Need help with home network setup...

[EQTitan]

Ok, to start I currently have a WRT54G v5 running standard firmware. Connected to this is my cable modem of course (12Mbps) 2 desktops running WinXP Pro SP2 on both, and a laptop wireless.

I'd like to upgrade the network some, and change the config. I just purchased a Dell Poweredge 2400 from a local shop for $30, this will become either a File Server/Test box (currently trying to self teach myself how to admin Windows Server 2003 with the training material for 70-291 / 292 / 293). There will be 3 desktops 2 on WinXPp SP2, 1 running Edubuntu (for my kids), I will also be attaching my media center box, and my laptop.

Now the reason for the upgrade:

I run a small home based computer repair shop/builds, so I would also like the option of "expansion" so whenever I need files for a computer I'm working on I can just attach it to the network and get them from another machine/server.

So, what hardware do you guys recommend?

I can get the follow hardware for under $10
Cisco routers, switches and etc...
760, 761, 762, 765, 770, 776M, 2500(203), 2501, 2502, 2504, 1600 w/ ADT, 1900, 4000-M, uBR900, 3000,

I am also planning on getting network+, and I'm looking into some Cisco certs (what do you guys recommend?)

Feel free to ask me anything I may have left out.

 

[Pheran]

As far as your network I would just get an unmanaged gigabit switch to use for your internal network - connect it to the router of course. For Cisco certs start with the CCNA (there also a new CCENT which is like half of a CCNA). The Cisco models you listed are not particularly useful for something you'd actually want to use in your network, though some could be used for learning purposes. If you'd like to replace your WRT54G with something you can learn from consider picking up a used 800-series router and an access point.

 

[covert24]

yea a nice switch is the best solution for expandability. since most of them have a lot of ports you would be able to work on a couple of computers at a time and (depending on the size of your business) have enough throughput for them to all work in unison. and if you ever wanted to have a dedicated file server for your business and have your business seperate from your home network you could always get a bridge.

and id also recommend CCNA from cisco. I took netowrking in school and thats what we learned from. Very nice thick book with a lot of useful info.

 

[EQTitan]

Can either of you recommend a specific Cisco model as Ebay does not have much of a selection

 

[Modelworks]

I would make the server you got the router/firewall/etc
I'm a big fan of pfsense www.pfsense.org or maybe purely bsd.

Then you could also play around with the unix side of networking , which I'm sure you know the internet uses quite a bit .

 

[EQTitan]

Any other help?

 

[Oakenfold]

For your own Cisco lab I'd recommend getting 2x2501's or more and upgrade the ram 16/16 if I recall right so you can run some of the later enterprise firmware. I've only taken CCNA 1+2 so I don't recall other models, another good idea would be to pickup a catalyst 2900 series switch (maybe another one would work fine but I got a nice deal on this series).

You will also need to pickup some dce/dte cables and a console cable and tranceivers (spelling) to perform some configurations on the lab, yeah it's old school but a great way to learn.

Google can help you with narrowing done other models, may stores on the web sell bundles which you could base your lab off those configs or maybe some others can chime in.

Btw @ 10.00 a router that's dirt cheap, it will cost that to ship one!