Hello mates

I have a question & need your suggestions..

In our college their is a network lab which has a rack containing the following equipments:

4 routers ( Cisco 2800 series )

2 switches

1 firewall

2 servers

2 UPS

Their is a desire to extend the lab by adding developed, cutting-edge devices ( and PCs )...what are your recommendations? how can we extend the lab to make it more powerful & achieving the learning goals? may be purchasing some simulation programs can also become helpful tools? what do you think?

Can you mention resources or links that can help me in this issue?

Please help me in ideas

How bout adding a Adtran for simulating wan links? :-) ISDN, T1 and frame-relay and FXS ports.

Two more switches for practicing distribution to access layer scenarios - implementing HSRP, VRRP and GLBP and spanning tree config.

Maybe 2 firewalls instead of 1? Then students can practice site-to-site using ASA to ASA and also ASA to router. Also practice ASA redundancy.

I'm not sure if you need more equipment but certainly having the right modules can help out alot - especially into those 2800s. Such as voice modules, and wireless lan controller modules.

Which leads to... wireless access points and IP phones to practice with.

Else I think that is already powerful...