![]() ![]() The most bang for your buck will probably come from the 300-710 SNCF which covers the Firepower security appliances. Your hardware choices here will reflect the specific two tests you chose to take to satisfy the certification requirements. If you are specifically targeting the CCNP Security, things start getting a little tricky. Any of these will support IOS 15, so you’re set on getting the features you need to study out of the software. A Few Options for CCNP Home Lab Routersįor the router, look for either a Cisco 1841, 2801, or 2811. Find the models with the lowest number of ports that you can (most come with either 24 or 48) having more ports won’t help your studies. That should cover about every setup you’ll need to study. To get fully equipped on a budget, your best bet is a single 3560 and two 2950s. You’ll want three switches total so you can configure them in a variety of ways, such as all connected in a triangle configuration to practice spanning tree protocol. Here are some specific models you might want to look for:Ĭatalyst 2950: Basic Layer-2 switch, this should cover a lot of your test objectives, and they are dirt cheap ($20-$30 on eBay).Ĭatalyst 3550: A step up from the 2950, this Layer-3 switch adds support for routing protocols that you will definitely be tested on.Ĭatalyst 3560: A step up from the 3550, the 3750 adds support for QoS and private VLANs, the last few topics you’ll need to meet all the test objectives. They are plentiful and even the less expensive models have almost all the features you’ll need to practice for the CCNP. Some simple Catalyst switches will be fine. Now the real question with hardware: what models? You don’t need to fanciest, most feature packed 48-port PoE Cisco Nexus switches with fiber uplinks. 3 Best Switches for a CCNP Enterprise Home Lab Unfortunately they are almost always local pickup only, so you would have to get really lucky to find a deal close by. The section for computer equipment is always loaded with all kinds of fun listings for bulk products. Another source where you find a steal if you’re incredibly lucky is government auction site GovDeals. Companies that buy, refurbish, and resell network hardware are also easy to find, but expect to pay them more as a middle man. eBay will definitely be your friend as used older Cisco gear is abundant and easy to find for much less than retail. ![]() Don’t forget the physical space to hold everything convenient to where you want to study.Īs you can see, this is no easy or cheap proposition. Maybe a firewall or other security appliance, some wireless access points, a healthy handful of patch cables, and probably a UPS for continuous power. ![]() You’re going to need some switches, a router, a rack to hold them all in lieu of a pile on your desk. Watch now CCNP Lab #1: How to Build a Hardware Lab It’s not like we really need to give most of you an excuse to build a physical lab, but software labs do have some advantages over hardware.Įither way, let’s get you geared up and look at all the various CCNP lab options, how they are used, and what works best for different scenarios to find the best possible lab setup. This is the only way…or is it? There are software emulators that allow you to build and test networking using real Cisco firmware, those should be good enough, right? Well as with most things, the answer is a firm maybe. The only way to truly prepare will be to get your hands on some actual Cisco gear and rack it up, building yourself the ultimate CCNP lab. The path will not be easy, delving into new depths of network configurations. The professional-level cert tier, however, represents a huge jump in domain knowledge and experience around Cisco kit, IOS, and general networking architecture. Indeed, your CCNA was a big achievement and nothing to be looked down upon. The CCNP: your next giant hurdle in seizing Cisco certification celebration and networking know-how nirvana. ![]()
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