HiddenOne

Here is a quick list of the equipment that I currently have in my lab:

• 3 – Cisco 2513 Routers
• 1 – Cisco 2924 Switch
• 3 – AUI to Ethernet Transceivers (For the AUI ports on the routers)
• 3 – DCE to DTE Cables (Used for serial connections between routers)
• 1 – Skeletek 16U Rack
• 1 – Aneutronics 20 Outlet Rack mount Power Strip
• 1 – USB to DB9 Dongle
  

Most of this stuff was sourced from E-Bay. If you are patient, you can find some good deals.

The linked USB to DB9 dongle is probably the best I have used. I went through a couple different brands of varying prices, and most of them ended up crapping out on me. The Amazon price is a bit more then the price I paid, but shopping around will pay off. I also find it useful to have a six to ten foot long USB extension as well. This gives you more freedom to move around if you need to.

Eventually I will expand this equipment for more advanced labs and certifications. Some planned upgrades include:

• 16MB DRAM and 16MB Flash on all 2513 routers (Maxed out)
• One or two 3500 series switches
• A few better routers (2600 and 3600)
• VMware whitebox (for servers)

I will take some pictures of my the lab and post them later.