Computer Networking
The Benefits Of Soundproof Enclosures In The Office Work Space
Mar 16th
If you have had to work next to the hum of a server you’ll appreciate the calming influence a soundproof enclosure can bring. Even the simplest tasks become difficult when loud equipment disturbs your working environment.
Owning my own business has presented me with many hurdles to overcome but nothing is more frustrating than constantly trying to motivate distracted staff, so when presented with this problem, I spoke to fellow business owners who recommended UCoustic Soundproof enclosures which they assured me would provide a practical solution to my dilemma.
Having never heard of Soundproof enclosures, I do not know too much about the technology behind them and I can’t give you a break down of how it works but take it from me, they do! In the beginning I was hesitant, and doubted that it would have much of an effect, but the drastic reduction in noise levels was incredible from the minute it was installed. Working in a professional streamlined office, I can vouch for its sleek contemporary design and the results are plain to see; the UCoustic cab boasts a reduction of 28.5dBA so within an office environment it is virtually silent.
The benefits of the UCoustic soundproof enclosure are:
Noticeable reduction in office noise levels, drastic increase in staff productivity, Stylish streamlined construction, Cutting edge technology, Far cheaper than office re-modeling,
I couldn’t be more impressed with my UCoustic cabinet and my staff all tell me they find it much easier to concentrate without the distracting noise the old server made. From a financial point of view, it is a tiny fraction of what it would have cost me to build a dedicated server cupboard and the reliability and excellent build quality mean that maintenance costs are kept to a minimum! I wouldn’t be able to go back to a regular office without a UCoustic Enclosure and I would not want my business or my staff to suffer as a result. All in all, the UCoustic soundproof enclosure has helped to increase the office space, as well as improve the working environment and the morale of the staff and my office would not be without one!
If you would like to find out more about Soundproof Enclosures then visit USystems Ltd, to find out more about the UCoustic Soundproof Enclosure and how it can improve your working environment. Don’t reprint this exact article. Instead, reprint a free unique content version of this same article.
There Be A Monster In That There Lake!
Mar 15th
Ronky The Monster Of Lake Ronkonkoma New York
It was a Sunday in Summer of 2009 went I first saw Ronky with my own eyes. I had heard stories of Ronky here and there, They had come to me in Whispers really.The History of Ronky has been a well kept secret for Hundreds maybe Thousands of years. I had spent weeks watching this lake in Lake Ronkonkoma on Long Island in New York State. This day I was driving around going past one of the many Parks and Beaches around the lake. While I was going North on Lake Shore Road I saw something in the water out of the corner of my eye, but after weeks of watching this lake I thought it was just someone out on another blow up raft and didn’t really think much of it !
As I was passing the Dinning Hall “Windows on the Lake” there is an opening where Guests can get a good look at the lake. I looked over and I saw what I had though to be a raft a few seconds before was the creature. I though to myself this could just be another hoax! After years of searches and hunts leading to nothing but dead ends I was not going to get my hopes up to fast. I slowed down and watched as the Creature swam around the lake enjoying itself! I was a little scared but at the same time I could not stop myself from smiling thinking this was really it!
I drove around the lake following along with “Ronky” at some point I pulled into a parking lot and walked onto one of the beaches. I slowly got my Camera out fearing as soon as I went to take the picture the creature would disappear. I snapped a shot, checked it in the review mode of the Camera and I could not believe I had captured a perfect shot of the Creature that no one could dispute the authenticity of ! When I looked back at the Lake Ronky was gone.
Over the next few days I carefully started asking the locals in the area if they had ever seen something weird in the Lake? It seems that to everyone in Lake Ronkonkoma Ronky is well known. He is not a myth or urban legend here. He is just another Member of the Village! I have been told there are two Differences between Nessie in Scotland’s Loch ness and Ronky in New York’s Lake Ronkonkoma. One Ronky is real and Two Ronky is protected by the Locals and his name is not defiled for tourist money.
