Almost everyone who works towards Cisco certification considers how to get hands-on skills, and when it makes the most sense to use each option. This page summarizes the timing and the key points of comparison between each competing option.
Option Comparison
The Timing: When to Use Each Option?
Many people use all the hands-on options at some point in time. Once you're experienced, it's easier to compare the options. However, if you’re sitting at the starting point, ready to begin study for the ICND1 exam, it is hard to know where to start. Do you spend $100-$150 on a couple of used routers and related cables and accessories? Buy the Sim for around $100, save some time, get some lab guidance, and get busy learning? Do you start to learn about Dynamips, and see if you can somehow get your hands on an IOS image to start using routers for free?
Depending on where you are in the study process, different tools can be of more or less help. This figure spells out my personal opinion; the blog posts linked on this page give some discussion about this same topic.
(Pearson) Simulator Vs. (Dynamips) Emulator
|
Feature
|
Simulator
|
Emulator
|
|
Core function
|
Acts like CLI
|
Acts like router hardware
|
|
IOS must be supplied by…
|
N/A – none required
|
User
|
|
CLI output generated by…
|
Simulator
|
Cisco IOS
|
|
Who defines the commands supported?
|
Simulator developers
|
Cisco IOS
|
|
Fee/free
|
Fee
|
Free
|
|
Cisco router support
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Cisco switch support
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Comes with lab exercises?
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Performance tuning typically required
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Portability
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Remote Access
|
Yes (remote desktop)
|
Yes (telnet/SSH) and remote desktop
|
(Pearson) Simulator Vs. Real Gear
|
Feature
|
Simulator
|
Real Gear
|
|
Core function
|
Acts like CLI
|
As real as it gets
|
|
IOS must be supplied by…
|
N/A – none required
|
Product seller or user
|
|
CLI output generated by…
|
Simulator
|
Cisco IOS
|
|
Who defines the commands supported?
|
Simulator developers
|
Cisco IOS
|
|
Fee/free
|
Fee
|
Fee
|
|
Cisco router support
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Cisco switch support
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Comes with lab exercises?
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Performance tuning typically required
|
No
|
No
|
|
Portability
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Remote Access
|
Yes (remote desktop)
|
Yes (telnet/SSH)
|
Real Gear Vs (Dynamips) Emulator
|
Feature
|
Real Gear
|
Emulator
|
|
Core function
|
As real as it gets
|
Acts like router hardware
|
|
IOS must be supplied by…
|
Product seller or user
|
User
|
|
CLI output generated by…
|
Cisco IOS
|
Cisco IOS
|
|
Who defines the commands supported?
|
Cisco IOS
|
Cisco IOS
|
|
Fee/free
|
Fee
|
Free
|
|
Cisco router support
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Cisco switch support
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Comes with lab exercises?
|
No
|
No
|
|
Performance tuning typically required
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Portability (ie, on laptop)
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Remotely accessible?
|
Yes (telnet/SSH)
|
Yes (telnet/SSH) and remote desktop
|