Test network for work experience guy

[Danp]

Posting here as it's not just a network question but also a work experience question, what's the best way to set up a test network to allow our chap to play with IP settings etc without the risk of breaking our network!

[bladedanny]

I'd say a stand alone machine with virtual machines running on it.

[featured_spectre]

Cisco Packet trace. Get him to grips with setting up the network virtually before building a server in a box (get a 1u basic server, switch, KVM, PC, monitor and keyboard, wall mount 12U cab) and then go from there. Once he/she has done that, expand and enjoy

[jonnykewell1]

virtual machines for me, you can create your own mini network separate to your main network. You could set up a server, show him how to join machines to AD etc.. that's how I first learnt.

[TomFreeman]

+1 for the virtual machines, that's how i learnt as well and how we do all our in house training.

[Danp]

Good call, cheers guys

[sfarmilo]

Cisco Packet trace. Get him to grips with setting up the network virtually before building a server in a box (get a 1u basic server, switch, KVM, PC, monitor and keyboard, wall mount 12U cab) and then go from there. Once he/she has done that, expand and enjoy

 

+1 for packet tracer

[Danp]

30 mins to get a single 1m cat5 cable working is starting to tire us!

[jamesreedersmith]

30 mins to get a single 1m cat5 cable working is starting to tire us!

 

How long was the cable at the end? :-)

 

But yes VMs are good (virtual box is a personal favorite).

[Garacesh]

+1 for Packet Tracer.

When I was the lowly apprentice, Packet Tracer helped me to no end when learning about Layer 3 networking and IP configuration.

Okay, so I may have eventually broken the program by building a network with the whole bells and whistles (multiple vlans, many workstations, laptops, WAP's, full switch configurations, a building layout, etc) but shh!

 

VM's worked well for me when I needed to learn more about AD structure and control, but having to jump between VM's and faff with things gets tedious. If it's just IP settings/routing he's interested in, definitely Packet Tracer.