There are many stories of Ronky that go back Hundreds of years. The one I found most interesting was a story that happened about 15 years ago. It seems there was an expedition sent to look into and map the depths and some underwater streams under Lake Ronkonkoma. This expedition never happened. The Official Story given was the expedition ran out of Money and was going to come back when they got more funds. I was told by an old time resident that wishes her Identity to remain a secret that the real story is a group called the “Keepers of the Lake” told the expiation in no uncertain terms it would be in their best interested for them to leave and not come back!!!
The people of Lake Ronkonkoma have kept this Monster Ronky loved and Protected for many years! I respect and sympathize with them,but I have spent my adult life and most of my families fortune searching for a creature like Ronky.This is my job and I must share this with the world. I have received many threats not to print this story! I have posted it here to go out to these newsgroups if I do not reset the settings at least once a week. If you are reading this there is a good chance something has happen to me. Please do not let what I have spent my life hunting for go unheard of ! Ronky is there in that Lake!
By Lawrence Jamison http://www.lakeronkonkomacivic.org
Larry J has been seeking out Lake Monsters for years . Larry J love the fact that the folks of Ronkonkoma have hidden Ronky rather then use him for Tourism Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service
CWNA Certification – Certified Wireless Network Administrator
Mar 12th
A CWNA expert has the technical leadership and the ability to successfully put into operation any wireless solution and offers a career demarcation, with enhanced trustworthiness and marketability. A CWNA certification is the initial step towards a successful career in the wireless field. Because it is vendor-neutral, you have the advantage of being employed by any company or organization having any wireless infrastructure vendor
CWNA Exam Requirement To earn the CWNA certification you must pass the CWNA PW0-104 exam. This is a multiple-choice exam with 60 questions, for 90 minutes exam duration. You need a passing score of 70%. You can register at any time for the course.
With wireless technology, people have more flexibility and more freedom to connect with their favorite content and to communicate with others even when they are on the move”.. All sorts of devices support now the wireless technology Wireless technology has a quickly growing marketability. Wi-Fi technology has brought “Freedom and flexibility in Communication.
CWNA Course and Preparation The combination of the two study resources above will definitely help you to pass the exam guaranteed. Especially the Train signal Video Training package will provide you with an “instructor-like” experience which covers all required topics for the exam For optimal CWNA preparation I suggest to get the only authorized CWNA Video Training (from Train signal) together with the Official CWNA Self-Study Guide (709 pages paperback) from the official website (cwnp.com).
CWNA Exam Requirement To earn the CWNA certification you must pass the CWNA PW0-104 exam. This is a multiple-choice exam with 60 questions, for 90 minutes exam duration. You need a passing score of 70%. You can register at any time for the course.
The certification exam measures your ability to administer any wireless LAN. The exam covers a broad range of wireless LAN topics focused on 802.11 wireless technology rather than products of specific vendors. The main topics covered by the exam are the following:Radio Technologies; Antenna Concepts; Wireless LAN 0Hardware and Software;Network Design, Installation, and Management;Wireless Standards and Organizations;802.11 Network Architecture:Wireless LAN Security ;Troubleshooting and How to Perform Site Surveys
Want to find out more about online training, then visit Sharief Patel’s site on how to choose the best online courses for your needs. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service
Home Business Necessities
Mar 12th
Every home and business office nowadays finds it very important to have desktop computers. Even the smallest companies cannot do its ordinary processes without the use of these digital wonders. Homes, on the other hand, have found it necessary in aiding the kids’ homework and research and in providing cheap and real-time communication.
Another electronic device that is gaining the same amount of importance is the server. In the era of the internet when connectivity among people has a paramount advantage, servers have become just as valuable as PCs. Aside from allowing access to a network of computers, it provides common storage for users, facilitating file sharing in the most convenient manner.
However, to get the most advantages in one’s computing jobs, having both is the most ideal. Having only a desktop PC means being limited in terms of accessibility. Most of these run only to several hundreds of gigabytes in storage space. This is definitely not enough for the heavy user; more so for network use.
A server, on the other hand is useless, without a PC interface. It merely stores files, which can be accessible anytime for all users linked to it. It has to be left on 24 hours so that it its public files are always available and so that it constantly connects computers in a network.
The combination of both servers and desktop computers provide the user with the best advantage. In fact, the internet has become possible with the connection of both pieces of equipment. The server is the means for common storage and for making access possible while the desktop PC is the tool for manipulating it and for opening the files.
