Sybex CCNA vs. Cisco book

Tricon7

I've been reading the Cisco-published books for CCNA and I'm about to get the Sybex CCNA book, 5th ed. Is the Sybex more "readable" than the Cisco one? Any opinions? I hope I'm not disappointed.

sprkymrk

IMO it is much better written than the Cisco Press books, which I simply can't stand. I'm not saying the information is bad in the CP books, but rather just that they are written in a style that I don't find very "readable". I do know that others like them. I prefer the Sybex though.

mobri09

Which way you would like to go all depends if you want to take the full CCNA exam at once (which means 1 test 640-801) or the 2 part test which includes the intro exam (640-811 and 640-821). Once this is distinguished I think you can choose your books better. The sybex is a great book with some humor -making it an easier read. The sybex is geared more towards the 640-801 exam. The Cisco Press book series comes in a 2 part set INTRO and ICND exam, but is less humorous which might be harder to read. Both books are great and I recommend using all 3 books. My route is the 2 part exam using the Cisco press books. Then if I have trouble understanding a chapter I read the chapter in the Sybex to clarify things. Like I said you can do it any way you like and both books provide excellent material. Hopefully this gives you a little more guidance.

Tricon7

sprkymrk wrote:

IMO it is much better written than the Cisco Press books, which I simply can't stand. I'm not saying the information is bad in the CP books, but rather just that they are written in a style that I don't find very "readable". I do know that others like them. I prefer the Sybex though.

Yeah, I absolutely have to be fresh to read from the Cisco book, or it'll sure put me to sleep.

redgoblin

I found myself in a similar position to you. I started off with the CP books and have stuck with them all the way through simply because it teaches you to 'think' the cisco way and has ALOT more detail than the Sybex book. However, the Sybex is an easier read and explains things alot better. So, you can either read the Sybex as a sort of good overview and foundation and then move onto the CP. Alternatively, read the CP and use the Sybex as exam revision. Either way It's good to use both books as they're slightly different.

Paul Boz

Get the Sybex book - it's way better. Lammle makes material which is pretty dense seem interesting by being funny. They're about the same price, too. Plus the Sybex book comes with several practice tests, flash cards, and supplemental material on several subjects on cd.

iproute

redgoblin wrote:

Either way It's good to use both books as they're slightly different.

I generally agree here. I've used the Sybex book as my main study guide and the Cisco books to gain deeper insight into various topics that seemed a bit skimpy in the Sybex book. Both the Sybex and Cisco options have practice questions/exams and other digital media. As pretty much everyone mentions, the Cisco books are bit on the dry side. The humorous jabs in the Sybex book have a tendency to give me just enough of a laugh to read a few more pages during any given study session.

Cucumber

The more books you read the better. But in general I would say IMHO that the Sybex book is a bit better.

The cisco press books are good but (at least in the edition I have), I felt the OSPF section was a bit weak, as Wendel Odom does not talk too much about the Designated Router and Backup Designated Router, nor about router states (Down,Init,TwoWay). Again, perhaps my book is too old.

Other details I remember about these books are:

Neither book mentions "microsegmentation", you must know this term.

Wendel Odom says there is no DSAP protocol code for TCP/IP, although there is one (0x06). The Sybex book does not go too much into 802.2 SAP anyway.

Talking about Ethernet, the cisco book does not explains what is inside the Ethernet preamble, whereas the Sybex book do explain it a bit.

Thats all I remember as I write this but I am sure there are many other details you could find if you read both books; and at the same time you get better prepared for the exam.

Happy reading.

Sulblk27

I have taken to - CCNA by Richard Deal...coupled with Cisco press and Sybex....between the three there seems to be quite a lot of gaps filled in for me...each explain subnetting different, but sybex and deal seem to cover it in a way I can understand. Keeping in mind...I'm just cresting chapter six in the Cisco press..., then I'll find the corresponding chapter in Deal and Sybex, back and forth ---take end of chapter tests, etc...can be time consuming...but I don't want to miss a thing (if I don't have to)

Ciscopimpenator

I bought the Cisco books and have been kind of dissapointed.

I aced the Intro exam, but I don't think it was solely because of the Cisco book. (I passed the CCNA 7 years ago).

I would go with the Sybex book because everyone likes the humour. Wendell Odom has the worst phrasing and humour. Its unbearable. I literally fall asleep while reading this book on a daily basis but I need to pass the last exam.


I think more people should start writing technical books because some of these guys don't have a clue on how to relate topics to people.

my 2 cents

pr3d4t0r

U should read sybex book in conjuction with the official guide(icnd/intro) plus lot of quizzes and you are good to go, this worked very smooth for me.