CCNP 5.0: Optimizing Converged Cisco Networks (ONT) Labs

NDG has worked closely with the Cisco CCNP lab team to develop NETLAB+ compatible labs for ONT.

ONT is supported by one or more of the following NETLAB+ pods:

• Cuatro Router Pod (CRP)
• Basic Router Pod Version 2 (BRPv2) PARTIAL
• Cuatro Switch Pod + Wireless (CSP+W) FUTURE POD

The supported lab list (below) provides a list of ONT compatible labs and the pod types that can be used for each lab.

• For CCNP, we have added the Cuatro Router Pod (CRP), a four router version of Basic Router Pod Version 2. For wireless labs, we are developing CSP+W, a superset of the Cuatro Switch Pod.
  • CRP provides the greatest lab coverage for ONT.
  • CSP is required in order to complete the case studies.
  • CSP+W is not currently available. Labs requiring CSP+W are planned for a future release. NDG is researching the feasibility of this planned topology.
• Skills exams are contained in separate lab package and are enabled in the class settings separately from the core ONT labs. This allows instructors to defer access to the exams until the end of the course.

Router and IOS Requirements for CRP and BRPv2

The routers used must meet minimum IOS requirements specified by the curriculum. The following recommendations are based on the CCNP 5.0 Equipment List (available on Academy Connection).

¹The ONT lab 2.1 uses an IP Voice Image 12.4(9)T1 with Cisco Unified Call Manager Express (CME) 4.0(2).

²Pagent is necessary in order to complete the ONT labs and must be running on R4. Pagent is a special IOS image and download. For more information see below.

Enabling the Labs

To enable the ONT labs, check the box for "AE CCNP ONT V5.0 English" in the class settings. This must be done for each class requiring access to ONT labs. You may also allow the class to make "pod-only" reservations using the ONT pod types listed above. To enable pod-only reservations, select the check boxes for the following options in the class settings that are appropriate for the pods available on your system:

These reservations are not tied to specific lab exercises. Therefore, the pod will be configured using the default network configuration. Please note however, not all ONT use the default network configuration and must be completed by selecting the correct lab exercise (see the following discussion).

Using the Labs

Always select the correct lab exercise for the lab being performed. Students or teams should schedule the correct lab exercise from the catalog. NETLAB+ will only show those labs for which the required pod type is available. A lab that works on different pod types may appear more than once if your system is so equipped. Instructors should select the correct lab from the Exercise tab during instructor-led lab reservations. This can be done as many times as needed during the reservation.

Importance of Choosing the Correct Lab Exercise

Several of the labs may differ from the standard pod topologies. This is handled by NETLAB+ Dynamic VLAN Mapping technology. Always select the correct lab exercise for the actual lab. This insures that NETLAB+ will set up VLANs on the control switch such that lab devices and PCs are placed in the correct LAN segment for the exercise being performed. Selecting the correct exercise will also make the completed lab output easier to find in the archive.

Supported Lab List

Future Lab List

The following labs are not currently included in the ONT distribution. They are planned as a future update in conjunction with the CSP+W pod type. NDG is researching the feasibility of this planned topology.

 

Required Software List

The following list documents the required software for ONT.

• If possible, install Windows 2003 server on all PCs and preload the installer executable files for the software on the list.
• Alternatively, install Windows Server 2003 on at least one PC, preferably PC1a.

 

Pagent

The ONT Quality of Service (QoS) labs use Pagent's TGN traffic generation tools. Pagent generates realistic traffic and bottlenecks to test QoS features such as IP Classification, IP Marking, and Queuing.

Pagent is an enhanced Cisco IOS image that contains both Advanced IP or IP Base Services and the IP traffic generation tools. This image is loaded on router R4 in the Cuatro Router Pod. Routers R1, R2, and R3 run normal IOS images.

Pagent was developed within Cisco primarily intended for Cisco internal use only. However, versions for the 2621 and 2801 have been made available to CCNP Academies and instructors by special permission from Cisco's Pagent group.

• Pagent requires a license key.
• NETLAB+ version 4.0.23 supports Pagent images and license keys.
• The NETLAB+ administrator must configure the Pagent license key for each router running Pagent.

ONT Pagent Configurations

The ONT labs utilize Pagent in two different logical topologies: Basic and Advanced. Lab 3.1 (Preparing for QoS) explains the differences and general configuration tasks for each.

Basic Pagent Configuration

Refer to the image to the right. Traffic sourced from R4 (TrafGen) Fa0/0 is destined for R4 Fa0/1. This traffic traverses the depicted topology from end-to-end so that you can observe bottlenecks. Along the way, traffic may need to pass over Ethernet VLANs or point-to-point serial links before arriving back at R4.

ONT Lab 3.1 provides Pagent configurations for router R4 that can be loaded at the beginning of each lab. You may use use the NETLAB+ file manager and load tab to automate this process.

ONT Lab 3.1 figure 2-1 illustrates the general description of the Basic Pagent Configuration. Figure 2-2 illustrates how the Basic Pagent Configuration could be applied in a single-router network topology.

Advanced Pagent Configuration

Special care must be taken when using NETLAB+

An alternate configuration for NETLAB+ is provided in ONT Lab 3.1, page 17, Appendix C, NETLAB Compatible Advanced Pagent Configurations. This configuration differs slightly from the regular steps. The explanation below applies only to NETLAB+.

Refer to the diagram to the right. Both a primary and secondary IP address are bound to interface Fa0/0 on router R4 (without using subinterfaces). Traffic generated from the R4 Fa0/0 secondary IP address is destined for the primary IP address on the same interface (Fa0/0). This traffic traverses the topology from end-to-end so that you can observe bottlenecks. Along the way, traffic may need to pass over Ethernet VLANs or point-to-point serial links before arriving back at R4.

ONT Lab 3.1 provides Pagent configurations for router R4 that can be loaded at the beginning of each lab. You may use use the NETLAB+ file manager and load tab to automate this process.

ONT Lab 3.1 figure 5-1 illustrates the general description of the Advanced Pagent Configuration. Figure 5-2 illustrates conceptually how the Advanced Pagent Configuration works. Appendix C, NETLAB Compatible Advanced Pagent Configurations, provides the router configuration templates when using NETLAB+.

 

NETLAB+ Support for Pagent Images

NETLAB version 4.0.23 and later supports automation of Pagent images. Pagent images are uploaded to the NETLAB+ server and assigned to routers in the same manner as ordinary IOS images. The administrator must also provide NETLAB+ with the license key for each router running Pagent. Once this process is completed, NETLAB+ will automatically enter the required activation key for Pagent. Having this task automated by NETLAB+ eliminates the need to enter this key with each use.

The process for loading and using Pagent with NETLAB+ differs slightly from normal IOS.

Please refer to Appendix B of the NETLAB+ Administrator Guide for step-by-step instructions.