These equipments do have varying limitations when set apart and used separately. These limitations are avoided when connected and used together. Through your PC, you can access a file saved in a network’s server or you may play a network game with other users online. The server makes all PC network connections possible.
It is more likely that you already have a PC. It is easy for you to get a server. With the minimum of $300, you already buy one of the simpler servers in the market. If you find this pricey still, you can just ask someone who converts desktop computers to it.
He may also prefer to avail of online servers instead. He can do this by paying for memberships in such websites who accommodate people’s files for storage. He has to pay a monthly rate. He can access these files from all desktop computers connected to the internet. However, there are limits to the amount stored. Therefore, it is still recommended to have server hardware of his own.
As a business it is always better to have a Server ready for file sharing purposes. However, some other business may be just fine with a Desktop Computer (computadora) with certain network benefits in place.
Positive Ways To Using High Tech For Laptop Repair
Mar 11th
Computers have been around for many years. In fact, the concept of computer hardware existed as far back as World War II. Laptops actually did not exist until the 1980s. Laptops today are faster and more sophisticate, which need special attention when repairing. Unfortunately laptops wear out, whether parts break or the whole model needs replacing. With proper care, and repair, laptops can exist beyond their normal time. Using high tech for laptop repair makes upkeep a lot easier.
Laptops are built with many interchangeable parts. This is a compliment of companies who mass- produce parts. However, it is not easy to replace or repair specific pieces like the processor, motherboard, and hard drive. These few parts usually need a full replacement and cannot be repaired.
Technicians are rigorously trained in school to know what each piece does, and how to troubleshoot any problems that may arise. Sometimes these technicians also offer services like removing stubborn Trojan viruses that have shut the user out of the system. However, normal people who have taken the time to study computers and laptops may also be able to conduct normal repairs. This is usually due to the fact that most systems have been designed as “plug and play”. This means that the user only needs to install the part and the computer automatically recognizes it in the system.
Laptops are a more compact version of full desktop computers. They contain many parts, especially ones that are smaller and more difficult to fix. Working with such contraptions involves taking other pieces out just to get to the part that is the problem. Some of the thinnest laptops are not even an inch thick. Just imagine how small the parts are!
Some of the more advanced tools to laptop repair are temperature gauges and a multi- meter. The temperature monitor allows the technician to know if a coolant fan or any of the other parts are overheated. The multi- meter is a tool that checks relays in the laptop to see if the power is flowing properly. The technique to repairing often involves a lot of experimenting and applying solutions until the computer is fixed. The ability to be patient and also creative enough to look at the problem in a unique way is really important.
Some of the other tools used in fixing laptops are simple and look like normal house tools, but they are just as important. They are designed to handle small and delicate pieces. Handling laptop repair is not a job that requires muscle. Too much pressure or being rough will crush or break important parts that could prove costly.
One of the most common problems with laptops is a burnt out fan. Fixing such an issue involves replacing the fan itself. The computer repair technician has to open the laptop, pull out a few other parts before reaching the fan itself. To remove the fan, the technician needs to disconnect a few cables. Although this sounds simple, it is not and should be done with deft hands.
A lot of companies offer warranties to customers to repair parts as they already carry the necessary pieces. A lot of times they just replace, rather than repair. However, technicians who run small businesses in this niche take the time to check each part with their monitors and explain to the customer what is going on with their laptop. They also explain what solutions they recommend.
The technology today is a big help for those in the computer repair business. The monitors and small tools to assist in troubleshooting make jobs easier. Another great help is the manuals published through the years for technicians. Now, there are even tutorials on the Internet for laptop repair too!
Canadian home-computer company provides technical solutions such as: Laptop repair Montreal, onsite Computer repair Ottawa service in Toronto, Hamilton, Niagara. We also offer computer virus removal.
Software For Your Network Administration
Mar 3rd
Administrating a certain network can be exhausting if the personnel rely solely on their manual capabilities. Since administering a network is made possible because of advanced computer software, network management has become more sophisticated nowadays as more and more software is developed. Because of the series of advancement, administering a network increases the number of processes which are automated. Two of the automated processes done in network administration are network configuration and network analysis.
