Talk to me about CCNA/CCNP - anyone obtain the certs?

[ViviTheMage]

I was going to get my 4 year, but figured i'd be better off getting a CCNA/CCNP degree.

My reasoning , if I wanted to get my bachelors, it'd be another 5-7 years (working full time, scheduling would be horribly hard to work with). I'd end up with my BAS Information Technology Infrastructure degree....which is pretty much a theory degree IMO. NO cisco courses either. It'd be just a piece of paper telling me I spent an extra $30k to get my BAS.

Seeing as the CCNA/CCNP degree is no where near as time consuming, and expensive, do you think it would be worthwhile?

I am 23, I constantly get hit up with cisco questions at my day job ... figured out the basics, same with my side job, but I also have a CISCO guy who does most of the work.

I assume if I get my CCNA/CCNP I could ask my employer for a raise, take on the extra responsibility, etc? My side job wouldn't rely on our CISCO guy as much, since I could do the majority of what he does (Don't want to fuck with production equipment, so hard to 'play').

So my question is, to those that have the cert; how hard was it? What was the cost for the cert, and test equipment (i've probably got most of it anyway)? Did you find it useful (assuming you had low ios knowledge to begin with)? What did it do do for your current job, or did you immediately look for a new position?

I assume, in the next 5-10 years, CISCO will still be something I could market myself as knowing as well.

Pick me apart

 

[spidey07]

The CCNA and CCNP have actually gotten more difficult. CCNP takes 4 tests which are 150 bucks now I believe. NA is one test or two and you need that before NP. You can do what you need to do with 2-3 layer3 switches, maybe 100 bucks each. You could use the older 3550s or even an old 2600 router or two.

Hang out in networking forum and learn all you can. I've been a NP/DP for about 10+ years and when I had to recert earlier this year the test was really indepth.

Pick you apart? You redistribute static routes into OSPF as E2s and you notice the route 0/0 isn't showing up on any neighbor routers, what do you need to do on the ASBR to get this route into the AS?

 

[ViviTheMage]

I cruise the networking forums pretty frequently actually.

That question is too complicated for me to figure out in a switch fully, would I be able to figure it out after a CCNA? I've already got the hardware it sounds like.

I am pretty curious if the investment is worth it, what sort of things people did in my scenario. DId they look for a job after they got the CCNA? Ask for a raise/more responsibilities? I'd hate to get it, and not use the information.

How long would it take a nub to take the CCNA? Any book recomendations, or online tools/tests? Would I be better off in a bootcamp for a week or so?

 

[DougK62]

I got my CCNA about 7-8 years ago and have since let it expire. I hear it's a more difficult test now, but when I took it I just studied for a few weeks with some books and a simulator. It wasn't worth it to renew, even though I still use the technology regularly for work.

IMO, a 4 year degree is going to be WAY more beneficial to you in the long run.

 

[spidey07]

A newb I'd budget 2 months for each test and that is studying 1-2 hours a night. It would depend on how familiar you are with the equipment and principles. CCNA really pounds home the fundamentals of networking where the 4 tests of the NP focus on specific aspects like routing, switching, troubleshooting, voice, wireless, etc.

The question I asked would be normal for the NP routing test and outside of CCNA knowledge. I took my CCIE written like 8 years ago and would call the current crop of NP tests to that.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Bah, how conflicting. I just can't predict if a CCNA would be more worthwhile, or a BAS.

Sounds like the CCNA would only take me a few months, I do have the equipment and principles down...like I said, I can get 'around', but I don't make changes in our equipment without verifying with somebody else right now.

Worst case dont wr, just reboot, amiright?> haha

 

[JimmiG]

We did the CCNA Exploration courses at school, but you had to pay separately and take another test to get the official cert. Haven't done that yet, but probably will in the next few months.

We had access to lots of lab equipment, and could use any number of Cisco switches and routers.. But to be honest, I would only have needed a day or so with the physical equipment. Once you know what the connectors and cables look like (if you didn't already), you can just use Packet Tracer and GNS3. Maybe you can get some old, discarded equipment from your place of work or from some other company?

It's not that hard if you're reasonably clever, and familiar with basic networking stuff since before. The most difficult thing is probably the math of IP addressing (subnetting, supernetting etc.), but it quickly starts making sense. Also, lots of focus on how protocols work at the lowest level, and of course, the OSI model that they keep going on and on about....

