Cisco XE Official Elite 200-301 v1.1 CCNA Full Topology Kit

The XE Elite Series Kits are our top-of-the-line S+ Tier lab kit options.  With the 200-301 v1.1 CCNA exam, Cisco has made the 4000 series routers the new officially recommended devices.  This kit comes with a full topology of three 4331 routers running IOS XE.  These are our top-of-the-line routers that we offer.  We are very picky about and very carefully screen the 4331 that we offer.  We only offer reliable, clock bug cleared devices that are also on permanent licensing structures.  (more info below).  So, these are not random 4331 that are on the market that are riddled with licensing problems, bugs and may even just randomly completely brick on you.  These actually exceed Cisco's standard 4221 router recommendation and will have you all set on a better than direct match to the exact routers the exam was written for and recommended for Cisco Networking Academy.  These are the base license version of the 4331, which is an exact match to Cisco's recommendation.  However, we do offer an option to upgrade one or both of your routers with the additional permanent security license if you want that extra capability unlocked.  (more info in the below description).

This is our ultimate CCNA 200-301 v1.1 V7 Solution, matching Cisco's most current NetAcad (Cisco Networking Academy) recommended equipment.  In fact, the devices in this kit actually exceed these specs across the whole topology.  If you are looking for an exact match to what Cisco has written the 200-301 v1.1 CCNA exam for, paired with a beyond seamless learning experience, this is the kit for you.  

For the switches, let’s talk about Cisco’s official recommendation of the 1000 series C1000-24T-4G-L and 9300L switches.  We thought long and hard about this and there is a bit to unpack here.  First off, these are extremely expensive on the market right now from the low supply and high demand on the production side of things.  They also come with some major, expensive, subscription-based licensing problems which make them unsatisfactory solutions on the educational side.  The 9300L is an even larger jump than the 9200L and can be so expensive at the end of everything that even a training academy would never make their money back if they outfitted labs with these switches (the cost on these can be truly shocking, then multiply that by 2x-4x for the topology).  Why would Cisco make these their official recommendation?  In short, the answer is for optics and because the main supply for them is to primarily buy the product directly from them, along with their dramatically expensive service and DNA (catalyst) contracts.  More money for Cisco.  As far as capability goes, other than adding gigabit ports to the recommended switch, the 1000 series doesn’t provide any other benefits to lab purposes for the massive price increase that they require.  For the 9300L, there are also much more affordable options that run IOS XE that make much more sense and won’t require you to take out a second mortgage!  So, we got to doing what we do best and decided to get creative to provide a better alternative solution for our customers while also saving them a great deal of money.  After much tinkering and research, we decided to offer the Cisco 3650 in place of both of these switches.  The 3650 is a high-end gigabit switch that runs IOS XE to match your 4xxx series routers.  The 3650 is also a device that is well known for its reliability, proven in production environments and commonly deployed in live networks (You’ll see a lot of these in the field for quite some time). The best part about it is that, not only are you getting a switch with exceptional IOS XE capability, but you’re also matching IOS XE to your 4331 with your 3650 for considerably less money!

*Please note that we screen our 3650 switches to be running a full, permanent and working IOS below where SmartNet is technically required (not currently enforced).  This works perfect for lab and learning purposes!  However, if you choose to update the IOS past 16.9.1, you will need to register SmartNet through Cisco (once again, not enforced).   

This kit comes with (3) 3650 IOS XE Switches.  So, you'll have layer 3 tech, gigabit ports and IOS XE across your entire topology!  With everything in this kit, you can even explore using these devices in your home network if you get extra ambitious.

We have worked in partnership with Cisco NetAcad instructors and CCIEs to release our kits that are ready for the CCNA 200-301 v1.1 exam.  This time around, Cisco has released a couple topology options covering their minimum hardware topology/hardware requirements and their recommended requirements and the optimal learning experience. To satisfy the minimum requirement, Cisco is requiring two routers and two switches.  However, our recommendation and Cisco’s recommendation is to run a three router and three switch lab. This is also the topology we write our lab workbook for because we know this is going to best prepare you to pass the CCNA! If you don’t want to go with a three router and three switch setup, don’t worry, you can still do all the labs by scaling back a two router and two switch kit.  Cisco does have a small wireless component that will be part of the new exam, but this is simply a generic wireless router that you likely already have at home.  We do however have an add-on option in this kit to add a Cisco Access Point and the labs to support it in our lab workbook if you want to go on a deeper dive into wireless.  

