When I was doing the CCNA/CCNP track I bought a rack of gear that I pieced together and I looked on how much I spent.
Here is the quick run down. I have 4 3640's, 4 2500 series (2x 2501, 1x 2522 and a 2511 Access server) 2 x 2620xm's 3 x 2950 switches 1x 3550 switch. I also bought lots of 4 a/s modules for the 3640's and single wic 1t's as well in addition to additional flash / ram etc etc, dte/dce cables, a rack and all the trimmings. I looked at the bill and I totaled it up. It's over 3,000. Now that I am on to the CCIE let me present you with another number. $2,975 for 100 sessions on using IPexpert/Proctor lab's. That's 775 hours of rack time. This is if you just did 10 sessions at a time. At the time I did my CCNA, I decided in the middle of that I was going all the way to the CCIE. However, as I discovered the equipment I started getting wasn't going to fly all the way to a full lab together. So now I had another challenge, I needed to at least get 2x 3560's and another 3550. However, now I see that's changed and it's 3x 3560s or 4?. Either case there is that magic number again 3,000 (all in us dollars by the way).. Which is about how much 3x 3560's will cost me. One thing I can appreciate (among many things) is Ipexpert doesn't toss rack time in your face and push you on it. That's great. I am a CCIE candidate that's new to this game and one thing I know is value. For me to spend another 3,000 on JUST switches (not even counting the routers which I would need at least another 6 or so I believe) is insane when I can get 775 hours of rack time through ipexpert/proctor labs. Sure I could sell my gear after I am done using it, but like most it becomes attached to you and then you can't part with it. So I look at it from an economic stand point, 3,000 dollars gives me 775 hours rack time. This makes more sense to me. As I said before, I do use my rack all the time and it helps me understand things and I can set up all things routing protocol on there and I can even do MPLS on the 3640's etc. However, to get the depth and complexity needed to really REALLY understand the stuff I made a stand. I said to my self " Self, if I spend another 3,000 will that complete my objective?" My self said "No because you will still have a couple of thousand more at LEAST to get even close silly" I said to my self "Self you are right I will go rent time" So there's my other spill on it as well. Not just for [email protected] but for anyone else reading this. Look at the cost of owning a lab vs renting one. I take a wild stab at a "proper" lab and it appears it would be around 20,000 dollars US with all the 2811's 3560's and that monster 3825 lurking in the background. For 20,000 dollars I could have 672 sessions or 5,200 + hours rack time. Now that's A LOT of rack time to use, but just making an illustration. I am sure at around 1,000 hours you would be taking the lab and if you pass it first try, then GREAT. Which brings me to my next point. 1,000 hours would =.....well I think you get the point. Final note, while both options are "correct" regarding building a rack vs renting a rack as you can see one costs more one costs less. One option you can sell your stuff when your done (which you may not as you get attached for it, making you warm and fuzzy inside) the other option you can't sell anything but then again at least you don't have the hassle of selling it on eBay. Take into consideration the depreciation in the time it takes you to study, you buy 20000 dollars worth of equipment, it loses 10 or 20% (especially at time of blue print change) then that amount, 2 - 3,000 dollars = 100 sessions (775 hours) . So really, the amount of depreciation is equal to a large amount of rack time. Does this make sense to anyone? It jumped out at me. This is from friends buying equipment and selling it later on, so I have witnessed the value changing of equipment over time it made me think about it, and I hope it helps anyone reading this too. Alright alright, I'm rambling on but I just want people to have an objective non biased look at it from a different angle. Hope that helps and thanks for reading :) --- On Sat, 9/19/09, Rick Mur <[email protected]> wrote: From: Rick Mur <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [OSL | CCIE_RS] My lab hardware To: "Iwan Hoogendoorn" <[email protected]> Cc: [email protected], [email protected] Date: Saturday, September 19, 2009, 7:52 AM Especially the 2800s are a great addition to your lab!! You should try to get a few more of those and you have a complete v4.0 compatible lab. -- Regards, Rick Mur CCIE2 #21946 (R&S / Service Provider) Sr. Support Engineer – IPexpert, Inc. URL: http://www.IPexpert.com On Sat, Sep 19, 2009 at 9:39 AM, Iwan Hoogendoorn <[email protected]> wrote: hi Mitch, I agree with Joe that the PIX is not needed but it's a nice toy. And you definitly need 4 switches... -- Regards, Iwan Hoogendoorn CCIE #13084 (R&S / Security / SP) Sr. Support Engineer – IPexpert, Inc. URL: http://www.IPexpert.com On Fri, Sep 18, 2009 at 5:11 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: > Greetings everyone. I've been lurking for a while now and I thought I should > introduce myself since I'll likely start asking a lot of questions as I get > further into preparation for my R&S lab (May 3rd RTP). > > Currently, I'm working on finishing my way through the on demand videos of > the Blended Learning Solution. I hope to have this done by the end of the > month. After that, I'll start working my way through the early labs to see > where I'm deficient. I'm self funded renting rack time is out of the > question. However, I have access to our "hotswap" inventory at work. I've > racked some of it to use as my R&S lab. I also have access to a few more > routers if needed, but they will likely be 1750s. I've considered grabbing a > few and using those as the BB routers since I don't think the configs will > change much from lab to lab on the BB routers. Anyway, here's what I'm > currently working with (from top to bottom in the pic). Pix 515e, (3) 2801, > (3) 3560, (2) 3550. Any suggestions on things to add/remove for the 4.0 lab? > > http://tinypic.com/r/forvm/3 > > Thanks, > Mitch > _______________________________________________ > For more information regarding industry leading CCIE Lab training, please > visit www.ipexpert.com > > _______________________________________________ For more information regarding industry leading CCIE Lab training, please visit www.ipexpert.com -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ For more information regarding industry leading CCIE Lab training, please visit www.ipexpert.com
_______________________________________________ For more information regarding industry leading CCIE Lab training, please visit www.ipexpert.com
