Where to start?

RTmarc

I just finished MCSE and am starting down the Cisco path. I really don't even know where to start. I have a Catalyst 1900 sitting at the house but I don't know enough about them to know whether or not they can or should be used for the exams or to study.

Should I start with buying the CCNA study library (Study Library). Setup a lab of some sort? Buy another switch/router?

Any advice would be appreciated.

twiggy87

Well your definitely going the right way about things.

I recommend setting up your own home lab, you could use netsim or something like that but they are crap!! I mean for what you pay for netsim you might as well buy the hardware. Get some routers, I have 3 routers, an isdn simulator (not strictly necessary) and two switches. I am using mcgraw-hill CCNA study guide by Richard Deal and
Sybex CCNA fast pass by Todd Lammle plus anything Cisco related I can get my hands on. I figure it's better to know more than required so then you dont get caught out.

Well there's my two cents, good luck on your ccna path. Also if I may ask, what sort of time frame did you use for your MCSE. I am planning on starting on an MCSE 2003 soon. Any helpful advice/tricks would be good!!

S

RTmarc

twiggy87 wrote:

Well your definitely going the right way about things.

I recommend setting up your own home lab, you could use netsim or something like that but they are crap!! I mean for what you pay for netsim you might as well buy the hardware. Get some routers, I have 3 routers, an isdn simulator (not strictly necessary) and two switches. I am using mcgraw-hill CCNA study guide by Richard Deal and
Sybex CCNA fast pass by Todd Lammle plus anything Cisco related I can get my hands on. I figure it's better to know more than required so then you dont get caught out.

Well there's my two cents, good luck on your ccna path. Also if I may ask, what sort of time frame did you use for your MCSE. I am planning on starting on an MCSE 2003 soon. Any helpful advice/tricks would be good!!

S

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to start taking some time off from studying for a little while but I'm starting to get stuff together.

As for the MCSE. It took a while. Even though I did get my final certifications at MCSE Bootcamp, I started studying months and months ago. I bought all of the books about eight months before the camp and read through most of them and skimed the others. By the time I hit the camp I was mostly ready and the instructor lead training and hands-on pushed me over the top. So, a couple of weeks for the exams and around six to eight months of prior studying and practicing at home.

mikej412

RTmarc wrote:

I really don't even know where to start.

Start here -- to see what you're getting yourself into.
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/learning_career_certifications_and_learning_paths_home.html

The Cisco Career Certifications & Paths web page has the links to all the Cisco Certifications -- and from there you can find the exam options and the "exam blueprints" that get mentioned from time to time.

For the lower level certifications there are links at the bottom of the blueprint pages to the Cisco Press marketing page for all the books and stuff available for the CCNA or INTRO/ICND exams.

At the CCNA level there are lots of options for study.... In the Cisco Press series of books, there are the books that teach you the stuff, and then the books to prepare you for the exams.... The Sybex book is great for Subnetting but weak on NAT (but download all the updates/errata for the books). There should be some old book threads if you poke back far enough (and check out some of the post-test recaps).

Cisco also has their CCNA Prep Center -- that link has been posted in the last day or two. There is some good stuff there.... and there is some marketing stuff their for training partners.... poke around to get an idea what's there -- but picking your first book is probably your next major step on the road to the CCNA.

Good luck!