In a nutshell, network configuration refers to a process done through automation which offer several advantages in network administration. For one, it enables to decrease the time spent for doing tasks as well as the number of errors that might possibly happen while doing each task. Configuration consistency in multiple systems will also be increased through it. In addition, it provides a manner of process documentation.
Network configuration is made possible by several tools offered by several vendors. These products can be different in themselves since they possess distinct features that address certain network configuration concerns. Vendors such as AlterPoint, Gold Wire Technology, and Intelliden sell products that can store and keep track of servers, routers, and switch configurations. Companies such as Collation and Relicore sell products that can administer multiple devices in very efficient manner. Aside from these mentioned, there are other vendors that’s ell network configuration tools.
Network analyzer is a term applied to a computer software or hardware that can capture packets that run in any areas of the network and which to track their codes to be analyzed according to particular specifications. The alternative names of network analyzer are protocol analyzer, packet analyzer, and sniffer.
Network analyzer can hold up traffic on any other network areas depending on whether the LAN used is wired or wireless. Wired LANs do have the capability to intercept packets at any parts of the network. However, on wireless LANs, traffic can be held up only through a certain channel.
There are several software for network analysis in the market. The best selling software includes Carnivore, dSnif, Ettercap, Fluke Lanmeter, and Microsoft Network Monitor. What make these software best selling in the market are their most sought out features that include mechanism to detect network problems, detect network intrusions, collate and report network statistics, among others.
There are several vendors of network analyzers. The software can cost money, however, there are software that can be received for free. The web has a number of sites that offer both free and paid software. It is important to read reviews of each product before you select one so you can buy the best software in the market today.
Efficient network administration can only be made possible through the use of advanced software. Do not deprive your company of these software. Buy network configuration tools and network analyzers now!
Network Configuration relieves the jobs and workload of your Information Technology department. See how network analysis and management can help better your business.
How to Find Prank Caller That Irritates You
Feb 26th
Almost anyone of us have a landline and use a cell phone so as to communicate with all the people we are dealing with. A person may not have any other kind of luxury in his life but a cell phone and a cell phone is something each and every one of us owns because it helps us in connecting with people living in remote areas of the world.
Sometimes when we are sitting peacefully with people we love, some prank callers keep on calling our number and hang up number of times, it irritates us. It not only spoils of our private time but also annoys and frustrates us. You may have a caller ID to trace down the number from which a guy is calling but you couldn’t trace down his name and address using caller ID Service. Therefore it is crucial that you have such a service that can help you in locating the number, name and address of the guy who is calling you.
Today, you can definitely enjoy such benefits using the reverse phone detective service that helps you in finding out the details of the person who is on the phone. You just have to enter the phone number and you will get to know the type of the phone number, details of the owner of the phone number. Whenever you are cleaning up your house and come across with a number written on a piece of paper but are unable to recall whom it belongs to then you can use the reverse phone look up to know about the name of the owner of the phone number.
There are many facilities available to a human being since we are living in the 21st century where the technology keeps on advancing with every passing day. The reverse phone detective service is among the latest technology that is helping people to get in touch with their friends, relatives and even their classmates after several years. If you have forgotten the address of your close friend with whom you had loads of fun in your school time but have no contact with him now. Then you can just enter his phone number and learn about his contact details so that you can surprise him by dropping in his home.
There are many websites on the net that will help you in locating the address and other details of the phone number but many of the websites do not have cell phone numbers details. Most of the telemarketers get the access to the cell phone numbers of many people and keep on calling them again and again. In order to know what calls to pick you can use the reverse phone look up service to know what different numbers belongs to whom so that you can avoid picking them up and wasting your time.
If you’d like to know which reverse phone lookup service I recommended and specifically why, check out ReversePhoneDetective for a full in-depth review. You’ll see Why Private Investigators Are a Waste of Money, and how it can help you with that mysterious caller that is bugging the heck out of you!
