My two differing views, each bounded by its own lifespan... 1. Buy your own equipment. Well, not only are there failed dot-coms but also failed efforts and hopes from individuals thinking it would be an easy path to CCIE-dom. Both provide constant overflow of routers/switches on eBay that the prices have dropped by more than 50% (mostly) in the past 10 months. Plus if you're not yet in IT, getting exposed to REAL Cisco gear for the FIRST time AFTER you've passed the lab...UHMM...
2. Rent remote rack. This i think will become the ONLY solution for most individuals when the CCIE lab gets revamped. As you can see from the changes of content already confirmed by the new areas individuals get tested on starting from the CCNP series, it's only a matter of time before a Cat5 and 8 2500/4500's just won't give you the ability to perform half of what will be covered in the lab. Example: MLS, MPLS, Voice, PNNI...the list goes on with new technologies that are very likely to replace Token Ring. AND, with the remote practice labs, you have the brains of the people behind it (like Howard) to provide you scenarios that either show you how far you've progressed or how far behind you are in your studies. My 2 cents. Elmer Deloso ----- Original Message ----- From: "Howard C. Berkowitz" To: Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 4:50 AM Subject: RE: Home LAB [7:41897] > At 3:40 AM -0400 4/19/02, Kaminski, Shawn G wrote: > >Yes, I think it's a good idea to purchase your own equipment. It's there > >whenever you need it, you can do whatever you want with it, and you're more > >apt to practice on it if it's right down the hall! > > > >Shawn K. > > :-) I can argue this from both perspectives. On the one hand, I am > involved in a virtual rack business (suitable disclaimers apply). The > advantages there are not having to purchase expensive and specialized > equipment, predefined scenarios and other educational material, and > technical support. It's also easier on cash flow. > > Again with all due caveats, I really think a remote rack is a better > learning technique--even if that "remote rack" is in your house and > accessed via a terminal server. When you get into the real > operations world, all your routers are NOT going to be in the same > room, and you might as well get experience doing things through a > console. The new CCIE lab also is structured this way. > > As an instructor, I found the newer students did seem to derive a > certain comfort level from actually being able to see the equipment, > but quite honestly, I found this to be a mental crutch. Until you > really master remote console access, telnetting between routers, > etc., you aren't going to get the speed for the CCIE lab. > > If you're at the CCNA level and can afford it, the tradeoffs are > somewhat different. Having 2 or 3 (preferably) cheap routers (e.g., > 2501) and perhaps a switch could be a cheap way to get comfortable > with the CLI. It's a whole different world when you need ISDN, ATM, > voice, etc., simulators. > > But Shawn, you also remind me (I'm a telecommuter) that I have a > fairly good gym in my house. I'm not nearly as likely to get into my > car and drive to the local gym than I am to jump on the exercise bike > or do some bench presses when Cisco has rotted my brain. > > Of course, to the best of my knowledge, nobody has gotten > cyberbodybuilding to work (I'm not talking about morphed images). > > > > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: CODETEL [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > >> Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 7:56 PM > >> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> Subject: Home LAB [7:41897] > >> > >> Hello guys.. > >> I want to know if it's good idea to buy Cisco Homelab for practice > >> yourself > >> in your home if you want to be CCIE? > >> > > > what are you think about practice in your own lab? > > > > -- > "What Problem are you trying to solve?" > ***send Cisco questions to the list, so all can benefit -- not > directly to me*** > **************************************************************************** **** > Howard C. Berkowitz [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Chief Technology Officer, GettLab/Gett Communications http://www.gettlabs.com > Technical Director, CertificationZone.com http://www.certificationzone.com > "retired" Certified Cisco Systems Instructor (CID) #93005 Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=41939&t=41897 -------------------------------------------------- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
