which network simulator software or should i create a lab myself?

[ggnfs000]

Alright, I hope I am not repeating the age old question zillionth time but I think I am really having a lot of options, roadblocks on what is good for CCNA lab. I could really use some help or advice here.
1. So far I have 2x 2950, 1x 3550 and 2x 2800 routers at home. It is so much hassle to plug and changing wire when studying for CCNA. Plus if I need to add more routers or switches then have to purchase one... does not look cost effective when the lab scales.

2. I have old HP server with 16GB RAM max with 4 core Intel processor with just one socket. On which I can create VM-s with whatever O/S-s and switches at will which is the neat part of it. But of course hyper-V vSwitches are not Cisco switch. I can virtually deploy CSR1000v on this server and actually do a pretty good stuff. Only problems is some CCNA problems require creating around 4-5 routers and possible even more, then my old trusty HP can not handle because each copy of CSR1000V VM requires 4GB RAM and more than that, it belches. Oh yeah Hyper-v does not support oversubsription. Now I can upgrade my server and get something like 256GB memory server to resolve, then question will become what Switch I can use with hyper-V? Another issue was that if I remember correctly the free version of CSR1000v has some bandwith limitation.
For switch, I have deployed N1K with VMware @ work, it was a lot of work, but I am willing to go through hassle because I Like the hyper-v solution much better. However hyper-v configuration appears to need at least 2 hyper-v host for N1K, I believe this is for HA purpose. Has anyone just hacked and just went installed onto one host? It also appears to require SCVMM, but as far as I remember from doing long time ago, SCVMM was b* to install and configure and virtually just gave up.

Since I had experience deploying N1K onto vmware, I may just switch to vmware and do the deployment of n1k and cs1000v there. The question still remains, can I hack the n1k deployment and just do it on one host? I think technically it is possible.

3. I Looked at Pearson network simulator, it is pretty good that it comes with hte prepared lab for each lesson, topics or whatever but it does not looks like a software in which you can create your own custom lab at will.

4. VIRL with packet cloud: 199$ a year plus cloud hourly fee, does not look very good in terms of cost.

5. GNS3, after a lot of trouble, finally managed to setup but still seem to be missing lot of pieces, have to provide own Cisco image, which can be pain. I was wondering if the physical devices I machine above can have its images extracted and used with GNS3. Still thought learning to use the tool itself seems to involve a lot of learning curve.

Looking at this option, I'd realy like to go for hyper-v lab if I can get the n1v part going.

[SimonV]

For CCNA I think you would be best of with Cisco Packet Tracer and some real hardware. Save your money for the CCNP

[wintermute000]

unetlab / EVE-ng. case closed.
You work for Cisco hey, you can even run IOL images legitimately LOL.

[burnyd]

Dont even waste your time with that sort of thing to be honest.  Like paying for a simulator is the lolz.  Go after either GNS3 or vagrant.

https://github.com/burnyd/vBrisket

^^ That is a local vmug presentation I did with a full blown arista vagrant lab.  Im sure you can get other vendors within vagrant.

[deanwebb]

Packet Tracer is good enough for CCNA. It's testing concepts at a basic level, so Packet Tracer is good enough for that. CCNP: get the gear, put up with the wires.

[ggnfs000]

thanks for advice guys, I will look into packet tracer as an option too.