You won't need lab equipment for the CCNA. In fact, unless your gunning for the NP/IP/IE, you won't need anything you wouldn't be able to get on an emulator. At the end of the day, it might be cheaper overall to buy a slot of lab time

Sil, I know simulators are an option, but I feel that the hardware will help a good bit.  Plus I would like to work my way to CCNP and CCIE some day, so why not start small now, when I can get some use out of them and have to bonus of having less stuff to buy later.

ohtechwiz, contrats on passing your CCNA. Just a suggestion though... I wouldn't mention using anything like Pass4Sure or 9tut on message boards, because it could get you de-certified, if one were inclined to "report" you. At least I think, because of the ethics agreement you digitally sign before testing.

I'll be taking my CCNP Route exam probably by the end of next week, have CCNP Switch down, so only TS after that.  If all goes well and as planned I should be CCNP certified probably by the end of February I'm thinking (at the pace I'm going + previous work experience).  Passing Cisco exams feels good lol, they're the only one's I've had to take multiple times.

For the CCNP (new track of course) I've been studying CBT Nuggets' by Jeremy Cioarra.  Man he is really a great instructor, you never get bored.  For the CCENT/CCNA series he was using live equipment, but he started using GNS3 for the new series' and even has a video dedicated to explaining it and setting it up.  So, I went ahead and downloaded GNS3 and gave it a try even though I have an actual lab (which gives me the IOS').   Also reading the Cisco Press books from my SafariOnline, but dang can they be dry and boring…

It's really cool, but man GNS3 is a resource hog.. I mean it can literally halt your computer taking up 100% resources.. You can put the "routers" in standby mode and it will stop using all the resources, but aside from needing a very powerful computer to run fine and still multitask (powerful can very by perception of course, but to give an idea.. I had problems with a clean O/S install on a 4 GB DDR3 machine, with no other ‘real’ processess running).  Aside from that, you still need the IOS’ for the routers, so no way to get that unless you buy them, or just ‘unethically’ find them somewhere..

Anyways, to the others who may be interested in this thread, I’m still considering selling my lab (which I was just gonna sell in parts on eBay to make more..), so if anyone is interested..  I have 3 2950 switches (one is an FX model), latest IOS’ with 256mb, 4 2600 Routers (2611XM, 2620MX, 2610 and 2650) which also have the lastest IOS’ and vary in memory, but can definitely handle SDM.  One PIX 515-E unrestricted 7.0 IOS and a 2509 to use as an access server (can’t live without the last if you get more than like 3 pieces of equipment).  They’re racked with a very nice heavy duty SKELETEK C16U-HD rack. 

Just now that I’m getting close to finishing up my CCNP studies, I don’t see going for my CCIE any time soon.  Oh and hope it’s okay I posted this last part Don, don’t mean to advertise or anything,  just let me know and I’ll delete this last paragraph if needed.

Anyways that’s my post for the day, since I’m in Cisco mode right now.  Hope all reading are well!