CCNA & CCNP Lab Suggestions
Feb 24th
Many people ask me what would make a good CCNA lab? Well, that can be a tricky question based upon your budget and future Cisco aspirations. So let’s start off with a few basic concepts I hope we can all agree on. Real Routers
You need a physical router as the simulators just don’t have the ability to give you the “hands on” you need to see what happens when you disconnect a cable, put a cable in the wrong location or just plain configure the interface incorrectly. Dependant on what you do by mistake, you may see either the interface or protocol go down and based upon that it should give you a clue of where to start troubleshooting(hint, what layer is the interface at and what layer is the protocol at?). Anyway, you will come to find quite quickly that mistakes you make on Router 1 are affecting Router 4 all because you did not screw in a cable properly. No simulator can simulate that, so a router is invaluable.
I also get occasionally asked if someone can use their D-Link “router” or such in their lab. That class of home “router” generally does not support protocols such as RIP, OSPF, IGRP, etc. nor do they support the Cisco IOS which is a majority of the CCNA exam. So the answer is they are not really applicable to building your Cisco CCNA lab.
How Many Cisco Routers Do I Need?
Two routers really are required to see if anything works. If you have a very limited budget, you can receive value from only purchasing a single router over working with a simulator. However, you will not be able to see the main thing we are trying to accomplish. The propagation of route tables and the routing of data! The only way you can see if your configurations work, is to have at least two routers. That said, if you can afford a kit with more than two routers, it will enable you to exercise more complex scenarios. Therefore, I strongly recommend that you purchase a dual router kit or better that comes with all the accessories you need. Otherwise you can spend days or weeks trying to find all the little extra pieces you need to get your lab up and running. I mention this as some other resellers are selling their kits with 2500 routers and they are not including transceivers. Well how will you use the Ethernet AUI ports without them?? So this is basically how I view it. One router will give you the ability to run the commands on it and allow you to memorize the correct syntax and context in which to run the commands. Two routers will allow you to be able to see route table information propagate, data propagation and path election. In addition, you will see basic device elections. With three or more routers you will get all of the above and full device elections. Hopefully these tips will help you pick the right CCNA lab kit for you budget.
Can We Build A Lab That Will Cover Every Single CCNA Exam Concept?
We get this question quite often. Yes, we can, but it is not realistic for most customers who are self studying as this will cost well in excess of $5,000. If you have that sort of budget available, we suggest you pick on of the CCNP kits as that will get you through your CCNA exam and well on your way to your CCNP certification.
How Many Cisco Routers & Cisco Switches Do I Need To Complete Your CCNA Lab Workbook?
Our CCNA Lab Workbook was designed with the knowledge that most of our customers can’t afford a large lab. Keep in mind, that you will see a variety of labs that were written for three of four routers below. That does not mean you can’t complete most of them. It just for the most part means they will not be as complex as they could be.
Number of labs requiring only one router – 7
Number of labs requiring two routers – 11
Number of labs requiring three routers – 19
Number of labs requiring four routers – 4
Number of labs requiring one or more switches – 8
Now you can review the above link for our CCNA Lab Workbook to see all the topics covered. A physical copy of the Lab Workbook is included with our dual router or better kits. Now we have had a request by some customers who are not buying a full kit from us to just download a copy of the Lab Workbook or they want to preview the Lab Workbook. Well, we now offer a preview version of the Lab Workbook which you can download and view some of the labs and chapters. It is available at this link… CCNA Lab Workbook eBook Download Keep in mind, if you order the download version, you do not get a physical copy of the book. You only get a physical copy of the book if you order it from this link in which case it is shipped to you CCNA Lab Workbook. What Are Some Things I Need To Consider For My CCNA Lab?
Two new topics have popped up for the new Cisco CCNA 640-802 exam. They are IPv6(IP Version 6) and SDM(Security Device Manager) which is a GUI based way to configure your routers and switches. A common question is can the Cisco 2500 series routers support IPv6? Yes, they can if they are maxed out with 16MB of DRAM and Flash. Here are some more specs on Cisco routers and required DRAM and Flash to support IPv6 assuming you have the correct IOS. To make your life a little easier, I have included a handy chart illustrating the minimum DRAM and Flash required to support IPv6 per model platform below.
