Cisco 851 as a home router

[Jeff7181]

I'm studying for the CCNA exam and trying to get my hands on an cheap 851 router so I can get some hands on experience with an ISR router with SDM.

My question is will I be able to configure/use a dynamic routing protocol? My ISP is Comcast and I just have their regular residential service, no business class.

 

[Celeron]

You can certainly use it as a home router. However, you won't be able to advertise RIP or OSPF to Comcast, they won't respond. You'd be free to do it within your network however.

 

[jlazzaro]

if you're buying it to test and get hands on experience with, don't use it as your home router...its counter-productive.

setup a separate lab where you can break/fix/break/fix and not worry about taking down your only internet connection while testing new technologies.

 

[xSauronx]

if you're buying it to test and get hands on experience with, don't use it as your home router...its counter-productive.

setup a separate lab where you can break/fix/break/fix and not worry about taking down your only internet connection while testing new technologies.

indeed...my "wish list" is to put together a little lab at some point in the future. its not really required for the CCNA, but anything you can do hands on is good for you.

 

[her209]

I wouldn't use it as your home router because you'll be constantly erasing and rewriting the configuration.

 

[Jeff7181]

I could leave my current SOHO router in place and put the 851 in the DMZ and basically create a separate network though, right?