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Where Do I Start To Get My CCNA

angus — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:23:57 +0200

Many people understand the value of the Cisco certifications in the industry and want to know where to start to obtain their Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) which:

“The Cisco CCNA network associate certification validates the ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size routed and switched networks, including implementation and verification of connections to remote sites in a WAN. This new curriculum includes basic mitigation of security threats, introduction to wireless networking concepts and terminology, and performance-based skills. This new curriculum also includes (but is not limited to) the use of these protocols: IP, Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP), Serial Line Interface Protocol Frame Relay, Routing Information Protocol Version 2 (RIPv2),VLANs, Ethernet, access control lists (ACLs)”

You can take one exam (640-802 CCNA) that is 90 Minutes and 50-60 questions.
-OR-
You can take two exams, The ICND Part I test (640-822) that is 90 Minutes and 50-60 questions as well as ICND Part II Test (640-816) that is 75 minutes and 45-55 questions.

I recommend taking the single test to save money and time. There is also a great preparation page located here: http://forums.cisco.com/eforum/servlet/PrepCenter?page=main

After you decide you want to take the test, there are a few steps people can take to ensure you follow through. The biggest hurdle for the CCNA exam is execution of taking and passing the exam, so these steps help ensure your success:

Commit to the exam and get the support of your family and friends.
Set a date for taking the test!!!
Create a study plan around that date with set milestones that allow you to cover all the material by your test date.
Use one solid study guide source (like an updated Cisco Press Book) to use and reference other sources when needed. There are so many sources out there, that you can easily get rat holed with deeper and deeper material. Using one will you help you stay on track and test your knowledge.
Make sure your material is for the updated CCNA test. There were previous versions.
Use some kind of practice test to gauge your progress.
Find some way to practice basic commands on gear (checking connectivity, cdp, nat, etc..things you see mentioned to ensure you can do them if you are given a hands on simulation.)
Make sure you are FAST at subnetting by hand. There are several quick and easy tables you can use to work on this and it just takes practice to get it down.
Look for a study group or buddy to go through this process with. It makes it easier.

I think those are some good guide lines to get started.

Related Exam: 642-446 642-825 642-892 642-426 640-863.

Article posted by Nicole Johnson

Is this Enough for CCNA?

angus — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:08:54 +0200

A firend of mine named Tesl and me are currently working away at our CCNA, and hope to get it within the next couple of weeks. We are trying to read all the material we can get his hands on, but we are a little worried that we need to buy some more.

We are using the Sybex CCNA 4th Edition by Todd Lammle. Has the exam changed enough to justify buying the 5th edition? Ideally we don't want to have to fork out more if its not really necessary.

We've read that book through front to back three times now, twice in the past week. We've a fair bit of background in networking so feel like We've picked it up really quickly. But is that book really enough to pass with? (HWe really can't afford to buy any equipment right now, HWe've 0 money until We start my new job in Japan in a few months time).

How much of a Cisco background do we have?

Admittedly, not that much. Obviously the N+ helps and W've limited experience with simple cisco router configurations, but since We don't have our own equipment its hard to practise. Our new job is actually not in the IT field, although we will be looking for work in the Networking/Linux field not too long after arriving in Japan.
We've spent quite a bit of the time in the past writing a lot of networking code, including a linux kernel module that altered how the OS would respond to certain TCP/IP requests (for security reasons).
Some of that was a while back though, and obviously doesn't help with things like WAN technologies and the equipment/protocols used within those. We would say that is our weak point.

What are we using to prepare for the sims (the practical element of the exam)?

Alas, not that much. More or less just what we can find online, since we don't have access to the equipment right now. We would honestly love to hit ebay and buy some bits and pieces, but it really isn't ideal right now. Once we get my own place to live sorted out, we may buy some cisco gear and set up my own lab once in Japan =)

Have a read through similar topics on the net and take some practice tests to gauge our knowledge.