DRAM/Flash Memory Required for Feature Support
Model IPv6 SDM Max IOS Ver. Cisco 2500 16/16 Not Available 12.3 Cisco 2600 64/16 Not Available 12.3 Cisco 2600XM 128/32 128/32 12.4 Cisco 3620 64/16 Not Available 12.3 Cisco 3640 128/32 64/16 12.4 If you took a good look at the chart, you will also notice I mentioned the requirements for SDM too. As mentioned before, SDM is Cisco’s Security Device Manager and is the GUI option to configure your routers. It is not supported on some of the older models. But the good news from a lab perspective is that you do not need it on every router to get a good grasp on how SDM works. The Cisco 3640 router is going to be the cheapest way to get SDM with a 10mb Ethernet interface and the Cisco 2600XM series seems to be the cheapest way to get SDM with a 100mb Ethernet interface.
Finally, I also have an IOS version column. As you can see above, the Cisco 2500, 2600 and 3620 models only support 12.3 whereas the Cisco 2600XM and 3640 units support 12.4. So if you want to have exposure the latest IOS that is running on routers in the real world, right now that is 12.4. But if your budget does not allow for it, you will still find value in the routers that are running the older 12.3 IOS.
Why Do You Sell Routers With Memory That Can’t Run IPv6?
Not everyone has the budget to support every feature. So you will see that we still offer Cisco 2500 router kits with 8MB of DRAM and 8MB of Flash as being able to practice on routers that support 85% of the concepts is better than nothing at all if you budget is tight.
How Do I Know What Interfaces & Options Are Available On A Router?
In an effort to avoid any confusion and give you one place to look to compare models and interfaces/options, I made this next handy little chart to give you an idea of what to expect on each router.
Summary of Router Interfaces
Model Ethernet Sync Serial (DB-60) Async/Sync Serial Ports NM Slots Available Wan Slots Available Cisco 2501 1- AUI 10mb 2 0 0 0 Cisco 2503 1- AUI 10mb 2 0 0 0 Cisco 2507/16 16 Port Hub10mb 2 0 0 0 Cisco 2514 2- AUI 10mb 2 0 0 0 Cisco 2520 1- AUI 10mb 2 2 0 0 Cisco 2610 1- RJ-45 10mb 0 0 1 2 Cisco 2611 2- RJ-45 10mb 0 0 1 2 Cisco 2612 1- RJ-45 10mb 0 0 1 2 Cisco 2610/20XM 1-RJ-45 100mb 0 0 1 2 Cisco 2611/21XM 2-RJ-45 100mb 0 0 1 2 Cisco 1720 1- RJ-45 100mb 0 0 1 2 Cisco 2620 1- RJ-45 100mb 0 0 1 2 Cisco 2621 2- RJ-45 100mb 0 0 1 2 Cisco 3620 0 0 0 2 0 Cisco 3640 0 0 0 4 0 1 AUI = attachment unit interface. Anything Else You Can Suggest?
Well, a few things. The Cisco 2500s are serviceable routers for your CCNA studies still as long as you have the proper IOS and maxed out memory with all the accessories you need. You might say, but they are only 10mb routers. True, but they still work. The major drawback besides the aforementioned lack of SDM and 12.4 support is that with 10mb routers you can’t do your inter-vlan routing labs with them(which is true of any of the 10mb routers). So just make sure you have at least one 100mb router in your lab so you can do inter-vlan routing and that takes care of that issue and helps to keep the cost of your lab down for those with a tight budget!
You want to make sure your router can support IPv6 as doing those labs will really help the IPv6 concepts sink in. Finally, SDM is more than likely the wave of the future, so you might as well start to get used to it now!
What Is the CiscoKits Trade-Up Program?
In a nutshell something no other vendor is willing to offer to you! For any routers or switches you purchase from us, we will allow you to trade it in for a higher priced router or switch in the future as your Cisco certification lab grows. We are here to see you all the way up to CCIE as your Cisco certification partner! Please see the Trade-Up Program link on the left for full program details.
Do I Need A Switch?
