You mentioned the other area that I neglected to list: the CCIP MPLS certification option. James Leu's MPLS For Linux project would run on the LInux boxes. I don't know what he requires for a kernel. It might not be supported on LRP.
-- TT dre wrote: > It sounds like you are going down the right path. > > My suggestion is to get a 5000 or 2900 (orginal, not > XL series) switch (or as many as you can afford). > > Connect at least one 3620 with FE to the switch (again, > whatever you can afford) and use dot1q trunks. Connect > a FreeBSD or Linux box running Zebra and with tagged > VLAN support (dot1q). Now you can have a lot of > interfaces on both sides. You can play around a lot with > that, but for NMS you might have little success since there > are still some problems with subinterfaces and the Cisco MIB's > in some cases. I believe newer code will solve this problem. > In the Linux case, you might even be able to setup MPLS for > learning. It might be a lot more difficult to learn ATM or Frame- > Relay or xDSL or Cable/DOCSIS management techniques without > a lot of specialized (read: expensive) hardware. Then again, if you > really want to learn ATM network management, an LS1010 and/or > 3600 ATM, and/or Cat5k ATM blade aren't going to cost too too much > (if you absolutely must learn ATM specifically, this is probably your best > bet). I'd avoid ATM and other WAN technologies, and concentrate on > LAN network management first, because it costs a lot less. > > In any case, a single router and a single switch allow you to learn > a lot about NMS applications and general configuration ability. > > Have a look at some of these tools (do a search, I don't want to > get all the URL's): > net-snmp, rancid, tool, jffnms, msyslog, nmis, ncat/rat, argus, mrtg, > mhtg, pancho, rtrmon, scli, seafelt, wandoc, rrdtool, etc > > I think ncat/rat, rancid, pancho, mrtg, and net-snmp will interest you > much more than opennms. They will allow you to do all the neat > management features of CiscoWorks but these tools actually work > really well and you can get inside of them and play around with things. > > These books will also help a lot: > http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1578701805/qid%3D1020453609/ref%3Dsr% > 5F11%5F0%5F1/103-7458544-1431031 > http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0079137822/qid=1020453551/sr=1-3/ref= > sr_1_3/103-7458544-1431031 > http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0072122625/qid=1020453523/sr=1-1/ref= > sr_1_1/103-7458544-1431031 > http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/059600186X/qid=1020453510/sr=1-1/ref= > sr_1_1/103-7458544-1431031 > http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0596000200/ref=pd_bndl_img_2/103-7458 > 544-1431031 > > -dre > > ""Tom Scott"" wrote in message > [EMAIL PROTECTED]">news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]... > > If you're looking for scenarios that need attention, > > consider network management (Semester 8 of the Cisco > > Academy curriculum, for example). Using just a few cisco > > routers (say, 2-4), one can build and use reasonably > > simple scenarios. But there's a need for more complex > > internetworks in the range of at least 5-10 routers. The > > question then becomes, How to get the routers affordably? > > > * Get an SNMP-based NMS like OpenNMS (opennms.org) or whatever. > > If there's an affordable version of CiscoWorks that's > > available, that would be just great. But I don't think there > > is. > > > > * Learn to use the NMS and MIBs in a complex environment. > > > > Does anyone have experience with this? Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=43263&t=43237 -------------------------------------------------- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]