CCNP Route is boring!
Just passed my CCNP Switch back at Cisco live and really enjoyed the content and learned a ton. Now I sit here with the CCNP Cisco press book, Route Simplified, CBT and Bryant videos and I'm stalling. I'm on video 6 on the CBT's and not sure if I'm going to make it through. I originally wanted to do the CCNA security because there is a lot that pertains to my current job and I'm watching the CBT videos with Keith Barker and I think I'm hooked now. Do I need some inspiration or just a kick in the rear? What did the rest of you do to grind through route. I have my 3 1841's on my desk humming along and all I'm thinking about is playing with ACS on my VM and building VPN tunnels. Ughhh!
“The problem with quotes on the Internet is that you can’t always be sure of their authenticity.” ~Abraham Lincoln
Comments
I actually thought the exact same thing! I took SWITCH first too, and I loved the content. I was so intrigued and interested in all the topics. For me, it was the book I was reading. The OCG by Odom was just to dry for me, so I switched over to the FLG by Teare and it's better.
If I were you, I would definitely fire up some labs and work through the content on a per chapter basis. This is what I do to keep me interested and focused, otherwise I find myself reading the chapters and not knowing wtf I just read because my mind was drifting.
I strongly recommend you complete the CCNP R&S, as I feel it's a strong foundation for all other certs. PM me if you want to run over some labs and scenario's and keep ROUTE with an edge.
Cheers,
Cisco SEAL, Cisco SWAT, Cisco DeltaForce, Cisco FBI, Cisco DoD, Cisco Army Rangers, Cisco SOCOM .ιlι..ιlι.
I felt the same when doing my CCNP Route, I think personally that it is really hard going and compared to the Switch (which I am studying now) it is alot more intensive.
I think that this is because the content of the NP route is alot broarder and covers new content that the CCNA didn't, Eg: BGP, Multi-Area OSPF, Route-Maps, Prefix-Lists etc. However in the Switch and NA some of the content had already been covered in the CCNA.
My adivce is that I would stick with it and try to find another source is possible. I found my Route heavy going, switched from Cisco OCG to the Bryant series and I felt I picked up more information from them sources than any other.
However this is all down to personal preference, it's up to you to find what works best for you.
Good luck man, and keep your head down and grind through it!
Security: CCNA [ ]
Virtualization: VCA-DCV [ ]
That being said, it is all important to know.
Without being too discouraging, I feel your pain. The current ROUTE exam is mind numbingly boring. For me, that is a combination of the way the ROUTE FLG presents the info and the fact that I don't use at least 75% of the current material on the ROUTE exam and quite honestly, likely will not do so in the foreseeable future.
SWITCH was the polar opposite, I have utilized nearly 100% of that content in my daily duties for years now.
CCNA-S is easy, just knock it out. I did that in much the same manner as you, when I got bored of the current ROUTE stuff.
I am strongly considering holding off, as the new ROUTE exam looks a bit more interesting. At least it breaks up the material a bit...
Its nice being able to do all the commands compared to Packet Tracer such as whipping up a VPN tunnel. Now to play With GRE's.
I've run into a few that do. You'd be amazed at how some folks overcomplicate their networks.
Security: CCNA [ ]
Virtualization: VCA-DCV [ ]
I was just curious, do you guys think a CCNP bootcamp is worth it? I've always wanted to do a bootcamp, like they have for the CCIE's. Looks like the INE bootcamps are online, so not sure if that's worth it. I've contemplated taking a couple days off work and doing the bootcamp, so I can make this January 30th cutoff.
I really slowed down this month, and I'm not happy. So I got my coffee next to me and looks like it will be an all nighter tonight. How's everybody else holding up? I just keep finding myself drag through the mud on ROUTE. So frustrating!
Cisco SEAL, Cisco SWAT, Cisco DeltaForce, Cisco FBI, Cisco DoD, Cisco Army Rangers, Cisco SOCOM .ιlι..ιlι.
I know the feeling! Good luck to ya! I'll be testing the opposite side of things just as soon as well!
My ultimate career goal: To climb to the top of the computer network industry food chain.
"Winning means you're willing to go longer, work harder, and give more than anyone else." - Vince Lombardi
Which protocol did you guys find easier to read up on / learn out of EIGRP and OSPF?
GNS3 works REALLY well now (1.2), makes studying route fun
Lab Equipment: Using Cisco CSRs and 4 Switches currently
I found the whole LSA thing with OSPF just absurd. Combine that with your not so stubby, stub, Stubless Nssa, LSU/LSA, Virtual link mumbo jumbo and stir it up with some K values from EIGRP, its enough to make your head spin. I really enjoyed the IPv6 and branch routing portion. Switch was defiantly the harder of the two to study for now that I'm looking back. Routes learning curve was steeper and I feel like when I pass that I will be a paper CCNP even though I'm currently a Network Engineer. I'm going to check into some boot camps for next year and see if I can talk my boss into sending me to one of those instead of Cisco Live again. I feel like with the whole self study route that I'm missing out on things. If someone could take the Network Warrior book and make a certification out of then it then I think they would be on the right track. Paying $750 for CCNP exam fees should grant you some college credit or something, maybe a hologram certificate or something. Not sure if I will go much further past CCNP or not after this, only time will tell.
I really do wish there was a multi vendor certification with some SDN etc. I also wish it wasn't as hard to break into a proper networking job :P and not a 50/50 server/networking one..
Lab Equipment: Using Cisco CSRs and 4 Switches currently