Thursday, December 27, 2012
Visio Goodness: Lab Topology and Rack Diagram
Below are some Visio diagrams that I did including a topology map and a rack layout map of my home lab that I have saved as JPEGs. These diagrams illustrate a working progress of how I hope my rack looks by the 2nd quarter of next year. I also perform this task at work for our network and server infrastructure. Diagrams are invaluable tools that help you understand topology designs and identify devices in a sea of exhausted rack space and cabling. They also help unlucky administrators that have to inherit a pre-existing infrastructure after you get promoted or maybe go to another company. I would love to post one of my maps from work but I can't do that because of security purposes. Enjoy the power of Visio!
Lab Wish List 12-27-2012
Today, as my wish list for my lab stands, I need the following equipment and after that I will reduce spending on my lab until I start studying for the next major certification
(1. APC 7900 Switched PDU (for remotely powering on and off my lab via VPN)
(2. Cisco 2811 w/ 1x NM-32A Async Module (out-of-band access server)
(3. Cisco 2811 w/ 2x WIC-2T (new Frame Relay Switch)
(4. 5 x 1-CSU/DSU-T1 WICs (for T1 interface config practice--- these WICs are CHEAP)
(5. 4x WS-2960-24TTL (Branch Switches for STP and Ether-channel practice--CHEAP!)
I have a birthday coming up (January 2nd). Maybe I'll see one of these!
Any purchases or additions after these are completed will be minor (nodes), like IP Phones or something.
(1. APC 7900 Switched PDU (for remotely powering on and off my lab via VPN)
(2. Cisco 2811 w/ 1x NM-32A Async Module (out-of-band access server)
(3. Cisco 2811 w/ 2x WIC-2T (new Frame Relay Switch)
(4. 5 x 1-CSU/DSU-T1 WICs (for T1 interface config practice--- these WICs are CHEAP)
(5. 4x WS-2960-24TTL (Branch Switches for STP and Ether-channel practice--CHEAP!)
I have a birthday coming up (January 2nd). Maybe I'll see one of these!
Any purchases or additions after these are completed will be minor (nodes), like IP Phones or something.
My Tech Interests
Here is a short list of technical things that interest me.
- Networking
- Routing and Switching (LANs/WANs)
- Core Routing and Switching
- Service Provider Networks
- Voice and Unified Communications
- MPLS (Even though it's a little advanced for me, I still read up!)
- Metro Ethernet
- 10 and 100 GbE
- SDN
- WAN Fail-over
- WWANs (LTE, WiMax, etc)
- Converged Storage and Ethernet Solutions (ex. Nexus, FCoE)
- Linux
- Ubuntu (Currently running on my laptop for 5 months --- best OS to me)
- Linux based network appliances (Vyatta, Asterisk, etc.)
- Penetration Testing
- Virtualization
- VDI (Why would anyone with the budget NOT be using this?)
- Clouding
- Virtual Networking Appliances (ex. Nexus 1000v, Vyatta, CSR 1000v, etc.)
- Microsoft Visio
- I installed a Win 7 Ultimate VM within VMWare Workstation on Ubuntu mostly to run Microsoft Vision 2010.
Current Reading/Study List
Check out this great study material.
- Cisco Certified Network Associate 7th Edition (Todd Lammle)
- Thorough coverage of CCNA level topics.
- CBT Nuggets (My company purchased the 1 yr package with unlimited library access)
- Jeremy Cioara is an EXCELLENT teacher.
- Network Warrior 2nd Edition (Gary Donahue)
- Great for real world stuff the CCNA objectives do not cover.
- Linux Bible 8th Edition (Christopher Negus & Christine Bresnahan)
- Haven't started comprehensively yet. I hope to use this to dig deeper into Linux.
Lab Expense: Is it Overkill?
A lot of people like to know how much labs cost and the regular price for lab equipment (I exclusively use ebay). Here is a breakdown of what I have spent on my lab so far in the order that I purchased it.
