Well, way back around new years, I posted a survey about what certs you wanted to pursue as a new years resolution. CCNA and CCNP basically tied, with a little more than 25% of you wanting to pursue CCNA, and that same percentage pursuing CCNP. So, as promised, I'll spend some time talking about labs for CCNP preparation.
The CCNA lab series was greatly improved by your feedback - please keep it coming. There's no way I can find all the nooks and crannies on the gear and features without spending a ton of time, and getting one each of everything - which is a bit of a stretch for a volunteer gig. As with CCNA, I'll toss our some thoughts, and adjust based on any feedback I get.
So, first, a quick overview of the topics requiring hands-on skills on the 4 CCNP exams, and then, I want to get your opinions in a survey. There are 4 exams - BSCI, BCMSN, ONT, and ISCW. The main topics requiring hands-on skills are as follows:
I'll probably start with BSMSN, and then look at the other three tests as a group, because BCMSN is the only exam with switch-specific topics.
Now, for the budget survey. I'd like to get an idea as to how much money you'd spend to build a lab that allows you to practice at least 90% of the topics you'd want to practice for CCNP. That'll help me start getting an idea of my really cheap/kinda cheap/medium budget categories, like I did for the CCNA lab study. So, let's make some assumptions:
Under those assumptions, tell me how much you think you'd want to spend, in US $$:
Thanks for the input - I'll start getting into the technical details next week!
Odom, CCIE No, 1624, splits time between writing books for Cisco Press and teaching classes for Skyline ATS. In his 25-ish years in the networking industry, he has worked as as a pre-sale and post-sale SE for a few networking vendors, as well as a network engineer implementing network technology. Wendell has spent the majority of the last 15 years teaching, consulting, and writing about networking technologies, most of which in some way relate to Cisco products. His books include titles on QoS, CCIE R/S, as well as several titles related to CCNA certification, including the September 2007 book CCNA Official Exam Certification Library (CCNA Exam 640-802) (Read a sneak peek of chapter 7). Click for the list of current titles by Wendell.
The opinions expressed in this Weblog are those of the writer and may not represent the opinions of Network World.
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Switch suggestions
I'm still working on my BSCI, and I haven't started diving into the BCMSN and all of its requirements. So I am making some assumptions here.
BCMSN does test layer 3 features from my understanding. So you'll need at least 1 switch that supports that. I think the most cost effective solution for that is the 3550 with the EMI image. If you have the money, you'd probably want 2 of these to simulate a redundant core or distribution layer.
You'll also want a couple more switches for your access layer. 29xx series should be fine, and they are pretty cheap in comparison to the 3550s.
Cisco's suggested lab setup in the CCNP prep center lists a total of 6 switches. They suggest 2- 2950s and 4- 3560s. That's a good chunk of change to set down. I think 2- 3550s and 2- 2950s would be a good alternative.
I look forward to see what Wendell suggests.
Posting to follow on to your comments later today!
Just a heads up to watch for the next regular post. And I agree, 4 x 3550/3560 for a home CCNP lab is way overkill.
Wendell
A CCNP Lab. Quick Equipment outline + costs.
BSCI Practical Studies Lab (Benjamin)
Can be done with 2520's & 2503's with appropriarte IOS
Total cost on Ebay, approximately $800 including DCE-DTE DB60 Crossover Cables
BSCI Self-Study Lab (Parquet & Teare)
Can be done with 2520's & 2503's & 2522 (Frame Relay Switch rare) or 2620 (Frame Relay Switch with NM-8AS) with with appropriarte IOS
Between those 2, you ought to get more than enough practical routing experience
Total Cost on Ebay, approximately $1000
An ISCW Cisco Network Academy MPLS Lab
The cheapest way to do this I have found so far is to use 3640's with maximum memory and apporpriate modules. Other than that, I believe the next cheapest option is 2800's which is an oxymoron since there is no such thing as a cheap 2800, at least not yet.