We were away for a week where we picked up that book for the first time in about a year or so, and read it twice through. Doing the practice tests on the net we are scoring anywhere between 65% - 90%. Not really good enough.

The CCNA(List of Cisco CCNA Exams: 640-802, 640-822, 640-811, 640-821, 640-801, 640-816) doesn't strike us as being difficult per se, there is just quite a wide variety of information that needs to be memorised.

Source: TechExams

Preparation Guide for Exam 70-290

angus — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:00:35 +0200

The Microsoft 2003 Server Exam, 70-290, is one of the core exams of the MCSE, MCSA, and even the MCDBA (Database Administration) certification tracks. The exam is designed to test a candidate’s knowledge of managing a Windows Server 2003 environment. It also tests the candidate’ ability to configure Windows Server 2003 to work with key Windows features and operate efficiently over a Windows network.

We know,this exam costs $125 each attempt.So, you should do your best to pass the MCDBA 70-290 exam.

Certay 70-290 is written to coincide with the real test by the experienced IT experts and specialists. With the complete collection of Questions and Answers, Certay 70-290 is high enough to help the candidates to pass this exam easily without any other study materials and no need to attend the expensive training class.

To match the current real test, the technical team from Certay will update the Questions and Answers for any changes in time, and also we are always accepting the feedbacks about this exam from our users, in specialty, we will mend the exam pool with the suggestions from those users who got full scores in this exam, so to perfect Certay 70-290 to make it always have the best quality!

Certay offers free demo for 70-290 exam (MCDBA - Implementing Secure Converged Wide Area Networks). You can check out the interface, question quality and usability of our practice exams before you decide to buy it. We are the only one site can offer demo for almost all products.

Certay is the online Certification Expert, which provide testking and pass4sure the real questions and correct answers since 2001.

Cisco Newbie - Start on the CCNA

angus — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:44:01 +0200

Want to start getting into routers etc so looking at doing some cisco stuff? Think you need to start on the CCNA? but dont really know where or know of any real books that can teach you this from scratch? Here is a guideline for the Cisco newbies to start on the CCNA.

Q: Looking at doing some cisco stuff?

A: Cisco's Career Certifications & Paths information can be found here .
Cisco also has a CCNA Prep Center -- it might impress you, or it might scare you away -- but worth a look to get an idea of what Cisco makes available.

Only one comment on the prepCenter. When watching the flash, dont take their word when they say that linux is an operating system. One who says that linux is an OS, states that his knowledge of operating systems converging to zero (especially linux based).

Q: Don't really know where or know of any real books that can teach you this from scratch.

A: The books you'll hear the most about around here are:
Sybex - Cisco Certified Network Associate Study Guide -- by Todd Lammle. Should be on the 5th edition. Great for learning subnetting. Missing some info, but there are one or two new update chapters available for download.
Cisco Press - The CCNA 640-802 books by Wendell Odom. Probably the CCNA Official Exam Certification Library.
You can check out all the Cisco Press Books (and the link to the simulator) at the Cisco Press Web site.
Hands-on practice is important.... but you can get by with the simulator for the CCNA.

Q: Are the exams expensive?

A: The CCNA 640-802 exam is $125.
There is also the 2 exam option (INTRO and ICND). There should be link at the CCNP Prep Center that explains it. I think those are $100 each.

Certay is the online Certification Expert, which provide testking and pass4sure the real questions and correct answers since 2001

That should be enough links to keep you busy for the rest of the night.

Source: TechExams

6 Steps Help you Success To Pass CCNA Ce...

angus — Thu, 29 May 2008 08:14:36 +0200

CCNA is one of the most respected Associate level Certification in the world today.

Getting a CCNA will definitely help you to get a better job or at least get your foot into Professional Networking Field. When you meet a person that has CCNA degree you will notice that he or she knows something about Networking.

This article will describe and give you some tips on how to achieve CCNA.

I did it so can you, so lets get started.

