Cisco CCNA

[FN-GM]

Hello

I am thinking about doing a Cisco CCNA, what i know will be difficult. I am planning to teach my self to save money. I already have a CBT Nuggets CCNA Tutorial DVD what someone gave me, i also plan to buy some secondhand Cisco equipment for testing. I will be buying some books as well.

My question is what books do you recommend? What are the good ones and the not so good? Which ones did you use? (If you have done the exam)

Thanks

[kingswood]

Hi.

Good choice of certification. I completed the Cisco Networking Academy but never took the exam (it was a few years ago now). When I was studying the course I was always told to grab the study guide by Wendell Odom- you can find the new study set here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Official-Cer...1615619&sr=8-5

His book is definitely the best I have seen though deep. Todd Lamle also writes a good study guide and any router simulation software packages you can get would be good. If you can get a cheaper 1600 series router (three if you don't mind the cost) and at least two 1900 series or above (25xx series are better because of the new VLAN component in the exam) switches.

It's a fantastic course and will teach you a bucket load about networking in general, and Cisco routing and protocols in particular. Enjoy it and let us know how you get on!

Paul

[Joedetic]

See if you can befriend a cisco instructor and get hold of the lab manuals...because they really are useful.

If you're planning on getting yourself some cisco routers then get 2600 series ones. I've got a couple of 2610s with WIC-2T smart serial cards in them for practicing the serial links.

For CCNA 1 and 2 you dont configure switches so you dont need cisco switches just yet.

Back to the book thing...I've got CCNA 1 and CCNA 2 and havent had to buy any books yet...but i've got access to the online training materials because i'm doing my CCNA through an actual cisco academy. My university does the CCNA and CCNP and IPT and FNS courses as part of my degree so the cost is sort of inclusive.

[FN-GM]

Thanks for your support i already have a Cisco 2924 XL what supports VLAN anyway. Just need a router. Will have a look on eBay at some point.

[Joedetic]

If you want to practice VLANs properly you'll need two switches.

[FN-GM]

Yes thought so, i can then try out trunking.

[Joedetic]

Doesn't necessarily need to be another cisco one really does it though.

Just as long as you know how to configure a VLAN from the IOS on the cisco one the other one is just implemenation of theory as opposed to IOS commands. I have two cisco 2924-EN-XL switches (different to yours as they have got the enterprise IOS that supports etherchannel and clustered management) and i've also got an Allied Telesyn managed switch which is considerably more naff but still supports vlans so i can have a play using all three

[FN-GM]

Mine does have the enterprise edition ios

[Joedetic]

So you've got a 2924-EN-XL Get another one and you can play with etherchannel

[FN-GM]

so i have woo hoo see this is why i need training up!

[Ajaz]

Hi guys

I have got a degree in BEng sofware engineering ( 2:1 ) two years ago and i am still look for a job in the IT industry. I have no problem with my interviews, six months ago someone advised me to do CCNA course and after completing this course I will get a job. I already enquired about the CCNA courses, the courses are very expensive (the cost is around £1700) because of recession i can't afford the cost of the course. I' ve done a full CCNA module ( 20 credits ). I will be very greatfull if someone gives me suitable advice.

Thankx :-)

[SYNACK]

Grab a book to learn it / do revision on it and just take the test at a testing center. There are plenty of online resources that you can look at also, you could probably pick up some old cisco gear off ebay quite cheaply to practice on if required.

[Ajaz]

Grab a book to learn it / do revision on it and just take the test at a testing center. There are plenty of online resources that you can look at also, you could probably pick up some old cisco gear off ebay quite cheaply to practice on if required.

Thanks, any good book you suggest/ online resourses.

thanks

[SYNACK]

Here's a few that provide free sample questions selelected from google:

Free cisco ccna certification practice tests braindumps and study guides
Practice Questions
CCNA Sample Questions
Microsoft Certification and Cisco Certification Practice Tests! MCSE and CCNA Sample Questions and Exams!
Cisco CCNA Practice Tests - Free software downloads and reviews - CNET Download.com
Free CCNA Practice Questions Download
Free CCNA practice tests | free CCENT/ICND1 640-822 practice tests | free ICND practice tests | free CCDA practice tests | free BSCI practice tests | free BCMSN practice tests | free ISCW practice tests | free ONT practice tests

Not sure on the books as it has been a while since I was looking at the CCNA stuff but there is the DVD suggested in the first psot of this thread.

[Linfit]

Ajaz, you may find that local FE colleges do the CISCO course relatively cheaply - I have just completed a Foundation degree which included the CCNA as part of the first two years and I know the college ran that part of the course also as a stand-alone; it was nowhere near the cost you have quoted, and in some areas there are subsidised courses and grants available; some of the people on my course had access to funding even though they were doing the course part time becuase the college was in a targeted area (I did my course in Manchester).