Cuatro Router Pod - Specifications and Requirements

Topology	Maximum per System1	Supports...	Documentation...
	8	CCNP 5.0 CCNA 3.1	Planning and Installation Guide

¹ This value indicates the maximum number of pods of this pod type that can be hosted on a single NETLAB_AE system.

Lab Topology

Lab Device Requirements

Lab devices are part of the topology and users can interact with them either directly through the console or network. The Cuatro Router Pod includes four (4) routers. The table below shows the recommended routers based on the official CCNP 5.0 equipment list (available on Academy Connection). Other equipment may work if it is supported by NETLAB_AE and can meet the minimum requirements for feature sets, interfaces, IOS, RAM, and Flash.

Router Name	Recommended Routers	Ethernet Ports	Serial Ports	Recommended Serial Modules
R1, R2, R4	Cisco 28111 Cisco 2801 Cisco 1841	2	2	1 x WIC-2T
R3	Cisco 28111 Cisco 2801 Cisco 1841	2	42	2 x WIC-2T

¹At least one Cisco 2811 router is recommended for CCNP 5.0. To complete the Cisco Call Manager Express (CCME) labs in the CCNP ONT course, router R1 should be either a Cisco 2801 or Cisco 2811; the Cisco 1841 does not support CCME.
²Interface name translation is only supported on two of the four serial interfaces.

The routers you select must:

• Be supported by NETLAB_AE.
• Conform to NETLAB_AE router interface naming requirements (see below).
• Meet the specifications for the lab exercises of the curriculums your Academy wishes to implement.

Router Interfaces

The NETLAB_AE interface name translation feature is supported on this pod type. This may influence the selection of modular interface cards and slot placement within the router. Please review the expected interface names for each router. Router R3 requires four (4) serial interfaces. Interface name translation is only supported on two of the four R3 serial interfaces. If you are deploying more than one Cuatro Router Pod, please use the same router model and module slots for each R3 router to avoid configuration loading problems between pods.

Serial interfaces may be built-in, or provided by modular interface cards such as the WIC-2T. Serial connections between routers require the appropriate serial cables. You can use DTE and DCE cables back-to-back, or special cables that provide both DTE and DCE in one cable (available from SIGMAnet).

Virtual PC Support

Remote PCs are implemented by integrating with a separate VMware Server. The Cuatro Router Pod supports five (5) virtual machines. The NETLAB+ Remote PC Guide for VMware Implementation contains general information for setting up a VMware server.

The following operating system choices are typical based on the curriculum. These choices are not mandatory; you can make substitutions provided that:

1. VMware GSX supports the operating system (as a guest).
2. Your choices are compatible with the curriculum.

Virtual Machine	Recommended O/S	Functions
PC1a	Windows XP	Student PC, client activities
PC1b	Windows XP	Student PC, client activities
PC2	Windows Server 2003	Server / TACACS (future labs)
PC3	Windows XP	Student PC, client activities
PC4	Windows XP	Student PC, client activities

Control Device Requirements

NETLAB_AE control devices provide internal connectivity, console access, and managed power. Control devices are dynamically managed by NETLAB_AE and are not accessible or configurable by end users.

Control Device Resource	Quantity Required
Control Switch	8 Consecutive ports
Access Server	4 Lines
Switched Outlet Devices	4 Outlets

Control switch ports provide connectivity between devices in the pod. The Cuatro Router Pod requires 8 consecutive ports on a control switch.

Access server lines provide console access to routers in the pod. The Cuatro Router Pod requires 4 async ports on an access server.

Switched outlets provide managed electrical power, allowing NETLAB_AE and users to turn lab equipment on and off. The Cuatro Router Pod requires 4 outlets on a switched outlet device.

For More Information

Please refer to the Cuatro Router Pod Planning and Installation Guide .