This can be debated a few different ways. First some people will say that 80% of the test is based on routing. To which I will agree. But with only a small margin of error between passing and failing, not fully understanding switching concepts such as VLANs, STP, and root elections could be the one question that stands between you passing and failing your exam. There will be some switch questions which are memorization based such as “What is a Layer 2 protocol used to maintain a loop-free network?” Thank goodness we memorized STP. That said, it would be nice for us to be able to actually “see” the switching concepts work. So this is basically how I view it. One switch will give you the ability to run the commands on the switch and allow you to memorize the correct syntax and context in which to run the commands. It will also allow you to do some of the VLAN labs. Two switches will allow you to see VTP Domain & VLAN information propagate. In addition, you will see basic device elections. With three or more switches you will get all of the above and full device elections. Remember, we are only at the CCNA level right now so we will not need a Layer 3 switch like a 3550 just yet. But it is a cool concept of your CCNP studies. Finally you may ask why do some of my dual router kits not have switches in them. Well because you can quite simply go to the section on our site labeled Switches and add the switch you would like to be a part of your kit. The switches don’t need extra transceivers, ports and such so I don’t really have to kit them up with the routers. We do have some of the larger kits that have both routers and switches in them too.
What Switch Should I Get?
This is one that there is so much debate on these days. I will give you my thoughts on it and there are a hundred different ways you can build a lab. I will give you the information and let you decide how you want to build your lab.
The Cisco 2950 switch is the switch that is covered on the test and has the exact IOS command set that you will see on the lab. So if you can afford one, it is great to get. But sometimes when customers only have a $200 budget, I can’t suggest for them to get a switch and forego the routers. After all, the test is 80% routing! Back to the Cisco 2950, this is the best switch for the test if you can afford it.
But let’s say you can’t afford that switch , but still want a switch, what is next? We have the Cisco 2900 series. This is a step down from the Cisco 2950 and supports all the same CCNA test commands except the switchport and global vlan command. So with that knowledge, this switch may just work for you.
Finally, there is the Cisco 1900 series switches. There is not a lot of demand for these so they can be purchased very cheap. Some people say they have absolutely no value in a CCNA lab. I tend to disagree for the most part. You may ask me, hey, what are you smoking? The IOS that the Cisco 1900 series switches support is not the IOS that is on the test so how can it be useful? Well, let’s go into knowing that they IOS commands on the 1900 series are not the ones that are on the test. Ok, so we are not going to focus on them(remember, there are only a very few switch IOS commands on the CCNA exam in regard to syntax), but concepts that I find many people having a hard time understanding in how STP works, how the device elections are handled and such. Those concepts work exactly the same way on a 1900 as they do on the 2950 switch. Not to mention that you can do your VLAN, VTP and other similar labs on the switch to get an understanding on how they work. So hopefully you can see why I still carry them to help customers who are on a tight budget get exposure to such concepts. *Note, as of January 2009 the prices have come down on the 2900 series switches to the point it does not seem to be of great value for us to still carry the 1900 switches. The price between the two switch types is so close it is better to spend the extra few dollars and get a 2900 series switch.
As I did with the routers above, I have also included a switch feature chart below to help you make your Cisco switch selection.
Summary of Switch Features
Summary of Cisco Switch Features 1912/1924 2912/2924 2950 3550 Port Speed 10/100MB 100MB 100MB 100MB VLans X X X X Trunking X X X X Port Aggregation X X X X Mirroring X X X X ISL X X 802.1Q X X X QoS X X Layer 3 Switching X IOS Version 9.007 12.x 12.x 12.x
How to build your Cisco CCNP or Cisco CCIE Lab
Feel free to review our Cisco CCNP and Cisco CCIE Certification lab suggestion articles below:
Cisco CCNP Lab Suggestions
Cisco CCIE Lab Suggestions
Go to CiscoKits for your free Cisco Certification training. Cisco CCNA,CCNP,and CCIE training along with many options for Cisco home lab kits!
What Is A VPN?
Feb 22nd
If your company has many offices in different locations, or allows employees to telecommute (work from home), it is highly likely that your company has VPN installed. VPN stands for virtual private network and has many business applications, but primarily a way to extend the office network over various locations.
For ordinary users, however, they would know VPN as a means to hide their email address so that they can surf the Internet anonymously or bypass web site access restrictions such as firewalls. An example would be a user on VPN being able to avail of Internet television when this would be normally blocked on his computer.
