| Part of your CCNA / CCNP education is deciding | | | | routers via a DTE/DCE cable. (Again, if you need a |
| what network topology to use when you're putting | | | | frame relay switch configuration, the one I use in my |
| together your home lab. Some of you are starting | | | | pods is on the website in the same place as the |
| with one or two routers or switches, while others | | | | access server configuration.)The two 2503s that are |
| are starting with more. A customer recently sent me | | | | on the frame relay cloud should also be connected |
| a list of his Cisco routers and switches that he has | | | | via their BRI interfaces. The home lab also includes an |
| available for a home lab and asked for my help in | | | | ISDN simulator, which is necessary to allow routers |
| coming up with the best way to use them.There is | | | | to communicate via their BRI interfaces. Just get a |
| no "right" or "wrong" answer to this question; again, | | | | couple of straight-through cables to connect those |
| part of the learning process is configuring and | | | | two routers to the ISDN simulator and that segment |
| reconfiguring the physical topology of your lab. Let's | | | | is ready to go. (Remember that you can't connect |
| look at the routers and switches he has available, | | | | Cisco routers directly via their BRI interfaces.)All of |
| including the interfaces on each, and come up with | | | | the routers in this lab have at least one ethernet or |
| one possible CCNA / CCNP home lab setup.The | | | | AUI port, so we can connect them all to either one |
| equipment list:Two 3620 routers. Each has 1 serial | | | | of the switches. The switches should be connected |
| port and 2 ethernet ports.One 3640 router. This has | | | | via at least two crossover cables to allow practice |
| two ethernet cards, each with two ports, and two | | | | with trunking, root bridge election, and VLANs. Having |
| AUI ports.Three 2503s, my personal favorite for | | | | two switches really does add quite a bit to a CCNA / |
| home labs! These have 1 AUI port, 2 serial interfaces, | | | | CCNP home lab's capabilities. You can experiment with |
| and one BRI interface apiece.One 2524 router. This | | | | different subnets and vlans with as well. Don't be |
| has one serial port, 1 ethernet port, and one BRI | | | | afraid to dive in - that's what a home lab is all |
| interface.One 4500 router. This has eight BRI ports, 2 | | | | about!So now we've got four routers connected via |
| ethernet ports, and more importantly, four serial | | | | frame relay, two via ISDN, and the others via |
| ports.He also has a 5200 access server, an ISDN | | | | ethernet segments. Two of the routers that are not |
| simulator, one 2924 switch, and one 1924 | | | | using their serial interfaces should be connected |
| switch.Now, if you don't have this much equipment to | | | | directly via their serial ports. For this, you'll just need |
| work with, don't panic! Most CCNA / CCNP | | | | another DTE/DCE cable. Knowing how to bring up |
| candidates don't; this is more of an exercise in looking | | | | the line between two directly connected serial ports |
| at what you do have and using it to the utmost.As | | | | is an important CCNA skill, and so is troubleshooting it. |
| I've mentioned in many of my CCNA / CCNP home | | | | You should be able to bring such a connection up |
| lab articles, an access server is a great thing to have. | | | | with your eyes closed, and once you work with your |
| All he needs is an octal cable to connect his AS to | | | | own CCNA / CCNP home lab, you'll be able to!Also, |
| the other devices we choose to use, and he's all set. | | | | don't forget to add a loopback interface to each one |
| (If you need an access server sample configuration, | | | | of your routers. I like to use 1.1.1.1 for R1, 2.2.2.2 for |
| there is one on my website in the Home Lab | | | | R2, and so on. Advertising loopbacks is another great |
| section.)A frame relay switch is also great to have, | | | | way to get practice with RIP, OSPF, EIGRP, IGRP, |
| and the 4500 will make a great FR switch. Having a | | | | and static routing.We've taken a pile of routers and |
| frame relay cloud in your CCNA / CCNP home lab is a | | | | switches and turned them into a fantastic CCNA / |
| great way to get experience configuring and | | | | CCNP home lab. Whether you're working with two |
| troubleshooting frame relay, an essential skill for | | | | Cisco devices or ten, coming up with your own home |
| CCNA success.I would put both of the 3620s on the | | | | lab topology is a great learning experience and the |
| frame relay cloud via the Serial interface, as well as | | | | beginning of developing your analytical and |
| two of the 2503s. That gives you four routers that | | | | troubleshooting skills.Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the |
| will be using frame relay to communicate, and that's | | | | owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of free |
| the most we can have since the 4500 has four serial | | | | CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study |
| ports. The 4500 will need to be configured as a | | | | Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages. |
| frame relay switch and connected to the other | | | | |