Device: Price (Excluding Shipping):
Cisco 2821 (256D/256F).........................................266.68
Cisco Catalyst 3750-48TS.......................................398.98
Ohm 4 Post 37U Rack............................................193.00
Cisco WIC-2T........................................................32.00
Cisco WIC-2T........................................................32.95
Cisco 2821 (512D/256F) 1-CSU/DSU-T1 incl............250.00
1FT Smart Serial Cable DCE/DTE...........................7.99
Cisco 2851 (768D/512F).........................................270.00
3 FT Smart Serial Cable (DCE/DTE).......................9.99
Cisco WIC-2T........................................................30.00
Cisco Catalyst 3750-48TS.......................................278.00
10PK 7ft CAT6 Patch Cables (Blue).........................26.99
10PK 7ft CAT6 Patch Cables(Green).......................26.99
*Total (Cisco)...................................................... 1823.57 (To Date)
My enterprise-level Vyatta Linux internet router is a completely different story and irrelevant to Cisco, but fun to build. To some this lab may seem like overkill because the standard equipment usually includes Routers like 1721s, 2500s, 2600s and Switches like 2950s and 3550s. The short answer to me is that I wanted to future-proof my lab. I wanted to be able to start building a rack that would take me through multiple certifications including CCNA, CCNA Voice, CCNP, and (I hope I'm not being overly-ambitious here), CCIE. So excess was an order in my case. I chose 3750s because from MY experience (I work with primarily 3560, 2960, and 4500 series at work) the 3750 is virtually the same as the 3560 (which is suggested for Cisco studies but expensive) other than the stackable options. For whatever reason, the 3560 (on ebay) is a good bit more expensive than the 3750, maybe because of popularity. I chose 2800 series routers because of their extensive voice capabilities since after CCNA I plan on trying to get into voice and unified communications.
Another vital part to my lab is my wife. Without getting too personal, my wife is very supportive of my Cisco/technology studies as I am of her career and anything she ventures into. We have no children right now and we are fortunate to live relatively comfortably. We agree on all purchases and I've been working on this lab for about 7 to 8 months, so the key is budgeting. Plus I am investing in my future and my family's and having plenty of fun doing it. Though you may not agree with or purchase the same model devices as me, PLEASE MAKE SURE TO RESEARCH WHAT MODEL DEVICES TO BUY if you're going after your exams.
ALSO, I am aware that all of the switches I have purchased so far do not support POE which is not necessarily ideal for IP Phones. That is true BUT they do support LLDP and VoIP and POE switches (even on ebay) are just more than I am willing to pay. Switches are expensive enough in comparison to routers so I'll be purchasing some power-strips and bricks (power adapters) for the IP Phones when it's time for voice.
Device: Price (Excluding Shipping):
Cisco 2821 (256D/256F).........................................266.68
Cisco Catalyst 3750-48TS.......................................398.98
Ohm 4 Post 37U Rack............................................193.00
Cisco WIC-2T........................................................32.00
Cisco WIC-2T........................................................32.95
Cisco 2821 (512D/256F) 1-CSU/DSU-T1 incl............250.00
1FT Smart Serial Cable DCE/DTE...........................7.99
Cisco 2851 (768D/512F).........................................270.00
3 FT Smart Serial Cable (DCE/DTE).......................9.99
Cisco WIC-2T........................................................30.00
Cisco Catalyst 3750-48TS.......................................278.00
10PK 7ft CAT6 Patch Cables (Blue).........................26.99
10PK 7ft CAT6 Patch Cables(Green).......................26.99
*Total (Cisco)...................................................... 1823.57 (To Date)
My enterprise-level Vyatta Linux internet router is a completely different story and irrelevant to Cisco, but fun to build. To some this lab may seem like overkill because the standard equipment usually includes Routers like 1721s, 2500s, 2600s and Switches like 2950s and 3550s. The short answer to me is that I wanted to future-proof my lab. I wanted to be able to start building a rack that would take me through multiple certifications including CCNA, CCNA Voice, CCNP, and (I hope I'm not being overly-ambitious here), CCIE. So excess was an order in my case. I chose 3750s because from MY experience (I work with primarily 3560, 2960, and 4500 series at work) the 3750 is virtually the same as the 3560 (which is suggested for Cisco studies but expensive) other than the stackable options. For whatever reason, the 3560 (on ebay) is a good bit more expensive than the 3750, maybe because of popularity. I chose 2800 series routers because of their extensive voice capabilities since after CCNA I plan on trying to get into voice and unified communications.
Another vital part to my lab is my wife. Without getting too personal, my wife is very supportive of my Cisco/technology studies as I am of her career and anything she ventures into. We have no children right now and we are fortunate to live relatively comfortably. We agree on all purchases and I've been working on this lab for about 7 to 8 months, so the key is budgeting. Plus I am investing in my future and my family's and having plenty of fun doing it. Though you may not agree with or purchase the same model devices as me, PLEASE MAKE SURE TO RESEARCH WHAT MODEL DEVICES TO BUY if you're going after your exams.