 

[seepy83]

What is more worthwhile depends on your aspirations. Comparing a CCNA to a B.S. is comparing apples to oranges. A CCNA proves your knowledge of network fundamentals and your ability to work with the IOS. A bachelors degree in I.S. is a representation of a broad intellectual ability with a focus on vendor-neutral IS/IT concepts.

 

[ViviTheMage]

What is more worthwhile depends on your aspirations. Comparing a CCNA to a B.S. is comparing apples to oranges. A CCNA proves your knowledge of network fundamentals and your ability to work with the IOS. A bachelors degree in I.S. is a representation of a broad intellectual ability with a focus on vendor-neutral IS/IT concepts.

Yeah ... sounds like I need to figure out wtf I want to do, career wise if madgenius.com doesn't go where I want it to.

Do I want to be a lackey forever (CCNA), or run something (BAS)? hrmmmm

 

[alkemyst]

CCNA is now multi-faceted. There are a few 'associate' level tracts, if you want to do Routing and Switching then CCNA and CCNP would be the path.

The tracts have gotten more difficult, but CCNA is still within grasp of most in under 6 months. You can also do a CCENT path that lets you take half of it at one time and the other half to get the actual CCNA. I did it in two tests, but looking back it would have been easier to do one or read everything first and understand it prior to the test.

I'd still get the college degree.

CCNA shouldn't require any equipment. CCNP only a little. My brother is an expert in putting together good lab/pathway recommendations (he built his own Storage lab http://www.feeny.org/?page_id=23 for his recent CCIE in Storage making him one of less than 150 in the world with it and one of 40 with dual CCIEs).

his blog is feeny.org and his contact info is there. He may be slow to answer as he is traveling over the next 6 months to manage offices back and forth weekly in Georgia and Florida.

Without experience a Bachelor's will be more 'valuable' but with experience the sky is the limit. My brother has had Senior Engineers that earned their CCNA's after the fact (and one even failed it twice even though in real life he knew it all).

My brother was CTO of the largest private ISP in the Tex-Ark-La area prior to starting his Cisco studies...he went from no certification to CCIE in 1 year.

 

[seepy83]

Do I want to be a lackey forever (CCNA), or run something (BAS)? hrmmmm

The chances of you getting a college degree later in life are much lower than the chances of you getting a CCNA later in life. You can typically take a bootcamp class and get everything required for the CCNA drilled into your brain in 1-2 weeks (day classes), or 4-6 weeks (night classes). There is no fast-track to a bachelors degree.

 

[DougK62]

Do I want to be a lackey forever (CCNA), or run something (BAS)? hrmmmm

Also consider - do you want to work in IT/computers for your entire career? If you ever want to move to a different field the BA degree will be a big help, but a CCNA will be mostly worthless.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Thanks alkemyst, but I do have practical experience right now (not REALLY cisco related, kind of an interest I took in at work). Right now, with 3~ years of experience, and in a current job gaining more, would it still be useful to get my BAS?

I enjoy being technical, but endgame, i'd like to be higher up.

I have good ideas, I have good business sense, and would love to have more responsibility/control of a company as a whole, it's something I am good at....I guess BAS is really the only suitable option.

 

[seepy83]

I enjoy being technical, but endgame, i'd like to be higher up.

Then you need a college degree. And depending on the organization you're working for and how high you want to go, you might eventually need a masters.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Then you need a college degree. And depending on the organization you're working for and how high you want to go, you might eventually need a masters.

True, I do have my associates, which got me here, guess i'll need to pound out 60~ more credits.

 

[freegeeks]

I have my CCNP and I've been working as a network engineer for almost 10 years. I only got it because more and more jobs over here require a cert. I forgot half of the stuff to be honest, there was a lot of crap in it about cisco wireless stuff which I never use in my job. I have to recert in a few months...

 

[spidey07]

I have my CCNP and I've been working as a network engineer for almost 10 years. I only got it because more and more jobs over here require a cert. I forgot half of the stuff to be honest, there was a lot of crap in it about cisco wireless stuff which I never use in my job. I have to recert in a few months...

There is a ton of wireless and SLA on the newer tests.

 

[freegeeks]

There is a ton of wireless and SLA on the newer tests.

not looking forward to study for a bunch of stuff that I don't need. They should move all the specific wireless cisco stuff to their wireless track. I don't see the point of having it in the routing and switching track

 

[Brovane]

not looking forward to study for a bunch of stuff that I don't need. They should move all the specific wireless cisco stuff to their wireless track. I don't see the point of having it in the routing and switching track

I took the switching test about a year ago. I felt some of the questions where more of a Cisco sales pitch about how great or wireless gear is versus useful techinical knowledge that is actually needed.