1. Getting ready mentally

First thing you need to do is mentally prepare your self. What I mean by that is that you have to seriously think about on why are you getting CCNA and why do you want to be CCNA certified. You have to firmly decide and believe that you will get CCNA within next 3-6 months or so.

Try to budget your study time well. If you a very social person (like me) you will have to give up some of your social time for the next couple of months.

Your friends and family will understand. Trust me: it is well worth it. Once you get that cert you can make up for the lost social time.

2. Getting the right study material

Second thing you need to do is to get proper study material.

There is lot of controversy around this and some people go overboard with study guides, books, simulators and such.

I believe that two Cisco Press books INTR and ICND by Wendell Odom are enough as far as the books go. They are really well written and easy to follow. So sign up at http://www.ciscopress.com and get those two books. Make sure you got the latest version.

You will also want to get some kind of a simulator that will let you practice commands and that will also build up your confidence.

You can buy real equipment but that could get expensive. I highly recommend that you become member of Cisco Certification forum.

Forum is huge and you will get lot of helpful answers, tips and advices pretty quick. (I know I did)

3. Approach and diving deep

There are many different approaches to studying from books but I will tell you about mine. This step will take the most of your studying time.

- Before you even start reading any of the books I suggest learning binary math (really easy) and subnetting so you can do it in your sleep.

- Read both books casually once from front to cover (make sure you cover introduction and practice questions too). This will give you good overview.

- Install both CD’s that came with books and practices some of the questions. Don’t worry if you get lot of them wrong.

- Now, you will ready both books again but this time you will have to read it to truly understand the concept and how things work. Master one chapter and do questions from just that chapter until you sick of it. Then move to the next chapter.

- Once you mastered all chapters do lot of questions and labexercises. Those two CD’s will give you ability to do that.

4. Schedule the test

You’re not done yet with studying but it is really good to schedule the test after you completed step 3 in this article. Here is why:

If you schedule the test a month in advance right after you completed step 3, you won’t be able to slack and make excuses not to study hard until tests and it is also good to give your self a headline. I have seen people working on their CCNA for 2 years. They master one or two chapters, then they rest for 2 two months and right when they think they are ready for the next chapter, they forget what they have learned in the first chapter.

5. Read both books one more time to refresh

This is optional, but I highly recommend reading the both books one more time. If you read both books in a three week that will give you one more week before the test to cram which is subject of the next step. So by now you should’ve read both books three times over. I also suggest re-reading questions and answers from both books one more time.

6. Cram, Cram and Cram

- This is the last part of your study and there is no turning back.

Deadline is hanging around your neck like a noose. You should cram Q&A for no more then 10 days before you take the test.

At this point it is really important that you get fresh and different questions then those included with your CD’s. Some people claims that brain dumps or Q&A are bad and evil. I tend to disagree with that. At this point you already firmly grasped the whole CCNA concept and Q&A will only help you. So get some Q&A exam question and cram, cram and cram them for a week.

- Don’t use books or CD’s anymore.

There is no looking back. No worries, material from the books will return to you at the right time.

- Don’t do any studying a night or a day before the test.

Go out with your wife or significant other to a dinner and a movie. Relax. It is very important to relax and get a good night sleep since one of those testing boots could really be intimidating. If you did all the steps above and read books with intention to understand the topics and how stuff works (no pun intended), and not just to pass the test you should be more then ready by now.

We came to an end of this short tutorial. I hope this article give you at least some ideas on how to approach studying for CCNA.

If you fail CCNA first time, don’t get discouraged. You will have more knowledge and confidence when you attempt it the next time then the person who passed it on the first try. Whatever approach you take I wish you good luck and prosper career.

CCNA exams list: 640-802, 640-816, 640-822, 640-811, 640-821.

About the Author:

Vanja Buric is Network Engineer, and works for Charter Communication Business Engineering Department, and also owner of the http://www.vanjaburic.com website, where you can get latest networking news, articles,tips, free e-Books, virus alerts and lot more… as well as purchase IT Exam study guides.