Using real routers with VMWare on my PC?

Greets All~

Maybe I’ve just missed the big picture here…but I’m confused…

I’m running win xp and a VMWare guest with Linux Red Hat 3.

Due to studying, I want/need to use routers I have bought, prior to finding dynamips/GNS3, VMWare etc, and just wondering if it is even possible to intergrate the two together (and how)?

I know VMWare is using bridged networking…everything else is…fuzzy-

Can anyone provide any clarify for me and what direction I might go next in my never-ending quest?

Goal: using the routers I have sitting around; I’d like to use them to run additional scenarios outside, or combined with, the virtual side..at the same time.

Thanks in advance~