Help choosing CCNA resources

rht

Hi guys, I was planning on MCSA server 2012 but after studying for windows 7 configuring exam i absolutely hated every minute of it. Therefore, i am taking action and decided to go for my CCNA since its just an all around good cert to have and its quite exciting!

I was looking for books on Amazon and decided to get both Lammle and Odom books. However i cant figure out which Odom book to get & which is the latest edition. There is also the [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]100-101 & 200-101 choice or the 200-120 by itself. [/FONT]

Also are the free simulators enough or should i buy one on Amazon? The only one i heard of is GNS3, is this all i need?

Thanks

lsud00d

I haven't taken the CCNA yet but I'm casually reading through Todd Lammle's CCNA book (CCNA Routing and Switching Study Guide: Exams 100-101, 200-101, and 200-120: Todd Lammle: 9781118749616: Amazon.com: Books) and it's an enjoyable read. I can't speak to the Odom edition for the new CCNA version. It is an expansive topic though (albeit not very deep) so be prepared to read, practice, and lab a lot!

rht

I have read that both Lammle and Odom books are both excellent and thats why i am getting them both. This is what i usually do i double up on books for a second view point on subjects. It works well for me

mikeybinec

Rick Graziani is a Cisco Netacad author..I like his books also.. Routing Protocols and Accessing The Wan are two

Rick Graziani, Cabrillo College

aftereffector

I read the Odom 200-120 (it's two books, one for each of the exams if you decide to split it up) and used PacketTracer and I was fine. GNS3 is excellent.

chopsticks

If you intend to break the CCNA exam into two exams (CCENT and then CCNA) to take, then you should get 100-101 & 200-120 Odom's book. If you want to take the composite exam (CCNA) then 200-120 is the choice.

OfWolfAndMan

If you want some free labs for Packet Tracer/GNS3, here's a good website:
Free CCNA Workbook | CCNA Labs, Practice Exams and More!

rht

i found this book looks good Amazon.com: Cisco CCNA in 60 Days (9780956989291): Paul William Browning: Books

Also whats the diffrence betweet GNS3, packet tracer & a paid CCNA simulator?

DoubleNNs

I'm pretty sure Odom's 200-120 book is 2 books inside of a booksleeve. It's not a different product than the 2 books - it's the two books sold together as a package, for a discounted price.

My opinion - if you have no networking experience, get Odom's book. If you have experience but want to get the cert to supplement the experience, get Todd Lammle's book. Lammle's book is much more enjoyable to read, but hard to follow along if you don't have prior knowledge/experience. (I've felt that way about every book of his I've read - which isn't a bad thing. Just something to know before starting any of his books.)

DoubleNNs

rht wrote: »

i found this book looks good Amazon.com: Cisco CCNA in 60 Days (9780956989291): Paul William Browning: Books

Also whats the diffrence betweet GNS3, packet tracer & a paid CCNA simulator?

Quite a few people have used the above book and passed the CCNA with it - I remember a while back reading a thread where an individual followed the calendar in the book to the T and finished in 60 days. Mind you, he said he was pretty burnt out at the end of it but said it's possible not only for himself but for other people.

As for the 2nd question, there's quite a few threads on the site explaining the diff between the 3. The main thing you pay for with a paid CCNA simulator is the labs. And trust me, I thought for the longest I needed the CCNA labs to pass the exam and wanted to invest in one of them. Didn't have the money however, so I couldn't. And I still passed both the ICND1 and ICND2 with very good scores, even w/o paying for the labs. Simply following along with the book and playing around with diff configs should be enough - w/ whatever labbing method you decide to use.

(For the record - Packet Tracer, if you have access to it, is the quickest, easiest, most hassle-free approach to CCNA labbing.)

gbdavidx

So if someone already has ICND1 - would getting ICND 2 take only 30 days? ?

OfWolfAndMan

gbdavidx wrote: »

So if someone already has ICND1 - would getting ICND 2 take only 30 days? ?

Depends on how much you already know about your cisco stuff. If you don't work with it, I doubt it. It also depends how much time you're putting into studying a week.

DoubleNNs

gbdavidx wrote: »

So if someone already has ICND1 - would getting ICND 2 take only 30 days? ?

I left my contract/job on Jan 10. I started studying ICND2 material maybe 2 days later and passed the exam around Valentines day. However, I was unemployed that entire time.

I neither had prior knowledge of the ICND2 material, nor did I have any Cisco or Routing and Switching work experience. It took me around 30 days, but I doubt it would be as quick for someone who works full-time.

Can it be done? As I said a couple posts above, I've heard of it being done. I believe the individual even worked full time and had kids/family. Just realize that you'd be "redlining" by accomplishing that.

rht

DoubleNNs wrote: »

My opinion - if you have no networking experience, get Odom's book. If you have experience but want to get the cert to supplement the experience, get Todd Lammle's book. Lammle's book is much more enjoyable to read, but hard to follow along if you don't have prior knowledge/experience. (I've felt that way about every book of his I've read - which isn't a bad thing. Just something to know before starting any of his books.)

I was actually planning on getting Lammle's book since ppl say its easier to read for beginners but you are saying the opposite, i think i need more opinions!
My only experience with networking is Network+ which i achieved last March, would this be enough to go for Lammle's book alone or should i get both books?

MTciscoguy

I am using 3 different books right now and Paul Browning's is one of them, Paul is very brusk in his teaching style and straight to the point, no frills, I am also reading Chris Bryant's ICND1 study guide, good book, easy to follow along, maybe a little fluffy in places and my 3rd book is simply a book of IOS commands, very straight to the point with very little explanation, I also am using Packet Tracer, as well as GNS3 and have a pretty good sized lab with 5 routers and 5 switches, so with all of that, I still don't know that I will pass everything in 60 days, currently I am retired and have all of the time in the world, but reading 8-10 hours a day is making me go cross eyed!

I know by time I am all done, I am going to have to go through each one of them at least once more.

jvrlopez

I highly recommend Lammle study materials. I used them as my primary study source and passed. Its a fun and enjoyable read...covers what you need to know and is written in a great, personable manner. The humor is great too!

You can also email Todd or add him on Linkedin. Let him know you're using his materials and he will hook you up with some labs! He also emailed me after I passed my test to send his congrats!

esr0159

Go for Todd Lammle book. I used it when I took the composite exam plus the CBT Nuggets (though I didn't finished all the videos ) .

Packet tracer is okay for CCNA labs, if you want some PKA files I can give you some.

Raisin

I've been reading Odom's 200-120 books and as others have said it's actually two books in a box sleeve. I'm about 10 chapters into the first book and I feel pretty confident about the material so far. Plus the price for the two hardcover books and DVD's together is a great deal, it's around $34 on Amazon. I also bought the full network simulator that goes with the books, it comes with a ton of labs that follows along with the chapters of the books.