Customer Reviews

CCNA Virtual Lab, Titanium Edition

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I purchased the CCNA Virtual Lab, Titanium Edition in June of this year and I couldn't be more pleased. I read some of the negative reviews and I felt compelled to respond since the major complaints seem trivial compared to what the software actually does.

The licensing scheme is very straight forward. You have to be connected to the internet when you install the license and after that you don't. If your computer crashes, you can get your license reactivated - no big deal.

The hosts in the program support ping, tracert, and telnet. Not sure you need anything else to pass the CCNA exam.

I'm almost done working through the labs and the program has never crashed. One thing I did notice right away is how easy it is to design the network and connect devices. I like the fact that the devices look like the real devices and not the hockey pucks.

I've worked through the RIP, OSPF, EIGRP, and NAT/PAT labs and learned quite a bit. Another neat thing about the software is the ability to save my network at any point and reload it when I have a chance to work on it.

If you want to study towards your CCNA and get some hands on experience, I recommend purchasing this product.

I was required to purchase this for my class and am disappointed that my instructor chose this particular software title. Before I explain the quality of the software, let me explain the DRM licensing scheme. For starters, you must be connected to the internet to activate the license. Yes, you must activate the license to use it. Their server then deducts one from the number of activations you have remaining (you get two). When you're done, you can deactivate the license and place the activation back on the server if you choose. If you're unlucky and need to reinstall Windows after an activation, then you've just lost a license activation. If you're in the middle of nowhere without an internet connection and want to get some practice in, too bad, you won't be able to use the software that you paid for.

Now on to the software itself. You can install virtual switches, routers, and hosts. Double clicking on any of them brings up a command prompt that allows you to configure the device. The hosts are a joke. Double clicking a host brings up an MS-DOS command prompt that only allows you to PING other machines. Apparently TRACERT, IPCONFIG, ROUTE, and ARP commands don't exist to the author. The stability of the software is questionable as I've had it crash on me twice. There is also a bug that prevents me from getting out of the connection mode.

Avoid this software if you can. I wish my teacher had allowed us to use something else as I am really disappointed with this simultor.

This wonderful little product allows you to fully configure networks from the ground up, in the comfort of your home office, a hotel or your local wireless hotspot. The Titanium edition allows unlimited routers, switches and hosts so you can make your network as complex or as simple as you like. In addition, there are a dozen or so labs which include NAT, OSPF, EIGRP, VLAN, VTP setup as well as a lot of std/ext access list labs. For $119 you can't go wrong either.

The only drawbacks are that while there are a lot of commands available to you (+400), there are a few missing. For example, you can't use the Range command to configure multiple interfaces at once. Also, the "do" command which allows you to run the Show command under Global config mode is disabled. Finally, the Show Spanning-tree command becomes disabled after manually setting your switches priority. I think this is a bug in the software but given I couldn't find anything on the Net about it, it could be isolated to my installation.

The licensing scheme is simple and my 2+ year old PC is running this app just fine. Not once has the application crashed.

A great product, a great price and a great tool for passing YOUR CCNA/CCENT exam!

Dont like to post negatives, but they really need to perfect the software/drm issues...its pretty bad depending on your system and NOT universal.

Some have to turn off your virus scanner, other security programs, and firewall just to install the program.
Very overpriced tho.


Good for training if you get past the key garbage.

Otherwise get GNS3---its an EMULATOR and NOT a simulator. Plus its free.


With the other cheaper options out there like mentioned above, id say pass on this and do a search for MUCH cheaper alternatives.

This is an excellent product to help you work towards your CCNA. I'm a three time MCSE (NT4.0, 2000, 2003) and have most of the other certifications (A+, NET+, Security+, MCDST, MCP, MCSA 2000, 2003 and so on) but I am totally weak when it comes to routers and switches. This product has already helped me greatly in understanding what I've been reading about. I don't think this package would take the place of a real lab but it's a lot cheaper and a whole lot more portable! I have it my laptop and can study some very complex (to me anyway) simulations while I'm on a plane or sitting in my recliner. You just can't do that with a lab. For the price, it cannot be beat. And for the price, it's pretty impressive how much you get. If Todd Lammle's name is on it, you know it's got to be good. Todd is a router jockey of the first order and will forget more than most mortals will ever know. He's also a great teacher. I recommned his books IN ADDITION to this simulator. I gave it five stars because as I said, I see what I've been reading about coming together in my head.

The CCNA Virtual Lab is a product which I do recommend. It works well and offers many features. It comes with several labs to learn from and to work with which enhances the learning experience. The downfall is that it's somewhat confusing to learn the many features. It would be nice if the program came with not just the cd but also with a written manual. The instructions are included with the cd but it would be easier and less work if the student didn't have to click on the 'Help' icon and look things up and make sure on how to perform a certain task. Program does have some quirks. I couldn't get a 2950 switch to take a few commands and according to the 'help' area I was entering the commands correctly. After a while the command was taken. Frustrating!! All in all I do recommend this program for the serious student.

I've been using this software for the past few months. I took the CCNA exam yesterday and passed. Thanks CCNA Virtual Lab, Titanium Edition!

This product is the only way to go for hands-on experience on Cisco gear. Hands-on is a must for passing the CCNA cert. I highly recommend the Virtual Labs by Sybex.

c. Evans

I really like this software. It has everything you need in order to pass the test.

To pass the CCNA you will need more than practicing questions. You will need hands on experience in order to know the material. There is just no way you can pass the test without hands on experience on the CLI.

The software has what is needed for the CCNA; but it lacks in having a FULL IOS. There is some things that I would like to practice that are not on the simulator (i.e. some commands don't work). But it has everything you'll need for the CCNA

Overall I recommend this product as a teaching tool and as a study tool. Take it form me. I used this product to study...and now I am CCNA!

The virtual labs are excellent but the solutions contain to many solutions that are not consistent with the CCNA ICND2 book from Cisco.