CCNA is hotter and trending more than it ever has! Always remember that as the CCNA certification progresses, it proves more and more that you know your stuff! With this, so does the amount of money you can expect to make as a Cisco Certified Network Engineer!  This is one of the fastest growing fields in the world and with that comes the rewards, if you have the drive!  Passing the new CCNA demonstrates that you have the skills and know what it takes to advance quickly in the IT world.  We promise you; scouts and HR representatives are hunting down qualified CCNAs more than ever before.

All of our CCNA 200-301 v1.1 Kits will come with our awesome new, completely revised, CCNA 200-301 v1.1 study material package!

-Our lab kits come with our famous and time proven CCNA Lab eWorkbook!  Our labs have been proven to be the best on the market, producing thousands of certified individuals, over the course of over 24 years!  The 200-301 v1.1 Lab eWorkbook runs about 450 pages and is jam packed full of labs!  Not only do we cover the entire, official 200-301 v1.1 curriculum, but we also go beyond that by fully covering topics otherwise listed only as "describe" so you can fully implement the concept and really understand how everything works.  On top of that we included labs that will be very beneficial for your real-world knowledge!  Our study materials over prepare you to ensure your success!  Don't just be a paper CCNA, be one that KNOWS what they are doing.   

This lab eWorkbook comes in digital format on our awesome LockLizard reader.  There is an option to pay a small up-charge to enable a single, one-time self-self-printing right so you can print this off yourself.  If you go this route, we highly recommend that you use a laser printer with adequate toner and have lots of paper on hand.  It is a lot of pages.  

-The CCNA 200-301 v1.1 Bootcamp & Theory eBook is a completely revised, updated and power packed approach to the new Cisco CCNA 200-301 v1.1 exam.   This is an 880 page guide of easy-to-understand CCNA material written in a manner that won't bore you to sleep!  It not only follows the format of the official Cisco CCNA 200-301 v1.1 curriculum but even goes further in explaining other key concepts that we feel are important to prepare you for the real networking world. 

-Our How & Why We Subnet Workbook is a 120 page workbook designed to walk you through the theory of subnetting partnered with enough sample and practice scenarios to have you mastering this skill in no time.  This has been newly revised and now includes a bonus IPv6 section! This even includes one-time self-printing rights per copy so you can follow along on paper if you prefer.

-The last pieces to this amazing bundle are our Digital Cram Sheet and Digital TCP/Study Chart.  These are very similar to those "Cliff Notes" you may have used when you didn't want to read that novel for a book report.  We cram these full of the important points so you can quick reference them daily or directly before your exam. Review these on your PC and even take them with you on your mobile device and use them for a cram session right before your exam.  These have been a customer favorite for a long time.

-Our Cisco CCNA Routing & Switching 200-301 Downloadable Study Tools include all sorts of great study tools and resources, free/complimentary mini videos, etc.  

Here are just a few items you will find on in this included content:

• 33 CCNA Mini, complimentary Instructional Videos
• CertificationKits Subnet Calculator
• CertificationKits TFTP Server
• All the software you will need to compliment your CCNA 200-301 v1.1 Lab Workbook

- Our new Question and Answer Practice Exam Bundle.  Our CertificationKits CCNA 200-301 v1.1 Practice Exams are a collection of 101 questions, answers and explanations (for the tough ones).  This bundle comes with both Practice Exam A and Practice Exam B.  They are a set of 101 questions, answers and explanation sets each.  We thoroughly cover the full CCNA curriculum with the topics you can expect to see on exam day.  We have a variety of questions from simple multiple choice, to a comparative version to drag and drop to simlets.  These questions are so good and give you such a good feeling on what to expect, that if you can pass these practice exams, you'll know you are ready to go!  Trust us, we have seen this test evolve over many, many revisions.  

With this release as well as all of the other included eBooks, we even took things a step further by upgrading to our new awesome eBook reader through LockLizard.  This is the same engine that Cisco actually uses to protect and distribute their corporate documents. This makes it extra cool because it is a format you will see in the field as a working network engineer.  This new ebook reader works on multiple platforms such as PC, MAC, IOS, Android, etc. We include 2 activations with each purchase so you can install it on a desktop AND a mobile device, for example. On top of that you can highlight, make notes and work directly with your document.  We know you will love it!

