Argue about Labs 2013

[proxx]

If it's purely software you want the lab for, a physical lab has no advantages and a virtual lab has many.  If you *also* or solely want to do *hardware*/*physical* stuff then a physical lab has no equal.  I stand by that statement.  Most of the time people want to do software only stuff hence why virtual labs are more common.

I agree to some extend , but lets not forget that one might learn a lot from physical equipment, I know for a fact that I learned a lot from staring at loads and loads of UTP cables , finding that single cable
Its a poor example , oke I admit..

[Axon]

pffff I have Kali linux on a usb stick, for quick deployment. It's funny how lucid didn't intend for this to be a discussion thread, yet the members are still discussing VM or physical.

[lucid]

Yeah, clearly people don't read. It's ok I'm just letting whatever happen.

[proxx]

Oke lol back on topic.
I got dragged into it, you are right.

I dont have a pentest lab atm , all my gear is boxed up, I have quite some garbage lying around
One Cisco security gateway, never used that little bugger but I know they are expensive as hell.

[Darkvision]

If it's purely software you want the lab for, a physical lab has no advantages and a virtual lab has many.  If you *also* or solely want to do *hardware*/*physical* stuff then a physical lab has no equal.  I stand by that statement.  Most of the time people want to do software only stuff hence why virtual labs are more common.

You dont seem to get the point i was making, so i will state it slightly different. VM's are great for those on a budget or with a narrow focus. For ANYONE looking to really learn about computers you can not beat a physical setup.


VM's have either limited or no support for the following(again to name a few...):
firmware
stress testing
add on devices
unconventional cards/hardware


As well they are limited simply by the fact that they are an EMULATION. Meaning support for a number of things are going to be missing. Add to this that you can easily turn those pc's/servers into boxs running multiple vm's the only real advantage to using vm's on hardware you dont own is a cheaper per month cost. Im not saying that isnt a huge advantage, as we are all of us on some sort of budget. But if you have the spare parts/time/gear their is no reason not to set up a physical lab, and a huge number of reasons to do so.

[lucid]

Indeed, I am thoroughly surprised at the lack of love for hardware there apparently is on this forum. Sure you can set up 20 fucking VMs if you have the RAM, but why not set up a REAL network and practice on that. That way in real world situations you have knowledge of real world equipment.

What if you wanted to pentest a hardware firewall?

And yes, I know that real networks utilize VMs to a reasonably large extent. I'm not saying to never practice in a vlab.

I simply refuse to believe you can do absolutely everything and learn the exact same way in a vlab that you could in a physical one.

[noob]

Dude you have 2 routers and 2 PCs, its not even close to REAL infrastructure,so YOU will not learn nothing diffrent from us who use vmware.
And you can only dream about REAL infrastructure in your home,so if you wana learn how REAL network work go for MCSE or RHCE certificate,find a job and stop this pointless arguing.

[lucid]

Oh so the only way to learn anything is by getting a job? Weird, I thought life had more freedom then it apparently does. This is stupid.

/