News Archive

CCNP 5.0 BCMSN Update for NETLAB_AE Now Available

NETLAB AE now supports CCNP 5.0: Building Multilayer Switched Networks switching labs. Cisco has worked closely with NDG to ensure that most BCMSN labs, case studies, and skills exams can be completed using NETLAB AE.

NDG has added the Cuatro Switch Pod (CSP) to support the new labs. Upgrades to Cisco hardware and IOS may be required to match the curriculum.

This update is now available through the normal software update process to all NETLAB AE customers with current support agreements, and is installed automatically (if automatic updates are enabled). For more information and detailed instructions, please review the BCMSN information page.

Please note, this update does not currently support wireless labs due to several limitations and known issues that are outside of NDG's control. Shortly after the release of NETLAB AE version 4.0.21 (coming soon), a wireless white paper will be published. This paper will explain how to setup an unsupported wireless pod for those Academies that can accept and work around the known issues and limitations.

CCNP 5.0 BSCI Update for NETLAB_AE Now Available

NETLAB AE now supports CCNP 5.0: Building Scalable Internetworks. Cisco has worked closely with NDG to ensure that most BSCI labs, case studies, and skills exams can be completed using NETLAB AE, using existing router pods in most cases. Upgrades to Cisco hardware and IOS may be required to match the curriculum. Additional lab support and supplemental content will be posted to the Academy Connection Tools area in the near future.

CCNP 5.0 BCMSN Update for NETLAB_AE Coming Soon!

CCNP 3: Multilayer Switching have been revised to align with the new CCNP certification and released as version 5.0 with new title CCNP: Building Multilayer Switched Networks.

Cisco has worked closely with NDG to ensure that most labs can be completed using NETLAB_AE. NDG will soon provide new lab updates and additional pod types to support the new BCMSN curriculum. To help you prepare for these updates, please refer to the BCMSN information page.

NETLAB Academy Edition 4.0 software upgrade schedule and highlights

Between Friday August 4th and Sunday August 13th all NETLAB_AE systems will be upgraded to the new NETLAB_AE 4.0 software. In response to the requests of many Academy program users, teachers, and administrators, this new upgrade will provide NETLAB_AE customers the tools to implement organized large-scale sharing of equipment resources with remote Academies. The NETLAB_AE 4.0 upgrade will also include beta pod and lab design software tools. These new beta software tools will allow the hosting Academy to add two custom equipment topologies to a NETLAB_AE system as well as host lab exercises written by instructors.

To learn more about this upgrade review the NETLAB_AE 4.0 release notes: NETLAB+ Version 4.0 Release Notes Summary

NDG Creates Sharing Portal to Encourage Worldwide Equipment Sharing

NDG has created a new website feature that enables Cisco Networking Academies with NETLAB_AE systems to advertise their willingness to share resources with remote Academies. This new sharing portal is designed to help Academies that cannot afford NETLAB_AE and encourage worldwide sharing of equipment resources. Cisco Networking Academies that purchase NETLAB_AE can charge a cost recovery fee to the Academies accessing equipment remotely. Each hosting Academy can define their unique sharing model and list the equipment hosted at their site.

NDG recognizes that budget constraints may present a challenge for many Academies. To help with this challenge the NETLAB Academy Edition^® License and Support agreement will allow Academies to share access to a NETLAB_AE system with remote Academy participants that cannot afford to purchase or operate annually their own system. If three or four schools share access to a NETLAB_AE system, the cost per student comes down significantly and the potential lab access goes up significantly.

Visit this new sharing site.

CCNA Course 2 Labs Updated in NETLAB Academy Edition®:

NDG has completed a lab update for CCNA Course 2. Fourty-four (44) labs from CCNA2 have been included with the NETLAB version 3.7.3 software update. Eleven (11) of the labs support virtual PCs using the new Basic Router Pod Version 2.

For details, please see the, CCNA Course 2 support page

Please note: a separate VMWare GSX server and software is required for remote PC support in these new pods.

Three New Pods for NETLAB Academy Edition

NDG is pleased to introduce three new PC-enabled lab topologies for NETLAB Academy Edition.

Basic Router Pod Version 2
Basic Switch Pod Version 2
Network Security Pod

The NDG topologies page contains specifications and documentation, for each pod.

On November 26, 2005, these new pods will be distributed to all NETLAB AE customers with current maintenance. There will be a beta period from November 26, 2005 to December 31, 2005. All NETLAB AE customers may participate. These new pod types are additions to NETLAB AE. Earlier versions of these pods remain supported to provide a lower cost alternative (but with less functionality).

International Academies can submit Purchase Orders to a local Academy reseller

The NETLAB Academy Edition^® distributor SIGMAnet has worked with NDG and the Cisco Networking Academy Program^® to develop a program that will allow Academies to purchase NETLAB Academy Edition^® from your local Academy reseller.