Okay - that's good to know - I hate to be another "I need a home lab" post - but if I'm going to spend my money to buy this stuff (which I have to, my employer won't) I need to make sure I'm going to get what I need to succeed.

can I get a CCNA/CCNP ready R&S kit for around $500? I'd ideally expand this down the road into a CCNA Security or Voice which I know I'll need more hardware for.

Is it better to just buy the Routers and Switches individually and build my own at home lab vs one of these pre-made kits?

Edit: I think I might do this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SA7XKZC?m=A2VYVN2TCC4K12&qid=1455731884&ref_=sr_1_48&refinements=p_4%3ACisco&s=merchant-items&sr=1-48

LIMITED TIME ONLY 3x Cisco 2821 256MB Dram/ 64MB Flash

COMES UPGRADED TO

3x Cisco 2851 256MB Dram/128MB Flash (without nm covers)

INCLUDED ITEMS: 3x CISCO 2821 Router 256MB Dram/ 64MB Flash Latest IOS 15.1,

2x Gigabit Ethernet Interfaces

Switches:

2x WS-C3750-24 CCIE LAYER - 3 switch with STACKWISE PORTS

(which is new Topic on CCNP v2.0)

Latest IOS: c3750 122-55.SE9

1x WS-C2950-24 with 24x FastEthernet Ports Layer 2

Latest IOS: c2950-i6k2l2q4-tar.121-22.EA14

Module Cards:

4x WIC-1DSU-T1-V2 T1 Serial Module Card (Total 4 x Serial interfaces)

Cables:

2x DSU-T1 Serial Rollover Cable

3x CAT5e Ethernet Cable

2x Crossover Cable

6x Power Cord

BONUS 1x USB to RJ45 Console Cable ($12.99 Value) 1x DVD a.SDM 2.5 Software b.TFTP Server Software c. Lab Examples and their Solution similar to the CCNP, SECURITY and VOICE labs and more.