ALSO, I am aware that all of the switches I have purchased so far do not support POE which is not necessarily ideal for IP Phones. That is true BUT they do support LLDP and VoIP and POE switches (even on ebay) are just more than I am willing to pay. Switches are expensive enough in comparison to routers so I'll be purchasing some power-strips and bricks (power adapters) for the IP Phones when it's time for voice.
Lab Introduction
Lab Introduction
Here, I will post information about my technology lab. I will post pictures, topology designs, and study concepts as my lab continues to evolve. As a word of advice, no matter what you're studying, if you can afford it, build a lab. Nothing is as important in the IT world as hands on experience. Below are my current lab specifications.
Internet Router/Firewall/VPN Server (Barebones Build)
Linksys EA2700 (WLAN --- Bridge Mode)---Vyatta handles Internet Routing
Motorola SURFboard SB6121
I will post more pictures as more equipment is added. I am expecting a Cisco 3750 and a Cisco 2811 (New Frame Relay Switch!) within the next three weeks.
Here, I will post information about my technology lab. I will post pictures, topology designs, and study concepts as my lab continues to evolve. As a word of advice, no matter what you're studying, if you can afford it, build a lab. Nothing is as important in the IT world as hands on experience. Below are my current lab specifications.
Internet Router/Firewall/VPN Server (Barebones Build)
- Vyatta 6.5 R1 OS (Linux Router OS)
- iStarUSA D-213-MATX (2U Rackmount Server Chassis)
- ASUS PZ877-M LGA 1155 Intel Z77 (Motherboard)
- Intel Core i5-3330 Ivy Bridge LGA 1155 (CPU)
- Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 1600 (RAM)
- 1x Kingston 120 GB SATA III SSD (Storage)
- 2x Intel EXPI9301CT 10/100/1000 (Gigabit NICs --- 3 total with onboard Realtek
- 2x Onboard Gigabit LAN Interfaces
- 1x WIC 2T
- 2x Onboard Gigabit LAN Interfaces
- 1x WIC 2T
- 1x 1 CSU/DSU T1 WIC
- 2x Onboard Gigabit LAN Interfaces
- 1x WIC 2T
- 48x FastEthernet Interfaces
- 4x SFP Gigabit Interfaces
- 48x FastEthernet Interfaces
- 4x SFP Gigabit Interfaces
Linksys EA2700 (WLAN --- Bridge Mode)---Vyatta handles Internet Routing
Motorola SURFboard SB6121
I will post more pictures as more equipment is added. I am expecting a Cisco 3750 and a Cisco 2811 (New Frame Relay Switch!) within the next three weeks.
Introduction
Hello and thank you for visiting my blog. As you may or may not already know, my name is Ronald Stringer and I am a complete technology junkie. To give just a little information on myself, I am 24 years old (at the time of this post) and I live in the small city of Prattville AL, 10 minutes outside of Montgomery, AL. I grew up and graduated high school from a small town and obtained my degree in Computer Information Systems from Alabama State University (ASU).
I am now employed at Mobis Alabama LLC as an Information Technology Support Specialist. My focus is networking, particularly with Cisco products. As you may expect, I am currently studying for my Cisco certifications (CCNA at the moment) which brings me to one of the main purposes of creating this blog. Here I will post random info about myself and my technology related studies, concepts, and my ongoing project; my Cisco/Technology Lab. This is my first real blog that I wish to maintain somewhat regularly, so expect the layout to change as time changes, because I can barely keep the same wallpaper on my laptop or desktop for one month. Feel free to post or ask questions as it relates to technology. All I ask is to avoid politics and any other inappropriate comment unrelated to technology and professionalism! Welcome again!
I am now employed at Mobis Alabama LLC as an Information Technology Support Specialist. My focus is networking, particularly with Cisco products. As you may expect, I am currently studying for my Cisco certifications (CCNA at the moment) which brings me to one of the main purposes of creating this blog. Here I will post random info about myself and my technology related studies, concepts, and my ongoing project; my Cisco/Technology Lab. This is my first real blog that I wish to maintain somewhat regularly, so expect the layout to change as time changes, because I can barely keep the same wallpaper on my laptop or desktop for one month. Feel free to post or ask questions as it relates to technology. All I ask is to avoid politics and any other inappropriate comment unrelated to technology and professionalism! Welcome again!
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