Ryan
join:2001-03-03
Attleboro, MA
 ·Comcast
|  CCNA Simulators
Thinking about studying and testing for my ccna after I graduate this summer. Question though, I have been finding plenty of video and of course book based training materials, but are there any GOOD simulators out there? Really want something that will let me practice without having to spend hundreds in hardware, or if there is cheaper hardware out there that will let me just learn the basics possibly from ebay. I found a recent post about the ccna lab pack, but thats something I just cant afford and really seems overkill with multiple switches and a rack.
Also if you have suggestions for good training materials that are not ridiculously expensive that would be great also.
I would have liked to do this while in college, but had been too busy with the work already given to me and really couldn't afford to. |
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fox7
join:2001-02-12
Culver City, CA | »www.boson.com/AboutNetSim.html
fox7 |
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CiscoGuy33
Premium
join:2006-03-16
Tampa, FL
| reply to Ryan
Ryan,
I have been teaching CCNA classes in a Cisco Network Academy for 10 years now - sims are great and the Boson one listed is one of the best however, setting up a small lab of 3 routers and 2-3 switches will help you a lot more especially if you plan to work in that area.
I have never seen anyone hired because they were good on a Cisco sim  in fact I have seen several employers in the area put the new CCNA hires on labs to see what they know - like how to break a password etc.
You can pick up a good lab if you shop around on eBay - look for the individule routers - not the "kits" unless they have what you want for the price. I just got 3 2924-XL switches for $100 on eBay - very important for STP, VLANs, trunking etc. I also got a 3620 router that does SDM (on the CCNA now) for $84 from a place in Atlanta that sells used Cisco equipment. I also got 2 2650 routers running IOS 12.4 for $80 each on eBay with 128DRAM and 32 FLASH.
You also might want to check around for a Cisco Network Academy in your area - great way to learn CCNA and most give you access to hand-on training and labs - many are offered at Community Colleges and costs are very low - ours in Florida are about $220 a semester!
Hope this helps!
Gene
CCNA, CCAI |
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Ryan
join:2001-03-03
Attleboro, MA
·Comcast
edit:
May 13th, @04:04PM
| Thanks for the info. The price of that sim is shockingly as much as the equipment would be so it doesn't make much sense. Thanks for the tip on the ccna classes also. Its amazing 4 year bachelor degree in computer networking and info systems and we never touched anything cisco... they concentrated mostly on app development  (nice waste of 100k) I am not sure how critical a ccna is now a days, I seem to always get mixed responses. I think my main goal might be to wait (due to the cost and time involved) and hopefully get an employer that will either pay for the certs and training or at least give me some basic intro training on it. Unless I am being overly paranoid it seems like getting a ccna is a lot more difficult then I thought it would be. |
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Tikker_LoS
join:2004-04-29
Regina, SK
 ·SaskTel Saskatchewan
| CCNA isn't particularly easy, nor is it mind bendingly hard
it mostly just depends on how much time you put into the course material, and how much you actually understand
there's a fair bit of just memorization work, but there is also some stuff where you actually have to apply the knowledge you've picked up |
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Ryan
join:2001-03-03
Attleboro, MA
·Comcast
| reply to Ryan
Do you think something like this would give me the training materials and equipment necessary to get my ccna?
»cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi···21122008
Seems like a great price for everything... |
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CiscoGuy33
Premium
join:2006-03-16
Tampa, FL
| Ryan,
NO!!! I think you could do better by at least $50 to $75 if you shop right!
You can get 2500 routers for $10 to $50 each and the $50 has MAX 16 DRAM and 16 FLASH + 12.3 IOS -
»cgi.ebay.com/CISCO2501-CISCO-250···ViewItem
»www.cablesandkits.com/cisco-rout···350.html
You can get 1900 switches for about $30 or less with shipping -
»cgi.ebay.com/Cisco-Catalyst-1900···ViewItem
I think if you put a little time into "shopping" you will find a better deal - look at individual pieces and not the "pre-packaged" labs - then see what is the best deal for you - it might be the lab once you cout cables and shipping.
If you read the other post in the networking area about CCNA labs you could have answered your own question.
For the CCNA test you need 3 routers with at least one that does Fast Ethernet and the GUI SDM (SDM is on the CCNA now) this means a 2600XM router or a 3620 or 3640 with the right network module. For the right price you could throw 1 or 2 2500s into the mix for routing practice - but you will need at least 1 2600XM router.
You also want 2-3 2924-XL or 2950 switches - this way you can do STP, VLANs and with a Fast Ethernet router you can do "router-on-a-stick".
I know you are trying to do this for as little as possible - but you must ask yourself what is your future worth!
Hope this helps!
Gene |
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