What do you guys recommend for studying for a CCNA?

[jmcoreymv]

Hey, I was thinking of studying towards a CCNA. What are some good study materials, and I dont just want to know how to pass the test. I want to learn the information for my own interests. Thanks.

 

[Ladi]

I always get told that a router or three make good study tools.

Otherwise, the cisco press books, brain dumps...

~Ladi

 

[jmcoreymv]

Ladi: The problem is I have just about enough money to buy two or three books and to pay for the test. So a router would be out of the question unfortunately.

 

[jmcoreymv]

Actually Im looking at this test on ciscos site and I could probably pass it with about a day of studying. Thats not fun...CCNP time

 

[Damaged]

Are you familiar with the the IOS CLI? And the OSI model? Why they harp on that fscking thang I have no idea! The TCP/IP model rules the world. And ATM is an entirely different model (not that you'll get any ATM questions on the CCNA test). However, I digress, if you are, then pick up a quick study guide, cram, and go for it.

CCNP is NOT easy! CCIE, if you're lucky enough to make to the hands on portion is WAY hard! 90% fail rate. Evidenced by the fact that there are only 2425 CCIEs employed in the US, and only 4855 in the ENTIRE world.

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/625/ccie/ccie_program/ccie_present.html

Good luck!

 

[jmcoreymv]

Damaged: I have already passed several of the MCSE tests including the Networking Essentials, so I already know the OSI model and the TCP/IP model. I will have to study up on IOS though.

 

[Daniel]

I've been thinking about doing the ccna at some point too, any good online resources? I've done the mcse/mcp+i so I've had osi and tcp/ip but I'd have to brush up on some things too.

 

[Spearfodder]

I used the cisco press book, a few hours with a pair of cisco 2501 routers, the couple of brain dumps available, some online free guides I found, and a couple practice tests.

This is the book I used:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1578700760/ref=sim_books/102-4474683-8008967

After having a mcse/cna for a while and working with tcp for years, I thought the exam was pretty easy. I had the 77 question, fixed length, no going back to previous questions. Study ios/osi model/access lists and you'll be fine.

 

[Daniel]

Thanks I'll check that out now.

 

[Jeffwa49]

I would look for a cisco networking academy in your area (http://cisco.netacad.net/cnacs/pub-doc/locator.shtml). The classes can sometimes be cheesy, but they have a lab typically with 5 routers and numerous switches and hubs to practice on. The hands on experience can't be beat! I took Cisco 1-4 and also used Sybex's CCNA Study Guide (Tom Lamle) to study and passed with flying colors. Also, you can pass the test by memorizing the book, but when you actually go to do something, you're screwed. You really need to have hands on experience.

 

[jmcoreymv]

Does anyone wanna rent-a-router to me They are kind of expensive for me to buy but I figure I could prolly rent one for a few weeks or something.

 

[ktwebb]

Todd Lammle's Sybex booked is what helped me the most. Lammle also wrote a piece of software called RouterSim that would be very beneficial. At least I thought it would. I had a demo. The demo didnt do much for me because it limited the softwares abilities. No config mode. But the fullfledged app not only gives full router functionality (2600 series I think) but it allows you to work on 3 router interfaces at once and has walkthrough lessons. I would have loved to have had it, but the Sybex book was enough to pass in my case, although I did fail it the first time by a question or two. (748, needed 755. 880 or something like that the second time)

Word to the wise. If you think that you can pass the CCNA easily because you passed a couple of MCSE test then you are only fooling yourself. The Enterprise test was fairly difficult but no Microsoft test comes close to the CCNA. That is only my opinion based on my experience but the test is not easy. The exception to that would be if you had alot of Cisco router experience of which I had zero when I took the test.

 

[jmcoreymv]

Which is valued more in the job community, CCNA or MCSE?

 

[ktwebb]

What job community are you talking about? Overall? CCNA carries more weight and more respect IMO, but if you are interviewing for a job at a company that runs NT Enterprise Servers and NT Workstation on the clients, MCSE would probably get you in the door quicker. ISP's and/or router intensive job offerings, CCNA would benefit you more.

 

[jmcoreymv]

Does anyone have a Router Simulator they would sell for cheap?