From: David Duncon (david_ccie@hotmail.com)
Date: Sat Jan 08 2005 - 08:44:32 GMT-3
Thanks a lot for your guidance , Jeff , Tom and Koen.
Cheers
- David
>From: "McLaughlin, Jeffery" <JMcLaughlin@sfchronicle.com>
>To: "David Duncon" <david_ccie@hotmail.com>, <ccielab@groupstudy.com>
>Subject: RE: Depleted Home Lab Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 16:54:57 -0800
>
>David,
>
>This has to be one of the more difficult problems to deal with.
>
>I used the Internetwork Expert labs mostly, and a lab consisting of 3
>2600's and a whole bunch of 2500's. Only one of the routers had
>dual-ethernet; the rest had single. (Two even had Token Ring, as I was
>planning on going for the CCIE back in 2000...)
>
>Keep in mind that in addition to the 6 routers and two switches, you also
>need 3 backbone devices, a frame switch, and an access server.
>
>One trick that almost everyone uses is to double-up. I used my frame
>switch and my access server as backbone routers. (Risky with the AS, as if
>you break connectivity to it, you lose your console sessions. But I
>managed to make it work.)
>
>For the ATM links I used a serial connection. Even though I couldn't do
>ATM, I could at least run the Layer 3 stuff over it. I would periodically
>rent rack time remotely to test ATM configs.
>
>Because I had only one 3550, I would configure the trunking and STP
>commands on the single switch and compare them against the solutions. I
>had an advantage in that I work with Catalyst 6500's a lot at work, and
>they have a similar interface to the 3550. You have to be creative; for
>example, when a scenario called for both Cats to run routing protocols, I'd
>often use another router to "stand in" for the Cat I was missing. I even
>have a 3000-series router running IOS version 9 (yup, 9!) that could inject
>OSPF and BGP routes.
>
>Many scenarios you just won't be able to test everything. I'd recommend
>doing at least 5 full labs on totally equipped rented racks.
>
>Jeff McLaughlin
>CCIE #14023
>
> -----Original Message-----
>From: nobody@groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody@groupstudy.com] On Behalf Of
>David Duncon
>Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 7:58 PM
>To: ccielab@groupstudy.com
>Subject: Depleted Home Lab
>Importance: High
>
>Hi Group,
>
>Is there any way I can use my limited home lab of 4 x 2621s ( 3 on a HUB
>and
>Spoke topo and 4th one as p2p or any of the first three) , 1 FR switch & 1
>x 3550 to do vendor workbooks such as from IE and Ipexpert ?
>
>I do aware that most vendor workbooks physical topo is based on 6 x outers
>,
>2 x 3550s along with backbones. But unfortunately my home lab do not have
>these many devices. And instead of investing more funds on additional
>devices , I just want to proceed my practice with the current lab I have
>got. And work on "core switching and routing exercises" to begin with. And
>then for ATM and ISDN , I may hire some online rack rental hours down the
>track before the exam date.
>
>Originally I was thinking to buy online rack rentals all together ? But
>later I have decided against it simply because , unlimited or unknown
>number
>of hours I got plan for . Meaning I may need any where from 300 hours (best
>case scenario , i.e. if I am lucky at my 1st attempt ) to as many as 1000
>hours ( worst case scenario , preparing till my 3rd attempt) or even more
>if
>I am little unlucky all the way.
>
>And later had to convinced my Boss to let me take 4 routers , 1 FR switch
>and 1 3550 for my home lab. Lucking my department loaned me these devices
>for 6 months till , June 2005.But now I am not sure though on how to use
>this cut down lab on vendor book exercises. Because the other day when I
>tried to cable it up, I was not only falling short of number of devices ,
>but also falling short of number or type of interfaces on the devices.
>
>Any guidance from either Vendors or from any one who went through similar
>dilemma as myself is much appreciated.
>
>Cheers
>
>- David.
>
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