Also, for hands-on experience you can pass the CCNA just fine with routing simulator software (ie: Cisco Packet Tracer, or GNS3). The same isn’t really true of the CCNP, since there’s a lot in there that Packet Tracer just doesn’t support, but for the CCNA in my opinion it’s not necessary to spend large sums of money on your own lab. Rack rentals are one option, but I really think the simulators are at the point where the CCNA is passable with the study guides and some good PT labs. I realize that the very link I direct to contradicts that, but that’s my professional opinion anyway.