 Please feel free to check out a demo selection from our new Bootcamp & Theory ebook and/or the Static Routing Sample Lab from our Lab eWorkbook:

 1.  Download and install the LockLizard viewer for your IOS and device type from this link:  LockLizard Viewer

 2.  Download and install the License file for the eBook:  License File 

 (If you don't see it open, the window for the license file may pop-up behind your active windows)

 3,  Download and open the .Pdc eBook file: Theory eBook File / CCNA Lab Workbook Sample Lab

 The download and install is very straightforward and simple, but if you get stuck, please click here for a help guide on opening your eBook demo or official purchase.  Upon purchase a unique license file and a .pdc file will be emailed to you,

Real hardware will always be the best solution to best prepare you for certification and career success!  We can assure you that HR representatives will be thrilled to know that you have worked on real equipment and even have your own lab equipment!  We are even finding that, “What does your home lab look like?” has become a common interview question as a way to weed out candidates that have never even touched real equipment.  Simulators have spent a long time trying to mimic the real thing and after many years, they are still full of problems and capability issues. If you want to do things the right way, that will give you the best edge you can get on all fronts, real hardware is the best way to go.  Remember, this is an investment in your future that will pay itself off quickly if you are dedicated. Networking remains one of the fastest growing career paths in the world and there is only room to grow!

Why would you spend hundreds of dollars or more on a lab kit if you don't get the labs that accompany your equipment?  Other companies offer training packages, but they are generic or simply selling someone else's product that isn’t designed to work directly with your equipment.  To ensure the highest quality, we invest an incredible amount of energy into providing CCNA training materials that are written by us and have been refined for over two decades.  We are passionate about providing the best for our customers and love nothing more than when we get an email back from a customer with a snapshot of their EXAM PASSED certificate.  Finally, we also include our TFTP Server, Subnet Calculator, 35 CCNA Instructional Videos and so much more.

We want to make a special note here that there is a field notice from Cisco on the 4000 series router in regard to a clocking bug.  We ONLY sell 4000 series routers that are 100% cleared of this bug and are not locked into SmartNet licensing problems.  Please do not be fooled by sellers that are misleading you by selling you a device with known issues!

Hardware Included:

• Three 4331/K9 Base Licensed Routers. These Exceed and have more capability than the Cisco recommended 4221. IOS 16.09.04.SPA Capable
• Three 3650 Gigabit IOS XE Switch Single AC
• Five Ethernet Patch Cables
• Five Ethernet Crossover Cables
• Cisco Console Kit
• Power Cords

Additional Items Include:

• 450 Page CCNA 200-301 v1.1 Lab eWorkbook Covering 60+ Labs Plus Bonus Labs That Go Beyond the Scope of CCNA For Extra Real-World Experience! ($57.99 value)
• 880 Page Bootcamp & Theory eBook that covers every 200-301 v1.1 CCNA Topic Plus More! ($49.99 value)
• How & Why We Subnet eWorkbook ($24.99 value)
• Two Practice Exams.  Both with 101 Questions, Answers and Explanations ($15.98 value)
• Digital CCNA CRAM Sheet ($14.99 value)
• Digital TCP/IP Study Chart ($9.99 value)
• CertificationKits TFTP Server
• CertificationKits Subnet Calculator
• 33 CCNA Instructional Videos
• Cisco Network Assistant
• Cisco Router Password Decryptor
• Cisco VPN Client 5.0.04.0410
• Port Scanner nmap-7.80
• npcap-0.9987 & WinPcap 4.1.3
• WireShark 
• TeraTerm & Putty Terminal Emulators
• VritualBox 
• IOS Backup as noted above for the routers and switches
• Cisco Configuration Professional (CCP) 2.8 for 1841/2800 Series Routers

The new 200-301 v1.1 exam has removed the requirement for serial connections.  This is awesome because that means you can get a lab even cheaper than ever before!  However, we do still recommend that you add these on to your labs.  Just because Cisco removed these from the exam does not mean that these have magically disappeared in the field.  Serial connections can still be found everywhere and are especially still extremely common in international networks.  On top of that, Security, CCNP, etc still do have a requirement for serial connections and having experience with these only prepares you for moving up the certification tree and encountering these on the job.

As an added bonus, for a limited time, anyone who purchases any of the serial card and cable upgrades for their kit will also receive a free copy of our new 150+ page Beyond CCNA Serial Lab Workbook.  ($29.99 Value) This will allow you to take your CCNA studies to the next level and get a strong grasp on serial technology.  Since serial connections are part of CCNA Security and CCNP, this will also serve as a primer and introduction to topics you can expect to see on those certifications.

