A+ v2 Pod - Quick Reference Page
This quick reference page provides a summary of the specifications of the A+ v2 Pod.
The A+ v2 Pod is a 100% virtual machine pod consisting of four virtual machines. Linked together through virtual networking, these virtual machines provide the environment for a student or team to perform the A+ v2 labs.
| Topology | Supports... | Documentation |
|---|---|---|
A+ v2 Pod
|
You may request virtual machine templates for the A+ v2 Pod from CSSIA.
Lab Topology
Virtual Machines
The virtual machines in the A+ v2 Pod are listed below. The Virtual Machine Deployment Names are provided as a suggested naming convention.
| Virtual Machine Topology Name | Virtual Machine Deployment Name |
|---|---|
| WinXP | NISGTC_A+_WinXP |
| Win7-01 | NISGTC_A+_Win7-01 |
| Win7-02 | NISGTC_A+_Win7-02 |
| Win2k8 | NISGTC_A+_Win2k8 |
Storage Requirements
The A+ v2 course will consume 53 GB of storage per each master pod instance.
Details of the storage requirements for each of the lab virtual machines in the A+ v2 Pod are provided in the table below. Some fluctuation in the numbers may occur.
| Virtual Machine | vCPU | vRam GB | Storage (thin provisioning) GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Win XP | 1 | .5 | 4 |
| Win7-01 | 1 | 1 | 15 |
| Win7-02 | 1 | 1 | 15 |
| Win2k8 | 1 | 1 | 19 |
| Total Recommended | 4 | 3.5 | 53 |
Virtual Machine Templates
The virtual machines are made available as Open Virtualization Format (OVF) or Open Virtualization Archive (OVA) files. These files are available for download from EPNC (Education Pathway National Center).
To request access to the preconfigured virtual machine templates from EPNC:
- Go to the CSSIA Resources page: https://www.caeepnc.org/cssiaresources/
- Select CSSIA VM Image Sharing Agreement.
- Complete and submit your access request by following the instructions on the request form.
- EPNC will provide, via email, password-protected download links. Access to the download links is provided only to customers who are current with their NETLAB+ support contract and are participants in the appropriate partner programs (i.e., Cisco Networking Academy, Red Hat Academy, and/or Palo Alto Networks Cybersecurity Academy).
- Once all virtual machines have been downloaded, they can be deployed following the steps in the appropriate pod installation guide. Each virtual machine is deployed individually.