The Commonality Lab Environment
While pursuing my B.S in Computer Networking and Cybersecurity at Champlain College, I recognized that classroom knowledge alone wouldn’t prepare me enough for the industry.
My lab environment serves as a place where I bridge the gap between my college’s classrooms and the industry. I can deconstruct things, fix them, and truly understand how the systems work on a larger scale.
Why build a lab?
Most concepts in IT, networking, cybersecurity, etc seem straightforward until you try to implement them.
Having a lab environment allows you to experience the real challenges that you would find in the industry.
The certifications I am seeking require hands-on experience with enterprise-grade equipment.
In a college environment where you only work with virtual machines, you won’t be able to configure, troubleshoot or optimize a network with servers that provide services for hundreds of users.
Projection for Senior Year
While the journey so far has been tumultuous, it has been interesting.
The clash against faculty in regards to college policies, the questioning as to “what” the lab is for?
It is not intended as a Senior Capstone. It is simply a means to an end.
Pictured is a diagram of the lab environment, albeit uncabled to represent the potential for experimentation.
- WatchGuard T80 Next Generation Firewall, entryway into multi-vendor equipment
- Cisco ISR 4331 Routers – Used for practicing Cisco CCNP ENARSI topics.
- Cisco Catalyst C3850, C3560G & C3560X Switches – PoE multilayer switches in 3 tier network plan.
- Dell 18.5 in KMM Console for shell access to both the server & storage array.
- Dell PowerEdge R730XD 2U server – 56 cores, 128GB RAM, 6TB storage.
- Hosts an medium-sized Windows Server VM infrastructure set to grow even further.
- Redundant Domain Controllers, DHCP Servers, DNS Servers
- Air-gapped Root CA and intermediate signing server
- Network Policy Servers
- Docker Containerization for various lab services eg. Immich backup of Lab Graphics
- GNS3 Virtual Machine for virtualized CCNP Enterprise simulations
- Hosts an medium-sized Windows Server VM infrastructure set to grow even further.
- Dell PowerVault NX3230 – 36TB dedicated VM storage array
- APC Rack-mounted Uninterruptible Power Supply
Future Vision
My lab environment and my overall journey supports my long-term vision of giving back to my industry and those around me who made me the man I am today.
There have been times where I have had to fight for opportunities in life, and people have advocated for me when they did not have to.
Those people gave me a chance to show them that I could succeed in a professional environment. Because of that, I strive to continue growing.