| Buying a CCNA / CCNP home lab is the best way | | | | use to the candidate. If you see a kit that looks |
| to be totally prepared for your Cisco exams. | | | | good but includes books or manuals you just don't |
| Most home labs are put together one router or | | | | want, ask the vendor for a price that doesn't |
| switch at a time, but many CCNA / CCNP | | | | include the books. It never hurts to ask. |
| candidates prefer to buy kits where you get | | | | Watch the IOS version. Unless you've got access |
| multiple routers and switches, along with all the | | | | to IOS upgrades, you'll be working with the IOS |
| cables and other connection devices you'll need. | | | | version that's on the routers and switches when |
| While this is a good idea, keep a few things in | | | | you buy the kit for a while. You don't necessarily |
| mind when purchasing Cisco home lab kits. | | | | need the latest and greatest IOS version for |
| Don't buy anything you don't need. The problem is | | | | CCNA study, but don't buy routers with IOS |
| that when you're first starting out with your Cisco | | | | versions beginning with "10" unless you have an |
| home lab, you don't know everything that you | | | | IOS to upgrade them with. (And make sure the |
| need. (I sure didn't!) Keep in mind that you only | | | | routers have enough memory to handle the IOS |
| need one transceiver per AUI port on a Cisco | | | | you plan on putting on them.) |
| router, so if you're getting routers with two AUI | | | | Purchasing a Cisco CCNA / CCNP Home Lab is |
| ports in all, you don't need five transceivers in the | | | | one of the best investments in your career that |
| kit. It doesn't hurt to have one spare, but three is | | | | you will ever make. Exercise just a bit of caution |
| a little too much. | | | | when purchasing your kit, and you'll be on your |
| More importantly, don't buy kits with old CCNA or | | | | way to true Cisco success, in the exam room |
| CCNP study guides included. I've seen kits with | | | | and on your network! |
| books that were three years old and were of no | | | | |