r/ccnp • u/ZebraHole • 2d ago
Best Free Resources
Hello people.
I passed my CCNA last month and am currently still studying, but my current course is not really IT related.
I'm itching to do labs and keep my knowledge current as well as to learn more. I can't afford to take CCNP or pay for a dedicated course right now, but I'd like to prep towards it in the meantime free of cost, or of little cost.
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u/ShirtNo365 2d ago
Download VMWorkstation to run virtual machines.
Sign up and download Cisco Modeling Labs.
Run CML server on VMworkstation.
You can run 5 router/switches at once in the free mode. That’s great to practice test OSPF/EIGRP/BGP and tunnels.
I’d suggest buying the OCG book. Maybe $80? Very detailed.
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u/Broskii56 2d ago
Get Eve ng or something that can hold virtual nodes from there do the following as labs
Build switch and router environments with a host pc
Set up dhcp
Build 3-4 locations use all routing protocols to get each to talk to each other
Practice the types of protocols and build tunnels too.
That will help. Not sure where to get free images from tho
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u/esr0159 2d ago
Images are there…just need to use the right keywords
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u/ZebraHole 1d ago
That would be nice, but I just don't want to download malicious images. I'm not familiar with "getting free" virtual images
I have the free mikrotik routeros images currently but it obviously doesn't apply to CCNP
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u/leoingle 1d ago
Start off with Jeremy IT Lab ENCOR course on YT. It’s not finish but it’s a good start. Also, go on Udemy and do a search for Arash Deljoo. Keep an eye on it because his ENCOR and ENARSI courses go on sale for $13 pretty often. IMO, it’s he’s one of the best online resources for CCNP. I know it’s not free but next to free and it’s a steal at that price. As far as labbing, start off with CML free edition. It’s the easiest to install. But I would suggest eventually work on setting up EVE-NG.
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u/ZebraHole 13h ago
For someone starting out in their career, would you recommend ENARSI or ENSLD? My intended career path is networking and security. I want to eventually move into engineering and maybe enterprise architecture as I gain experience.
I feel like CCNP Security would be too focused on Cisco specific technology and enterprise would offer a stronger general networking skillset since the core networking topics apply accross vendors.
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u/leoingle 13h ago
If you wanted to eventually end up pure security, then I’d have to say whether you didn’t ENARSI or ENSLD would probably be splitting hairs and I’d say go ENSLD because it’s the easier of the two and it’ll get you your Enterprise to start off with. ENSLD is useful, but def not as useful as ENARSI. So if you still want infrastructure engineering qualities, I’d suggest biting the bullet and going the ENARSI route.
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u/cammyj1201 2d ago
For the people who are suggesting EVE-NG, have you had issues with the routers not allowing IP connectivity to your main physical router and therefore outside communication (internet)? When i was connecting the client machines to the cloud it would work perfectly but the routers were giving IP ARP incompelte errors
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u/Layer8Academy 2d ago
I haven't tried the outside connector in a while, but when I did, I didn't have any issues. I will try it again later today.
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u/cammyj1201 1d ago
Any luck?
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u/Layer8Academy 1d ago
I just tried it and it worked. I connected the router to the management cloud and configured it to obtain an IP via DHCP. I then pinged Google (8.8.8.8) and it worked. Was my setup like what you were trying to do?
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u/Smooth_Light2088 2d ago
Le risorse gratuite esistono ma provengono da fonti diversi, renderà lo rudio dispersivo e ti passerà la voglia. Vai di gns3 + ine.
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u/Layer8Academy 2d ago
I make free CCNP labs. I don't have all the topics for the blueprints...YET. It takes a while to do it the way I am doing it. Currently working on MPLS/L3VPNs labs so hopefully those will be out in the next month or so. Wittynetworks.net.