Multi-Purpose Academy Pod with Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) Quick Reference Page

This quick reference page provides a summary of the specifications of this topology. For a complete reference including installation details, please refer to the Multi-purpose Academy Pod with ASA Planning and Installation Guide

For installation details specific to NETLAB+ VE, please refer to the NETLAB+ VE Real Equipment Pod Management Guide

 

Lab Topology

The Multi-Purpose Academy Pod with ASA includes three routers (R1, R2, and R3), three switches (S1, S2, and S3), and an Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA).

All NETLAB+ topologies with lab switches and Virtual Machines require additional switch configuration tasks for successful operation. The Multi-purpose Academy Pod with ASA requires switch configuration commands on control switch ports S1, S2, and S3.

The port numbering for the ASA shown in the diagram above is for the ASA5505. If you are using an ASA5506, please be aware that it uses a different base port number. Instead of E0, E1, E2, and E3 for the ASA5505 (as shown above), the 5506 uses E1, E2, E3, and E4.

 

Cisco Standard Topology Configurations

To simplify equipment purchasing, we have organized equipment requirements by pod type. Since these requirements change over time, we further categorized as Configuration A, Configuration B, Configuration C, etc... Equipment lists for each configuration are provided below, with the most recent configuration listed first.

• Configurations are presented in descending alphabetical order. For example, Configuration F is the most recent configuration among A, B, C, D, E, and F. Configuration A contains hardware from the earliest bundle supported by NETLAB+ VE.
• Configurations E and F are the most recent recommended configurations. The only difference between these two is if you plan on teaching CCNP v6-v7, then choose Configuration F since it includes the required layer-3 switches. Otherwise, choose Configuration E.
• Earlier configurations are supported for reference until the equipment no longer supports the requirements of the Cisco Networking Academy.

To reduce equipment expenses, schools purchasing new equipment that do not plan to teach CCNP SWITCH and/or TSHOOT can consider using the MAP ASA E configuration rather than the MAP ASA F configuration.

The table below lists the number of labs supported for each of the Cisco courses, for each of the topology configurations.

 

MAP ASA F - Cisco Standard Topology Configuration

NETLAB Versions: NETLAB+ VE

Notes

1. Not supported by 1921, 1941, 2901, 2911 router
2. Third-party cable type, certified and sold by Converge One
3. ISR G2 devices use GigabitEthernet interfaces instead of FastEthernet interfaces
4. ISR4221, ISR4321, ISR4331 can be interchangeable

 

MAP ASA E - Cisco Standard Topology Configuration

NETLAB Versions: NETLAB+ VE

Notes

1. Not supported by 1921, 1941, 2901, 2911 router
2. Third-party cable type, certified and sold by Converge One
3. ISR G2 devices use GigabitEthernet interfaces instead of FastEthernet interfaces
4. ISR4221, ISR4321, ISR4331 can be interchangeable

 

MAP ASA D - Cisco Standard Topology Configuration

NETLAB Versions: NETLAB+ VE

Notes

1. Not supported by 1921, 1941, 2901, 2911 router.
2. Third-party cable type, certified and sold by Converge One. An alternative, using longer cables is CAB-SS-V35MT= (V.35 Cable, DTE Male to Smart Serial, 10 Feet) + CAB-SS-V35FC= (V.35 Cable, DCE Female to Smart Serial, 10 Feet) in place of each CAB-SS-26MTC-02 (All-in-One, Smart Serial to Smart Serial Cable, DTE/DCE, 2 Feet).

 

MAP ASA C - Cisco Standard Topology Configuration

NETLAB Versions: NETLAB+ VE

Notes

1. Not supported by 1921, 1941, 2901, 2911 router.
2. Third-party cable type, certified and sold by Converge One. An alternative, using longer cables is CAB-SS-V35MT= (V.35 Cable, DTE Male to Smart Serial, 10 Feet) + CAB-SS-V35FC= (V.35 Cable, DCE Female to Smart Serial, 10 Feet) in place of each CAB-SS-26MTC-02 (All-in-One, Smart Serial to Smart Serial Cable, DTE/DCE, 2 Feet).

 

MAP ASA B - Cisco Standard Topology Configuration

NETLAB Versions: NETLAB+ VE, NETLAB AE/PE

Notes

1. Not supported by ISR 4321 router.
2. Third-party cable type, certified and sold by Converge One. An alternative, using longer cables is CAB-SS-V35MT= (V.35 Cable, DTE Male to Smart Serial, 10 Feet) + CAB-SS-V35FC= (V.35 Cable, DCE Female to Smart Serial, 10 Feet) in place of each CAB-SS-26MTC-02 (All-in-One, Smart Serial to Smart Serial Cable, DTE/DCE, 2 Feet).

 

MAP ASA A - Cisco Standard Topology Configuration

NETLAB Versions: NETLAB+ VE, NETLAB AE/PE

Notes

1. Not supported by ISR 4321 router.
2. Third-party cable type, certified and sold by Converge One. An alternative, using longer cables is CAB-SS-V35MT= (V.35 Cable, DTE Male to Smart Serial, 10 Feet) + CAB-SS-V35FC= (V.35 Cable, DCE Female to Smart Serial, 10 Feet) in place of each CAB-SS-26MTC-02 (All-in-One, Smart Serial to Smart Serial Cable, DTE/DCE, 2 Feet).

Router Interfaces

The NETLAB+ 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.

Virtual PC Support

Remote PCs are implemented by integrating with 3rd party virtualization products. The NETLAB+ documentation library includes several guides with extensive detail on the implementation of virtualization with your NETLAB+ system.

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

1. Your choice of NETLAB+ supported virtualization product supports the operating system (as a guest).
2. Your choices are compatible with the curriculum.

Only virtual machines are supported on this topology. Standalone PCs are not supported.

The Multi-Purpose Academy Pod with ASA supports three (3) virtual machines.

¹See the planning and installation guide for details.

Control Device Requirements

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

• Control switches provide connectivity between devices in the pod.
• Access server lines provide console connections to lab equipment.
• Switched outlets provide managed electrical power, allowing NETLAB+ and users to turn lab equipment on and off.

Control Device Requirements for the Multi-purpose Academy Pod with ASA

The Multi-Purpose Academy Pod with ASA requires 9 consecutive ports on a control switch.

Also, 1 reserved port is required. This port on the control switch connects to an 802.1q NIC card on the VMware server. This allows devices in the pod to communicate with virtual machines.

ASA devices utilize the first 4 consecutive ports, regardless of the model. ISR G2 devices use GigabitEthernet interfaces instead of FastEthernet interfaces.

The port numbering for the ASA shown in the diagram below is for the ASA5505. If you are using an ASA5506, please be aware that it uses a different base port number. Instead of E0, E1, E2, and E3 for the ASA5505 (as shown below), the 5506 uses E1, E2, E3, and E4.

The Multi-Purpose Academy Pod with ASA requires 7 async ports on an access server.

The Multi-Purpose Academy Pod with ASA requires 7 outlets on a switched outlet device.

For More Information

• NETLAB+ VE Real Equipment Pod Management Guide
• Multi-purpose Academy Pod with ASA Planning and Installation Guide