How did you did you Pass the CCNA?

[pcman83]

Hey guys,

I go to bgsu www.bgsu.edu. Getting a electronics degree and most of the classes dont have many networking issues. I am finally taking a cisco class and i am almost teaching the teacher.

I was wondering should i go to a community college and take classes for like 2000 or buy a cisco lab off ebay for like 450 that includes 3 2501 routers and 1 switch? I found about all the stuff i need last night on the net. About over 3 books and the whole cisco curriculum. I downloaded them "legally..."

Let me know, I want to be on a wan or lan administration team. Give me your thoughts.

 

[pcman83]

bump

 

[Schrodinger]

How far are you into your degree?

I'd say that you should just get a cisco lab off ebay. I did my CCNA. Easy easy easy. Had access to more hardware than you, but what you listed should be more than enough to cut your teeth on.

You can't get a job with just CCNA, btw. Therefore I wouldn't recommend investing $2000 with it or something You'll need at least a degree to go with it to be taken serious... or at least CCNP level without a degree.

(Have my CCNA and MCSE, just finishing my last semester of CS)

 

[randal]

Buy the cisco ccna book, buy one of the trainer books, buy a couple routers and a switch. If you're smart, work at it for 2 weeks. If you're not, work at it a month. Take the test & presto.

 

[Schrodinger]

Originally posted by: randal
Buy the cisco ccna book, buy one of the trainer books, buy a couple routers and a switch. If you're smart, work at it for 2 weeks. If you're not, work at it a month. Take the test & presto.

^^^ truth

Hell... half of it is common knowledge if you are interested in networking. The other half is specific to the hardware and/or Cisco. You should be able to pickup what you don't already know within two weeks.

 

[Rogue]

I need to get off my ass and get this done too. I work with the stuff damn near every day (mostly Foundry gear, but it's very, very similar) and could probably pass it if I just read a book on it.

Does the CCNA exam cover anything about PIX firewalls?

 

[pcman83]

No it doesnt cover pix, im pretty sure. Thanks guys for the input. Oh and Schrodinger i am almost done only summer and fall and im done with my degree.

 

[Jynx980]

Cheat

 

[tami]

you'll need more than just a CCNA imo to become a WAN or LAN administrator. in today's marketplace, everyone is jumping for certifications.

 

[ScottMac]

The CCNA test is basic foundational stuff .. subnetting, access control lists (ACL), DOT1q trunking, VTP domains, some switching, basic routing protocols (RIP 1&2, single area OSPF, basic EIGRP, references to IGRP, administrative distances, etc.).

Get real good at subnetting, including VLSM.

There will be at least two simulators on the combined (801) test. If you don't pass the sims, you won't pass the test. Partial credit is given.

For the CCNA, a good simulator will help as much as the real thing ... maybe more, since they usually come with targeted excercises and labs.

Stay away from the braindump sites: many of the questions are way off-target, and many (up to 25%) of the answers are just flat wrong. Save the braindump site until you know the material, then go in and try to find the bad questions & answers.

The Cisco Press books are a good study: the same people that write the "Chapter Summary" questions are the same folks that write the questions for the test .... they're "very similar."

Good Luck

Scott

 

[Aves]

I went through the Cisco Network Academy the first time in 2000. I just passed it last month by reading Lammle's CCNA Studying Guide and taking Boson Practice Tests.

 

[cjgallen]

CCNA was a joke when I first took it. All it took was one exam cram PDF I found online.