A lab environment comprises a group of computers that aren't subject to the same management and security standards as the rest of your infrastructure. Perhaps you need a lab environment for computers that aren't managed by corporate IT or for testing software before you deploy it on the corporate network. If you aren't afraid to get your hands dirty with the Cisco IOS command line, you might be able to set up a network for your lab environment without purchasing any additional network equipment. Using existing equipment also lets the lab access the Internet through your existing connection and lets users access the lab from their desktop on the corporate network.

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