So, the question is, what is a better choice to get started with a Lab, and begin creating your own configurations? – Here is a list of the benefits from a Cloud Vs Home Lab
The difference between a Cloud lab and a Home lab
Cloud Lab (dCLoud and DevNet)
If you are one of those weird people that don’t want to run CUCM, UNITY Connection, IM & Presence, Jabber and other UC apps in your house, you are in luck. Cisco dCloud + Devnet Sandboxes are what you are in the business for.
What are the benefits of using Devnet and dCloud Options?
- Spin up a full-scale Lab with many UC and Collaboration Labs from dCloud
- Break and fix that infrastructure can’t fix what you just broke? no problem you can go back to 0 by just resetting your POD
- There is no pressure, you are the customer and all you do is up to you
- All Servers are already installed and configured with all the basics
- Connectivity is not an issue
- Save your configurations and keep them for future reference
Home Lab (Equipment Required)
This is my preferred option, I like to build my things from the ground up, there is nothing like learning from trial and error, sometimes you discover new things and stuff that you can really do in real world. Now, let’s move to the benefits.
What are the benefits of running a home lab?
- Build all your applications from ZERO
- Build as you go, there is still not pressure, but there will be pressure 🙂
- Run your home phone with an FXO Line or with a SIP trunk directly to different SIP providers, for cheap
- Once your phone is operational, mess around with it, and install a phone in the kitchen, in your office or anywhere else.
- When stuff breaks the pressure is tremendous, your family can be a very difficult client (Not different from some environments out there)
- Need to run an upgrade for a client? need to know what to expect? spin it up in your lab, and then take the VMX, VMDK files and be a winner. (More on this one in another post)
- Need to start a fresh installation for a client? do it from the comfort of your lab, then install the server or servers at your customer location.
About the Author:
Andres Sarmiento, CCIE # 53520 (Collaboration)
With more than 13 years of experience, Andres is specialized in the Unified Communications and Collaboration technologies. Consulted for several companies in South Florida, also Financial Institutions on behalf of Cisco Systems. Andres has been involved in high-profile implementations including Cisco technologies; such as Data Center, UC & Collaboration, Contact Center Express, Routing & Switching, Security and Hosted IPT Service provider infrastructures.