From: Howard C. Berkowitz (hcb@gettcomm.com)
Date: Sat Jan 08 2005 - 17:47:01 GMT-3
At 4:54 PM -0800 1/7/05, McLaughlin, Jeffery wrote:
>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...)
TR is fine for connectivity.
>
>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.)
Another thing to consider is that certain protocol features (e.g.,
RSVP) are architecturally end-to-end, host-to-host, although they may
be enforced at edge routers. If you have three routers, you are very
limited in showing end-to-end behavior. If you add two cheap PCs as
endpoints, you make the ingress and egress routers available for much
more. Remember certain lab scenarios artificially use routers as
endpoints.
Other things to consider -- if, for example, you want to explore load
sharing, the usual assumption is that you will need four routers.
Quite a bit, however, can be shown with one router that has two
interfaces to two other routers.
>
>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.
I've often wondered why people want every possible L2 WAN switched
technology, when the underlying logic is the same. It wouldn't
surprise me if 80% of the logic could be explored with a couple of
serial interfaces and cross-connected modems. Go to rental for things
that are QoS, ISDN dial, Q.2931, etc., specific.
>
>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 ,
Again reminding of something I mentioned above, two of those devices,
for some protocols, meaningfully can be replaced by PCs.
>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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