Taking BSCI

sgtcasey

Well, it's around 11:30pm and at 9am tomorrow I'll be sitting down to knock out the BSCI test. My only problem is I don't feel prepared for the test. If I wouldn't still end up paying for it, I would back out for a week more of study time.

I studied by only reading the CCNP BSCI Self-Study book.

At my job, I have access to numerous devices such as 6509's, 4507R's, 4000/5000/5500-series chassis switches and the occasional 3560/2950 switch.

Is there a website or any type of book available that could provide me with different scenarios to put together in the lab at work?

I have 24-hour access to the lab and have thought of spending some of my weekend there running through different things and basically just getting some hands on with OSPF, IS-IS, and maybe even BGP since I never see those used at my job.

Dave
Kinda grumpy at the thought of spending $125 to realize he needs to study more.

opers13

I failed the BSCI last week, I'm re-taking it tomorrow....Last week I felt just like u are feeling today....

Make sure you understand Redistribution.

opers13

EricO

Best of luck to you. Let us know how you do.

sgtcasey

Yeah, I failed the test. Those BGP and redistribution questions kicked my butt. I think I am going to take a few days away from studying or reading of any CCNP topics, then pick it back up and schedule the test in a couple weeks. I want to try and get some actual hands on time with this stuff in the lab here at work.

Dave

opers13

well, IF I were you, I would jump right at it again and get it done Friday or Saturday.....The sims will be the same, you will see most of the same questions again.

In a couple of weeks it could be a totally different exam......

opers13

mikej412

sgtcasey wrote:

Kinda grumpy at the thought of spending $125 to realize he needs to study more.

No no no.... it was a recon. A recon under fire. Yeah -- that's it.

Now you have a better idea of what's on the exam. But double check the exam blueprint and be prepared for anything on it. Just because you didn't get nailed hard on a topic this time doesn't mean you won't next time.

The Cisco Press Practical Studies series is what I used for hands on study.

sgtcasey

mikej412 wrote:

Now you have a better idea of what's on the exam. But double check the exam blueprint and be prepared for anything on it. Just because you didn't get nailed hard on a topic this time doesn't mean you won't next time.

The Cisco Press Practical Studies series is what I used for hands on study.

Thanks, I will check that book out.

Dave

opers13

sgtcasey wrote:

mikej412 wrote:

Now you have a better idea of what's on the exam. But double check the exam blueprint and be prepared for anything on it. Just because you didn't get nailed hard on a topic this time doesn't mean you won't next time.

The Cisco Press Practical Studies series is what I used for hands on study.

Thanks, I will check that book out.

Dave

Dave,

I just looked up that book on Amazon, I guess there are a lot of mistakes in the book. Apperantly there are 18 pages of erratas for it on ciscopress.com.

Did you find any mistakes?

opers13

sgtcasey

opers13 wrote:

Dave,

I just looked up that book on Amazon, I guess there are a lot of mistakes in the book. Apperantly there are 18 pages of erratas for it on ciscopress.com.

Did you find any mistakes?

Yeah, I saw that mentioned on Amazon as well. I ordered the book anyway since my employer allows me to expense books which are work related.

The way I look at it is that if I have to try and figure something out that the book has incorrect, that will only help me learn a little better.

Dave

opers13

Dave,

I'm with you man..

opers13

mikej412

sgtcasey wrote:

The way I look at it is that if I have to try and figure something out that the book has incorrect, that will only help me learn a little better.

Yeah, I read all the reviews of the Cisco Press books on Amazon before I even started my CCNA -- the quality on the Cisco Press books can be very uneven. And now that I own most of them I wouldn't disagree with most of the ratings on Amazon.

Its always a good idea to download the errata off of the Cisco Press web site. And yeah, being able to pick out additional errors or recognize the admitted errors is a good indication that you have/are learning the material.

sgtcasey

Well, the Sybex book arrived and I like it's layout a little better than the Cisco BSCI book. Plus, the Sybex book goes over all of the tests, not just one of them. I'm giving myself one more day of non-study time and then getting back into it.

The Cisco practical book is on back order from the Cisco Press website. Hopefully that won't last long.

Dave