Is Dynamips A Replacement For Real Training Lab Hardware

Since the early days of vender network certifications the number one issue that has pledged certification candidates is getting access to routing and switching hardware to familiarize their selves on how to design and configure complex network scenarios. Traditionally candidates have been limited to looking on Ebay and other internet auction sites for great deals on used equipment to purchase for a home lab or renting lab rack time from training vendors. Today candidates now have a new choice for practicing their Cisco lab scenarios, a router simulator program known as Dynamips.

Dynamips is a Linux and Windows based application that is used to emulate the routing hardware of the Cisco 1700, 2600, 2691, 3600, 7200 and 3700 series routing platforms and currently supports Ethernet, Serial, ATM, and POS interfaces for the 7200 and 3700 series routers as well as Ethernet, Serial, and Etherswitch modules for the 3600 series routers.

Unlike other traditional router simulators, Dynamips allows the user to run a real Cisco IOS images. This permits the user to use all the IOS commands accessible to that revision of the Cisco IOS as well as design and construct complex network scenarios to practices and devlop their knowledge of network topologies on their PC desktop. Best of all Dynamips is open-source and free to download!

Although Dynamips has gained a lot of momentum and popularity with Cisco candidates as well as training venders like Internetwork Expert and ieMentors and allows the user to Build and test complex lab scenarios using different technologies such as Frame Relay, ATM, MPLS, etc it is not advanced enough to completely replace real hardware.

Dynamips cannot emulate any of the high-end switching features at this time and most likely never will. This means that you’ll need to have access to actual Cisco switches in order to practice those skills. Also there are no provisions for topologies such as Token-ring and ISDN.

Furthermore, even though Dynamips runs great if you tweak it enough and give it sufficient resources, (the size of the labs you can build is only limited by the amount of CPU and RAM you can provide) some candidates may not want to spend the money to upgrade their systems or to take the time to tweak variables in the software.

It is my belief that Dynamips will increase in popularity as the program progresses and with the introduction of newer higher performance PCs. While it’s going to put a dent in the need for home equipment and rack rental business it will not eliminate them completely.

In conclusion candidates will no longer be tied down to particular windows of time for rack rentals or the need to be connected to a home lab. You will be able to take your lab with you on your laptop. This will permit you to practice your lab scenarios anywhere and anytime maximizing your training efforts.

By: Barry Burdette

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Read more about Cisco routing and switching labs at Free Cisco Lab as well as excellent detailed lab scenarios.