Cisco Learning Labs

Well I have now used the new IOS on Unix (IOU) based virtual labs from Cisco for the past three days for my CCNP ROUTE course.  So far I give the lab environment itself a B+.  Being that it is real IOS, the routers are full featured.  Unfortunately the web interface surrounding the IOS instances is still a bit clunky.  I would like to see tools to save and load configurations via text files.  I would also like to see a better L2 switch implementation.  The switches in the labs were unable to be setup for more than one vlan which meant the topology wasn't really setup correctly.


The lab exercises were where things really broke down.  Because you can't change the wiring configuration or the number of devices, you have to rely on Cisco to build the appropriate topologies and initial configurations to match the lab guides.  Unfortunately they apparently never reviewed the lab guides for the OSPF labs in the CCNP course.  None of those labs was configured correctly which caused a lot of extra work before being able to even start the lab you were assigned.  I guess that Cisco was trying to mix TSHOOT with ROUTE.  Because of this I have to give the lab setup a D (the EIGRP labs were done correctly).


Being that this lab environment was just released recently, I'm hoping that the quality improves quickly as people report the problems.

Cisco IOS on Unix for Class

Cisco has recently started releasing IOS on Unix through the Cisco Learning Network store as a hosted Lab solution.  For those not familiar with IOU, it is an image of IOS that is designed to run as a virtual instance on Solaris.  Generally it has only been available internally at Cisco.

This week I am taking an online ROUTE course through New Horizons and they are using the Cisco Learning Network hosted labs for the course.  So far I have found it to be a very good tool.  The IOS instances are very responsive and full featured.  No errors about a feature not being implemented in the simulator (because it's not a simulator).  The web interface to get to the labs is still a bit rough, but I figure that Cisco is probably working on that.  As others have noted, the timer starts as soon as you enter the lab so reading the lab materials does count against your block of time.  For the class that isn't too important as we have a printed lab materials, but if you buy your own block of time you will want to enter the lab, print the lab, and then exit while you read to save your time.  

One of the biggest advantages to me so far has been that I have my own "pod" to do the class labs on.  I find that I have "finger memory" so even if I see something done, I don't learn it until I've typed the commands myself a few times.  Often in past Cisco courses I have had to share a pod of equipment which meant not always getting true hands on time.

All in all, this is a great step forward for Cisco.  Now if they would please release IOU to their customers to use for adhoc labs and testing purposes they would really have something.