Ordinary users would most likely be using VPN in the second scenario. There are a number of VPN services being offered over the Internet. For simple anonymous surfing, you can find a service as cheap as $5/month or even for free!
But if you want to download or stream content, you should have a premium VPN account. Aside from being readily available, the subscription may have other value-added features (depending on the provider) such as your own IP address, strong encryption for any data you are sending over the Internet and your choice of server locations (to be able to visit sites that would normally block your access).
That said, before subscribing to a VPN service, decide how you are going to use it: Is it simply for browsing web site content? Download torrents? Watch Internet television? Each provider has its own terms and conditions for service and some will include restrictions against “illegal” activities such as P2P file sharing of intellectual property. It is best to look for and read the fine print before committing to anything.
Also, try before you buy. Providers who offer a trial period show that they have confidence in their product. On your part, it is often the best way to know if the service is works for you.
Here are a couple of things to check: Internet speed and quality of technical support. You will want to know how reliable the Internet speed is, and how fast or slow it is (depends on what you want to do). You will also want a technical support team that doesn’t take weeks to respond to your questions or help requests, and who actually know what to do when problems or issues arise.
Online forums are good sources of feedback on particular VPN service providers. Customer testimonials are well and good, but then you hardly read anything negative in those. With online forums, if you read a lot of negative feedback on a provider from different people, that may be a sign that you shouldn’t do business with that provider. In any case, you should try to get as much information as possible before subscribing.
Anonymous surfing and email security tools can be a great way to improve your resistance against threats online. Stuart Fisk is an experienced publisher who helps individuals minimize risk by using VPN Service services at work or at home. For additional information about this and other related topics search the internet and you can find a large amount at connectinprivate.com.
Used Computers Great For All Budget Types
Feb 20th
In some regards when it comes to buying electronics it is always seen to be the wisest choice to buy your software in a brand new state. Well, the same thing cannot be said about computers. Used computers are actually creating an affordable way for anyone who has ever wanted a computer but couldn’t afford the expense to be able to.
Typically whenever you hear about someone purchasing a used computer they will generally used the term refurbished to describe the machine. The main differences between these computers and the new computers you would see on the shelves in stores is the fact that they have been used before.
A lot of the people that generally turn their sights toward obtaining a used computer simply want to obtain the console to save themselves a considerable amount of money but still end up with a great console to use. However, before you obtain any used computers that you set your eyes upon you need to ensure that the console will be of a great use to you.
In many cases before a used computer is sold from a leading retailer the operating system on the computer receives a variety of different upgrades to it. The hard drive which is found in the computer which stores all of the information of the user is also wiped clean in order to ensure the privacy of the person who used the console prior to you purchasing it.
It is a great idea to ask for some kind of restore disk for the computer console that you are purchasing. This way if anything ever happens to the software on the computer you have a way to provide backups of all of the programs that the computer is equipped with.
Some merchants are even more than obliged to offer warranties with their consoles. However, in many regards the warranties are nothing to be happy about they are relatively small and last for a mere 15 to 30 days after the date of your purchase. But, you shouldn’t let something like a warranty detour you away from obtaining one of these consoles.
Relatively speaking the only obvious difference between used computers and new computers is the fact that they have been operated on before. Someone else has already accessed the computer and used it for their personal affairs. But with these computers the only thing that you need to ensure is that it can still perform the tasks that you expect of it.
One could say that aside from the used computers being used, everything else on them is in tip top shape. Plus the expense for the system is lower than you would pay for a new computer, thus making these consoles even more alluring to the masses. There have actually been a lot of circumstances reported where people have announced that their used consoles performed better than someones new console.
Why spend a lot of money that you do not have for a new computer when you can obtain a used computer that works at the same if not better capacity as a new computer? The wise choice in this matter would be to save your money you would have wasted on a new computer and side with an old computer, as long as it does the job does it really matter if it was used or not?
At low prices and with such convenient access, computer recycling Toronto is an economically viable option for those seeking quality technology. Another recommended alternative is renting computers Toronto, which allows users to conserve money and test the platform first-hand.