 

[Elbryn]

I enjoy being technical, but endgame, i'd like to be higher up.

then the simple answer is formal education. only way you'll get higher up without those is to start your own company. with an associate's it's going to be very tough sledding to become a manager. you'll need to significantly outshine all competition to get the shot.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

The CCNA and CCNP have actually gotten more difficult. CCNP takes 4 tests which are 150 bucks now I believe. NA is one test or two and you need that before NP. You can do what you need to do with 2-3 layer3 switches, maybe 100 bucks each. You could use the older 3550s or even an old 2600 router or two.

Hang out in networking forum and learn all you can. I've been a NP/DP for about 10+ years and when I had to recert earlier this year the test was really indepth.

Pick you apart? You redistribute static routes into OSPF as E2s and you notice the route 0/0 isn't showing up on any neighbor routers, what do you need to do on the ASBR to get this route into the AS?

CCNP is actually 3 tests. Courses changed this past summer to:
Route (used to be adv routing)
Switch (used to be multilayer switching)
Troubleshooting (replaces QoS and they did away with remote access IIRC)

I cruise the networking forums pretty frequently actually.

That question is too complicated for me to figure out in a switch fully, would I be able to figure it out after a CCNA? I've already got the hardware it sounds like.

I am pretty curious if the investment is worth it, what sort of things people did in my scenario. DId they look for a job after they got the CCNA? Ask for a raise/more responsibilities? I'd hate to get it, and not use the information.

How long would it take a nub to take the CCNA? Any book recomendations, or online tools/tests? Would I be better off in a bootcamp for a week or so?

That question is CCNP level FYI.

The CCNA isn't going to do any major changes for you most likely. CCNP on the other hand is more likely to have an effect on your current situation.

CCNA can be done with 3-4 months solid studying/practice depending on your knowledge of networking. The first half of CCNA (ICMP1) is, for the most part, basic networking stuff like subnetting, how Cisco gear works, etc. Cisco puts out a self-study book (ICMP 1 and 2) and they have a test course on there with ~300 questions over the entire CCNA exam. It's a great place to start. Bootcamps are generally looked at as a no-no by Cisco.

Thanks alkemyst, but I do have practical experience right now (not REALLY cisco related, kind of an interest I took in at work). Right now, with 3~ years of experience, and in a current job gaining more, would it still be useful to get my BAS?

I enjoy being technical, but endgame, i'd like to be higher up.

I have good ideas, I have good business sense, and would love to have more responsibility/control of a company as a whole, it's something I am good at....I guess BAS is really the only suitable option.

If you like to be higher up, then you need a degree. A CCNA/CCNP, or hell a CCIE, won't be nearly as beneficial as a degree. IMHO, get the degree THEN get certs. Going the other way around can work, but a higher failure rate I would imagine.

I have my CCNP and I've been working as a network engineer for almost 10 years. I only got it because more and more jobs over here require a cert. I forgot half of the stuff to be honest, there was a lot of crap in it about cisco wireless stuff which I never use in my job. I have to recert in a few months...

FYI they got rid of QoS and Remote Access tests. See my first comment above. Route/Switch are basically the same (although some changes in those as well, like no IS-IS anymore), but TSHOOT is a new course.



I'm taking my skills exam for my SWITCH class tonight actually. Studying my ass off for it. Wish me luck

BTW Vivi, I'm currently going for my BS in CIS and the courses take you through CCNP level stuff along with the CWNA, CCNA level security one (forget the cert), and VoIP stuff.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Bah, how conflicting. I just can't predict if a CCNA would be more worthwhile, or a BAS.

Sounds like the CCNA would only take me a few months, I do have the equipment and principles down...like I said, I can get 'around', but I don't make changes in our equipment without verifying with somebody else right now.

Worst case dont wr, just reboot, amiright?> haha

Uh, no?

Dont forget some things arent just in config file

 

[rcpratt]

I always thought you were older.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Do both. You will regret not getting a 4 year degree.

 

[spidey07]

Uh, no?

Dont forget some things arent just in config file

Yeah, it's very rare you just reboot a piece of networking equipment. The only times it's needed are a software crash or upgrade (and even on some platforms you can do in service upgrades). If there is a problem, it's happening for a reason and the NP will help you understand what those reasons are. You have to be able to understand WHY in networking because things you don't control can have an affect on your network so root cause analysis is fundamental.