3 Routers and 3 Switches (Need a best topology)

[Kashifer7920]

I am looking forward to have some real gear experience so after working a while on Packet Tracer I bought 3 cisco routers. One is 2901 and others are 1921s. 3 cisco layer 3 switches all of them 3560s.

right now that's how i am connected all of them, routing with OSPF, no vlans created at this moment. Refer Info below on how all of them are being connected. 

R1 10.10.10.1 G0/0 is connected to SW1

R1 no IP int yet G0/1 left for modem connectivity later for Internet? 

R2 10.10.10.2 G0/0 is connected to SW1

R2 10.10.20.1 G0/1 is connected to SW2

R3 10.10.20.2 G0/1 is connected to SW3

R3 10.10.30.1 G0/0 is connected to SW3

SW2 is crossover with SW3

Right now i assigned static IP addressing to all my PCs, can able to ping all subnets, no vlans at the moment, using OSPF

I can supply more info if you may want to.

I have been using packet tracer for Vlans and to practice other stuffs for CCNA, I now want use real gear but it seems to be little confusing on how exactly I can utilize the current topology especially practicing VLANs, NAT, ACCESS CONTROL LIST. Can anyone help me in designing a better topology so that i can work on everything on real gear with current topology. On packet tracer i usually work with one router and 3 switches but since my current topology has multiple routers with different subnets, I need some help here. 

Thank you for your time and I look forward to seeing some expert advises.

[paul driver]

Hello
I assume going forward you would like this hardware to be a base labbing topology so leaving aside you current ip addressing i would suggest the following physical setup so you can build differing topology s as you continue your learning.

SW1

port 23 or port 47 to SW2
port 24 or port 48 to SW3

SW2

port 23 or port 47 to SW1
port 24 or port 48 to SW3

SW3

port 23 or port 47 to SW1
port 24 or port 48 to SW2

R1
fa0/0 to port 1 SW1
fa0/1 to port 1 SW2

R2
fa0/0 to port 2 SW1
fa0/1 to port 2 SW2

R3
fa0/0 to port 3 SW1
fa0/1 to port 3 SW2

[Daniel Bishop]

Hey Paul,

I gave this recommendation a go, however, after setting the IPs for the routers and the Vlans for the switches I wasn't able to ping my SW3. Any recommendations to fix this? Do I need to set the ports that are connected to SW1 - SW3 and SW2 - SW3 to an alternative IP so the routers will be able to ping all of the switches?

Let me know your thoughts,

Thank you!

[Martin L]

Actually Packet Tracer gives you more opportunity and flexibility since number of devices is unlimited (or large); PT has a simulation mode where you can see packets and frames as they flow and you can read (open) packet to see content.  hence, I always recommend using PT for CCNA and to learn stuff (fundamentals).  

But having real gear helps with features and commands that are not supported by PT. If something does not work in PT, you can check it on real gear.  For example, you cannot shut down vlan in PT but you can on real switch. see  https://community.cisco.com/t5/network-management/cant-ping-to-default-gateway/m-p/4124811#M135451

If you doing CCNA by yourself, aka self-study, beside books, you will need structured labs like ones by Udemy. Also, you can find some labs online.  For study tips, study groups, and other exam info see Cisco Learning Network, CLN, at https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/s

Regards, ML
**Please Rate All Helpful Responses **

[paul driver]

Hello

If you want to use your real switches with virtual rtrs then the best simulation software i would prefer is GNS3 as you can configure a breakout switch into guns 3 so your virtual rtrs can talk and be seen by the real switch’s not only that you will have a more reliant way of knowing the feature you like to use will be available unlike PT which is very limited.

[Martin L]

Yes, another option is GNS3 with real switches (and w or w/o breakout sw). I would suggest this as a CCIE/CCNP lab. Of course, you can use it for CCNA, just like real routers with real switches but then you have to set up your own labs based on some book or examples. In case of PT, labs are already made for PT, just open, read, practice. Last option is to go all virtual gear (Gns3 or Eve0ng) which I would suggest for CCIE labbing assuming that he/she passed CCNP.

example of PT lab is shared https://community.cisco.com/t5/switching/netacad-create-a-simple-network/td-p/4123791