need advice to build my own CCNP Lab at Home

[Cisco_Learner25]

Hi Seniors,

I'm thinking to build my own lab for CCNP practice at home. Could you please tell me that which series of routers and switches I need. And how many routers and how many switches I need, to do my CCNP route and switch practice. I have done my CCNA, with the help of Packet tracer. But now I'm thinking to have some real lab.

So to build my own lab, I need your advices. That which cheapest price combination can make my CCNP home lab. There are many routers and switches are available at ebay, but I don't know the differences between the models of routers and switches. Why they are different than other? what problem I can have, if i will buy some router, which I should not buy etc. Because I'm looking for some cheap combination by price, and I can buy some wrong router or switch, which I should not buy, when I want to do the practice of CCNP. So that’s why I need your advice guys.

Please guide me.

[dennicla]

Hello Omer,

I studied for and passed my NP via GNS3.  Here are some sites to look at and into.

https://community.gns3.com/welcome

https://github.com/GNS3/gns3-gui/releases

https://community.gns3.com/docs/DOC-1708

https://community.gns3.com/community/software/documentation

Look on YouTube as well for any setup instructions if you get stuck.

[Cisco_Learner25]

Hi Dennicla,

Thank you for the reply. I have tried with GNS3, but I want to see real devices, where to put console cable, how does real devices works, etc. 

[paul driver]

Hello

if you can afford it go for hardware - virtualization/simulators etc is a good cheap solution however in my opinion you cannot get any better than studying on the real thing, These virtualization/simulators can be buggy and not produce the correct results and this then can make you wary if the results your seeing is actually correct..

I would say to get you going and be applicable for further advanced studies such as CCIE

1 x 2500 terminal server (8/16 pin out CAB-OCTAL-ASYNC cable)
2 - 4x 3560 -24ts
2- 4 x 2811  (256mb flash/128mb memory - running c2800nm-adventerprisek9-mz.151-4.or above)

Ethernet cabling /kettle leads and power surge protectors etc...

res

Paul

[Cisco_Learner25]

Hi Paul,

Thank you for your reply.

Could you please explain your wording more in detail?
1 x 2500 terminal server (8/16 pin out CAB-OCTAL-ASYNC cable)
2 - 4x 3560 -24ts
2- 4 x 2811  (256mb flash/128mb memory - running c2800nm-adventerprisek9-mz.151-4.or above)

Ethernet cabling /kettle leads and power surge protectors etc... 

I did not understand this text. Could you please explain me a bit?

regards

[paul driver]

Hello

These are the devices I recommended to use for a physical  CCNP lab.

Ebay is the best place to look for them

res

Paul