CCNA Study Resource

Hi All,

I was just wondering if any of you have used Chris Bryant's CCNA study guides (www.thebryantadvantage.com) How did you find these? I want to take the CCNA exam before the 5th November and was wondering if I would be ready in time if I used his study guides? I have 5+ years in IT, I have no CISCO experience though but plenty troubleshooting, installtions, connectivity problems...etc, the typical systems administrator type calls. I also have A+, N+, MCP, MCDST...Do you think I will be ready? I learn things in IT pretty easily and enjoy researching things I do not know.

Thanks.

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Comments

datchcha

glennrosslee wrote:

Hi All,

I was just wondering if any of you have used Chris Bryant's CCNA study guides (www.thebryantadvantage.com) How did you find these? I want to take the CCNA exam before the 5th November and was wondering if I would be ready in time if I used his study guides? I have 5+ years in IT, I have no CISCO experience though but plenty troubleshooting, installtions, connectivity problems...etc, the typical systems administrator type calls. I also have A+, N+, MCP, MCDST...Do you think I will be ready? I learn things in IT pretty easily and enjoy researching things I do not know.

Thanks.

I think you are ready to start reading the study material and learning at baby steps. I would recommend that you arm yourself with anything you can get your hands on. You might want to invest in hardware as well. Some individuals learn differently – some are able to use routing simulators, while others need the actual equipment. My personal experience, I needed the equipment. With the simulators, I was not getting the labs – was not working for me as a studying tool, so I needed to invest in some hardware, but I use the simulators to draw out a topology map.

If you possess the drive and love IT, then you are ready to begin learning CCNA. It is no cakewalk, so be prepared.

penguinking

These books are the ones I'd recommend for CCNA:

- Sybex's CCNA Study Guide by Todd Lammle. 5th edition. 640-801.
- Cisco Press' CCNA Official Exam Certification Library. 2nd Edition. 640-801.

The Sybex book is about 600 pages, while the Cisco Press is about 1000 (split into two books, one for INTRO and one for ICND). Read every single page, twice if you can, before November 5th if you want to catch the last 640-801 CCNA. I know Cisco has released some 640-802 material, but I believe it's only their IOS commands guide and not the full Certification Library.

penguinking

Though, if you've never really had any experience with Cisco before, it won't be easy to digest that much material. Granted, you're not reading 1600 pages of unrelated material; when you switch from reading the Sybex book to the Cisco Press books, you'll be relearning and/or aborbing a different perspective on the same core material. However, the reason I suggest reading both Sybex and Cisco editions is because the repetition will be wholly necessary if you are to understand basic internetwork operation. Once you gain the understanding, passing CCNA is nothing but a formality.

Assuming you're interested in networking for the long haul, just remember to keep the following in mind; you're studying for a career, not some cert.

elvant

I have finish the C bryant Video and a few chapters of his study guide. This video is good but did not cover every bit of the information you need to pass the exam, the video can act as a extra reference. He explained every concept very clearly. he do emphasis on the important part of ccna and some real-world experience about why and when you need or need not use certain configuration and many troubleshooting skills that many other videos do not have.

This study guide work as an extented information from his video, keep on repeating the important concept until it stuck in your head, just the questions is a bit straight forward.

I love his subnetting guide, very good and easy to follow. probably one of the best in market

Rearden

You should also consider studying for the objectives of the new exam as you can only take the old one for a few more months.

glennrosslee

Thanks everyone, I am going to rather study for the new objectives instead of trying to cram in all that info in a couple months. Afterall, this is my job and I want to know how to do it correctly, not just cram something in just for the sake of a certificate. So, I will complete my MCSA and Server+ before year end as I am very familiar with this line of work then possible start on my CCNA late this year and do the exams very early next year, possibly end of February/March. Thanks again to all who responded, it is very much appreciated.

Regards,

Glenn Rosslee