CCNA Build Lists
Put 10 network engineers in front of a computer, ask them to build a home CCNP lab, and you probably get 10 different lists of gear to buy. There is no one right answer, and you may well pick a different mix than many others that post about this topic on my blog.
This page holds the sample build lists developed through discussions in my blog. I will be renewing this discussion for 2010, starting around March 1st. That series will include some discussion of build lists. The build lists residing here now are samples, and will doubtless change somewhat once I get into this latest lab gear blog series. For now, feel free to review the what’s here.
Note that the information listed here if for your reference, but there is no warranty as to its accuracy. See the site disclaimer for legalese.
Small Build List
Equipment Needed
Topologies Supported
- Solo Router
- Router Pair
- All the CLI navigation practice you need
- Basic admin config
- IP addressing, static routes
- RIP, EIGRP, OSPF
- PPP, CHAP
- Can do basic routing protocol experiments with some redundancy
- I don’t like the 1721 form factor!
- No switches
- No Frame Relay
| Device | Qty | Software | Net Modules, WICs per device |
Other Hardware | Prices (2/2010) |
| 1721 | 2 | 1 WIC-2T | 1 power brick | $200 |
| Straight Ethernet | 2 |
| Crossover Ethernet | 0 |
| Serial crossover | 2 |
| Rollover (Console) | 1 |
| Power | 2 |
Medium Build List
Equipment Needed
Topologies Supported
- Solo Switch
- Switch Pair
- Solo Router
- Router Pair
- Two switches, which allows some interesting STP and VTP labs
- VLAN trunking between switches and switch-router
- Plus features mentioned in small build sample
- I don’t like the 1721 form factor!
- STP experiments useful, but are much more interesting with 3 switches
| Device | Qty | Software | Net Modules, WICs per device |
Other Hardware | Prices (2/2010) |
| 2950 | 2 | Standard image | None | GBICs or SFPs as needed | $140 |
| 1721 | 2 | 1 WIC-2T | 1 power brick | $200 |
| Straight Ethernet | 3 |
| Crossover Ethernet | 4 |
| Serial crossover | 2 |
| Rollover (Console) | 1 |
| Power | 4 |
Large Build List
Equipment Needed
Topologies Supported
- Solo Switch
- Switch Pair
- Solo Router
- Router Pair
- Router Triangle
- All the features supported by the medium build, plus…
- More interesting layer 3 redundancy
- Frame Relay
- I don’t like the 1721 form factor!
| Device | Qty | Software | Net Modules, WICs per device |
Other Hardware | Prices (2/2010) |
| 2950 | 2 | Standard image | None | GBICs or SFPs as needed | $140 |
| 1721 | 3 | 1 WIC-2T | 1 power brick | $300 |
| Straight Ethernet | 4 |
| Crossover Ethernet | 4 |
| Serial crossover | 3 |
| Rollover (Console) | 1 |
| Power | 5 |