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Need Help setting up Cisco Lab

I am trying to setup a Cisco Lab to study for my CCNA exam. Currently I have a Cisco 2600 and 1720 series router, Cisco Catalyst 2950 and a Cisco Pix 501 firewall. I want to setup a WAN connection between the Cisco 2600 and the 1720 routers, but both routers have a T1 CSU/DSU card. Is it possible to emulate a WAN connection using T1 CSU/DSU serial ports or do I need to purchase a DTE/DCE serial port with cable? If so, can a 1720 router take a DTE/DCE serial port? What is the model number for the DTE/DCE serial ports for each of the routers? Also, if you have any suggestion on the best way to setup the lab to help with my studies that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

-Leo-

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Lindabusa

ASKER

Is there a diffenence between a crossover cable and a T1 crossover cable? If I decide to go with the T-1 crossover cables solution is the only disadvantage not having clocking for the system? Does using the T1 crossover cable emulate a WAN link such as using WIC1-T modules and DCE/DTE cables?

mikebernhardt

The T1 crossover is pinned out differently. T1 uses pins 1-2 and 4-5, and that's what Leo told you to crossover. Ethernet uses 1-2 and 3-6 so that crossover won't help you. And the console rolled cable crosses differently again.

That lab sounds like plenty for CCNA!

Lindabusa

ASKER

Last question will I be able to create or emulate a WAN link using a T1 crossover cable between my to routers?

-Leo-

Yes, cross-over cable will emulate WAN link, although it will be very useful to configure serial WIC modules as well. Or even better to get 2 x WIC modules with cables and 2 x modems with serial ports, so your WAN link will be fully emulated and you will get nice experience in configuring and troubleshooting of serial modules. I gave you cross-over cable pin-out in my first answer, Ethernet cross-over uses different pins (1,2,3,6) and E1/T1 crossover uses 1,2,4,5 pins (pins 1 and 2 for transmit, pins 4 and 5 for receive, so pin 1 have to be crossed with pin 4 and pin 2 have to be crossed with pin 5).

Let me know if you need more help.

Lindabusa

ASKER

Thanks everyboday for the all the great feedback.