ISCW is essentially,
ADSL
MPLS
VPN's
Security
VPN's can be done with your 2600's & 3640's
Security can be done just about everywhere in all labs
ADSL, there are 2 options, an 800 Series Modem or an ADSL Wic Card in your 2600/3600 & then connect it to your own ADSL provider and play around.
Good news is, if you get a 877W, you get an extremely powerful small router that does Wireless and can be used for your home ADSL2+ connection on the Internet, which means you can pratice all sorts of things, just to keep you home network safe from the Internet. :)
Total Cost on Ebay = :(
A BCMSN Cisco Network Academy Switching Lab
2 x 3550's with EMI IOS
2 x 2950T's
Total cost on Ebay $2000 with no other options that I am aware of available.
The prices only get even more ridiculous as you go up to later equipment revisions.
ONT
ONT is essentially a QoS course
The 3550's & 3640's ought to suffice
A few other caveats
A CCNP Routing & Switching Lab is going to cost around $3,000. Obviously this doesn't help you with CCNP ISCW and only partially with ONT.
The good news is, a decent CCNP Routing & Switching Lab is almost a CCIE Routing & Switching Lab.
Moreover, substituting 2500's for 3600 does reduce the ISCW cost over all and you get a lot closer to a CCIE Routing & Switching Lab if not all the way there.
You are really going to need a rack to hold all this crap, otherwise it is a complete mess.
You are also going to need a terminal server of some sort, 2511 or a Network Module with 68 Pin ASYC Ports for the CAB-OCTAL-ASYNC cables.
This lab sticks with DB60 connections because that is all the 2500 series supports.
You will need a fair few cross-over ethernet cables and getting short cross-over cables can be difficult and it can be easier to make them yourself.
I think that is about it.
I hope this helps Wendell.
You win the award!
Shaun,
Wow, you win the award for most thorough post in reply to any nww.com blog entry I've seen! Thanks for the great input.
In particular, I'm clear now on what oyu and some others may have referred to as "lab books" from Cisco Press - namely the "Practical Studies" series. One word of caution on the CCNP Routing Practical Studies by Henry Benjamin (nice guy - I worked with him on a few projects waaay back) . It's copyright 2002, and the BSCI exam has changed since that time. I don't have a copy of the book to look at the rest of it.
Also, for perspective, the figure you posted from the Paquet and Teare BSCI book - that book is essentially a book version of the official (and still current) BSCI course. So, it's probably more applicable today.
Anyway, Shaun, thanks again - nice info.
Wendell
CCNP Routing Practical Studies by Henry Benjamin
I do have the book :)
Although I had to track it down through Amazon/Ebay as Cisco Press could not sell me a copy at all.
As for the contents, it pretty much covers most of the main routing protocols, which you have to admit, haven't changed all that much in the past 8 years anyhow, at least not at the CCNP BSCI level.
The only things it misses out on is Multicasting & IPv6, which you obviously need to have some knowledge of, but the rest of the material, you most definitely need, to even begin hoping to pass. That is to say, you could quite possibly go into a CCNP BSCI test, and fake your way through IPv6 & Multicasting as they are not that heavily tested on. If you do not know OSPF, EIGRP, BGP and how routing is supposed to work at a reasonably indepth level, you will fail, as you are well aware.
In fact I'll give you an example on just how good this book is, there is a OSPF to ISIS Redistribution example.
The picture I provided above is just the end of the book suggested CCNP BSCI study lab. Each chapter is filled with ones configuation example after another, fully worked with explanations. Take for example Basic OSPF, it goes up to a ridiculous 62 examples, and this is just BASIC OSPF, even your excellent CCIE R&S Exam Cert Guide doesn't come close to that many examples for a single chapter Wendell. :)
It really is one of the hidden jewels from Cisco Press.
I'm glad you found my infomation useful, I'll interested on what you have to say further on this subject.
Cheers
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