more options and more complex configurations than the less expensive ones, but the exercises for your CCNA exam will be the same on all Cisco hardware.

Routers:
www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/routers/index.html
Switches:
www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/index.html

You will also be able to rent a rack from our CCNA instructor and create exact same network environment used in our training. No hardware purchase is necessary. All the information is in our CCNA course.

[TSCustomer]

So what do I need then?

[Kelly]

You will need Cisco 3 routers and 3 Cisco switches if you wish to follow the course in a lab environment. We do not sell that equipment here so I’m not sure what that would cost. You may be able to find something on e-bay or a like vendor for a lesser amount. You may also contact Chris Bryant directly who is the instructor for this course. He has made available his equipment for rack rentals at a reasonable rate. This would be a third party transaction and is not required to learn the material presented on our training CD. However, the option is available if you wish to simulate a lab environment.

[stick3r8]

Hello,

There is a site for lab training material for the cisco video training, Mr. Bryant give some suggestion regarding with the lab materials, where you can buy cheap one, I think the site is http://www.ciscokit.com/ just ask/look for Bryant advantage kit.

Cheers.

[Shan Gee]

Wendell Odom wrote a great guide on creating your own Cisco Lab. You can check it out at the below link:
http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/24916

A lot of the equipment can be found cheap on eBay. There are simulators out there that allow you to simulate the commands on a Cisco switch/router.

It looks like Cisco Press is releasing their own simulator some time in September. It looks like a great simulator, and knowing that it's from Cisco Press, I believe it will be one of the best simulators out there! Although I don't really recommend simulators because you don't get the actual experience that you do with the real equipment, I would still buy this for advanced configurations and it just makes it easier to perform a lot of labs. The Cisco Press simulator will be available in September. You can check this link for more info if you are interested:
http://www.ciscopress.com/bookstore/product.asp?isbn=1587202166

[mikey.b]

Hi,

Just thought I'd put my two cents in here too... I personally don't think it's necessary to spend a lot on lab equipment for the CCENT and CCNA prep. Hands on experience is a must but if you can't afford the hardware, consider signing up for a lab course at a community college or purchasing a network simulator.

Packet Tracer 5.0 is one of my faves and lets you design relatively large and complex networks. It's available in some cisco books I think it's also available free to network academy students and instructors. Boson also makes a FAIRLY decent one.