CISCO - where to start ??

M

Mike160

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 26, 2005
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I'd like to know the best way to go about starting to learn some cisco technology ???

I would like to just pick up a book and start learning, but from what i've read so far cisco language is very cryptic and better learned by "hands on". I've have seen training guides that include network sims, but unfortunately it looks like they only run under windows (I use Linux 100% at home)

any advise on resources or book recommendations would be very much appreciated

thank you
 
Get yourself a cisco 871, 1700 series, or somthing like it and use it at home. The 871 is a good small business router that is a good one to start with. Has the web interface too. If you really want play around with the interface first. Then clear the things config and start from scratch. You will have to configure the interfaces and everything. Good way to start.
 
If you really want to learn I would recommend pickup up a Cisco 2514 for cheap on ebay, make sure it has 16 Megs of Flash and 16 Megs of DRAM so you can run version 12.3 of the IOS. The 2514 has two 10 meg Ethernet ports so you could setup NAT on it and use it in place of your current router. While it doesn't have the web interface most of the nuts and bolts are done via the CLI. The plus about the 2514 is that if you decide cisco isn't for you you're out maybe $50 or so.
 
Thank you for all the info ...
I was able to obtain (for FREE) a cisco 2501 router, now after a little research i've found that I need to use the console port with a crossover cable and an adapter to my PC to the serial port (please correct me if i'm wrong) in order to configure the router. The other thing i've noticed is that other than the AUX port on the back of the router there is no way to connect it to my current DSL modem, correct ?? I assume I would need other pieces of equipment such as a switch/hub to connect to one of the 2 serial ports on the back of the router.
Although that still doesn't fix the fact that ther is no WAN port.... ??

Maybe I'm in over my head, or this 2501 is just NOT the right piece of equipment to start experimenting with ...

some more incite would be great

thanks so much !!
 
You actually need a rollover cable, not a x-over. Or you can get a Cisco one from ebay for a few bucks. (Search for "cisco console cable")
(http://www-tss.cisco.com/eservice/compass/common/tasks/task_console_port_connect.htm)

You need a ethernet transceiver for the 2501 (for your wan connection), they are fairly old routers and don't have come with eithernet as a standard.
http://www.pacificcable.com/Picture_Page.asp?DataName=KT-10T

Cisco press books or just cisco's website is a good place to start.

or feel free to pm me, i'll try to answer any questions you have.
 
excellent !!! thanks for the links... I also assume the ethernet tranciever will act as a type of switch as well, or will the AUX RJ-45 jack come into play at some point ??

*edit- I see on ebay 2500 series routers going for about $12 !! so is there a newer model that would be more sutable for my needs that I could pick up ..such as the 2514 or 2524 ?? even a different series would be fine ...but i still want to learn the basics of the console config, html interface is not necessary (but would still be cool)

thanks again..
 
To be honest, i've never used one. My guess is, you'd configure the aux port as normal and the only thing that would change is the physical media.
 
Learn the OSI Model and network topologies first, then Cisco then will make more sense.
 
If your looking to buy some equipment, You'll need some routers and switches. The routers can be 1751, 1721, and for switches you're looking at some Catalyst 2950's they are cheap.
Once you have the knowledge of an CCNA engineer. You may want to trade the cat 2950 to some L3 once such as 3550 etc.

For books. I suggest
1. CCNA Official Exam Certification Library (Exam #640-801), 2nd edition
2. Routing TCP/IP volume 1
3. Routing TCP/IP volume 2
etc.
 
The aux port is used to provide out-of-band management, usually via a modem.
 
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