Optional xMFT-T1 Module Option Includes:

NIM-xMFT-T1 totaling 6 serial ports across two or four cards 

Three WIC-Crossover Cable

Optional (4) Port Smart Serial Cards & Cables Bundle Includes: (This option is if you want to use smart serial, but want to keep the cost down with less cards/ports)

Four NIM-xT module/s totaling two smart serial ports across one or two cards

You will total four smart serial ports with the smart serial option 

Two Smart to Smart Back-to-Back Serial Cables

Optional (6) Port Smart Serial Cards & Cables Bundle Includes:

Six NIM-xT module/s totaling two smart serial ports across one or two cards

You will total six smart serial ports with the smart serial option 

Three Smart to Smart Back to Back Serial Cables

***Why should you consider going with the Smart Serial Option over the T1 option***

The NIM-xMFT-T1 Modules are a great, budget friendly option for lab purposes and in this case a vey good pick because the smart serial option for the 4xxx series are a pricey upgrade.  However, if your budget allows, we always recommend upgrading to the Smart Serial NIM Modules and Smart Serial-to-Smart Serial cables.  Smart serial is a more current technology that offers a faster DCE/DTE connection that will also use the same clock rate command you will see when you see serial connections on Cisco exams.  Once again, the T1 Serial cards will work just fine (there is a small work around that you will need to explore), but if you want to be the most up to date and want the clock rate commands to match identically like you would see when you are sitting an exam, the smart serial upgrade is an excellent choice.

The Add Permanent Security License For 4331 option allows you upgrade one or both of the included 4331 routers with the additional permanent security license.  So, this would give you the base AND security license.  The security license unlocks additional security features on your device that are unavailable with the base license.  You do not need this license for CCNA level material, but if you are interested in getting into security content or CCNP, then these are recommended.

The Optional Wireless Access Point Option comes with an 1142 Wireless AP and the power brick for the unit.  Once again, you do not need this to get through the wireless component of the 200-301 v1.1 exam.  However, this is a pretty cheap add-on that will give you an opportunity to expand your knowledge past the exam.  These are recommended. if you are interested in getting into security content or CCNP.

The Supplemental CCNA Training DVD is about 22+ hours of extra CCNA level training in a video format.  Do you need this to pass your exam?  Absolutely not because all the training your need is already included with your kit!  This DVD does cover a lot of legacy material and is not entirely up to date, however it still has a great deal of very useful knowledge that every engineer should know and will run into on the job.  We used to sell this DVD for a few hundred dollars but have priced it super affordably for those who want to widen the scope of their curriculum.  There is still a lot of overlap here with the current exam, so you will get a lot of topics covered that are on there, just not every topic.   

The FTDI Console Cable Upgrade swaps out the classic console cable for this new solution to complete your console connection. This is our newest option for your console connection. This cable has the new FTDI chip installed and eliminates the need for both the classic console connection and the USB-Serial Adapter!  It goes directly from USB to RJ-45! Another great bonus to this, from our testing, is that it has a near perfect success rate in the break sequence working! (used to reset the router, password recovery, etc). This is a big bonus because the converters can be a bit of a pain in that department.  All around, this is an excellent addition to any techs toolbox!  *If you do not have a 9-Pin serial port on your computer (most modern computers do not) or a USB-to-Serial converter, you will need this to complete your console (management) connection.  We highly recommend this.

The Access Server is purely a convenience tool and not a requirement for your exam.  While these are common device types in data centers everywhere and a great thing to have knowledge of, they are not a requirement to pass your exam.  However, if you don't want to physically move a cable every time you change devices, have an interest in remote access possibilities, or want to broaden you knowledge, an access server is a great device to have in your kit!  All of our 2509 and 2511 access servers sold with kits also now come with the transceiver add-on so you can get the device on the LAN, perform upgrades/recovery and explore remote access capability. The new Access Server Conversion Kits options are composed of a 2811 256/64 router and HWIC-16A module. There are two options. One with (1) 8 connection octal and one with (2) 8 connection octals (16 connections).

For more info on access servers, please follow this link:  https://www.certificationkits.com/what-is-an-access-server-or-terminal-server-in-my-ccent-ccna-lab/

You can see our Rack options in the slide carousel images above.  We strive to create as much of a modular solution as possible.  So, you can simply choose no rack and just stack your units on a desktop.  If you already have a rack you can just purchase the rack mount kits for the devices so you can attach them.  Then lastly, we have three rack options that you can see in the slides.  All racks come bundled with the rack mounts when purchased with a kit!  

This is a complete Cisco certification kit and much more than just the hardware to build a lab.  Obviously we include the hardware you need, but we also include ALL of the study material you need to pass your exam in one kit.  No other kit on the market offers such an in-depth solution that will have your prepared from every angle!  

*Due to high demand and our policy to only offer devices clear of clock bugs and SmartNet locks, in some cases, large scale orders on XE kits may have a short lead time* Please feel free to reach out if you have an inquiry.

Please note that it is company policy not to alter the IOS of any internal flash device.  We provide an IOS backup disc for educational purposes that will have backups of the IOS mentioned in the kit description.  These are for educational training and recovery purposes.