Lab environment overview

- [Instructor] I want to talk to you about the lab environment that I'm gonna be using throughout this course. First, understand that I'm using real physical, rack-mounted routers and switches. I'm using CISCO 2800 enterprise routers and CISCO 3560 Layer Three enterprise switches. If you'd like to follow along, go ahead and use physical hardware or use the free CISCO Packet Tracer program to follow along with the labs. On the CISCO website, netacad.com, you can find the free Packet Tracer program.

You should sign up for the Packet Tracer 101 one-hour course and you can download the Packet Tracer for free. You can just sign up, go through the course, and download and follow along with our complete course here. Once you sign up for the course, they'll send you a link where you can now download the free Packet Tracer program. Understand that Packet Tracer will work just as well as real hardware for the labs that we'll be doing throughout this course.