BSCI - which books?

I've read a few posts in the past saying there's two different types of books produced by cisco: self study and exam cert guides.

I already have a bsci by clare gough but it's quite a few years old now - 2003.

so, would these two books see me through BSCI?

Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI) (Authorized Self-Study Guide), 3rd

Edition
By Diane Teare, Catherine Paquet.
Published by Cisco Press.
Series: Self-Study Guide.
ISBN-10: 1-58705-223-7; ISBN-13: 978-1-58705-223-1; Published: Dec 26, 2006;

Copyright 2007; Dimensions 7-3/8x9-1/8; Pages: 864; Edition: 3rd.
http://www.ciscopress.com/bookstore/product.asp?isbn=1587052237

CCNP BSCI Official Exam Certification Guide, 4th Edition
By Brent Stewart.
Published by Cisco Press.
Series: Exam Certification Guide.
SBN-10: 1-58720-147-X; ISBN-13: 978-1-58720-147-9; Published: Jul 18, 2007;

Copyright 2008; Dimensions 7-3/8x9-1/8; Pages: 672; Edition: 4th.
http://www.ciscopress.com/bookstore/product.asp?isbn=158720147X

thanks

john

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Comments

Ferret999

If you are only going to choose one then I would recommend Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI) (Authorized Self-Study Guide), 3rd it is a brilliant book. It was the book I used for my BSCI exam.

dtlokee

The self study guide seems to be more complete and cover some topics not on the exam but help clarify other topics that are on the exam. The exam certification guide is all about the exam topics. I have read the self stuy guide and I thought it mapped well to the official courseware, I did not read the exam cert guide.

JohnDouglas

thanks guys, sounds like they're both worthwhile then.

did any of you use the bryant guys stuff?

impelse

I am using Bryant's cd from Trainsingal and they are excelent.

Raul

ITdude

impelse wrote:

I am using Bryant's cd from Trainsingal and they are excelent.

I agree, however Bryant's BSCI stuff appears to be better than the BCMSN material. Bottom line, don't rely on just one resource, is usually a good approach to take.

rakem

i have both cisco press books, and use both fairly heavily. They are both really good imo.

I am also using the BSCI CBT nuggets which i thought were great

networker050184

i have both cisco press books, and use both fairly heavily. They are both really good imo.

I am also using the BSCI CBT Nuggets which i thought were great

Same here. I've never used CBT nuggets before but thought I'd try them out this time. Good to watch when there are to many distractions to read. I just put on my headphones and drown everything else out. Just started with them though so no overall opinion yet. Good so far.

Ferret999

I used Bryant's self study stuff for BSCI and BCMSN, not the Trainsignal videos just the cheap packages you can get direct off his site. The Trainsignal videos are much more like CBT Nuggets now days I think but someone will have to confirm where as in the past they were videos with a lab workbook. (This might only apply for ONT, BSCI and BCMSN might have lab books). His self study package for the BSCI was excellent. The stuff for BCMSN was not nearly as good but the more resources the better.

JohnDouglas

thanks guys. i better start putting some money aside!

networker050184

Yeah it can become expensive preparing for certifications. At around $40 - $50 per book and even more for video training, not to mention lab equipment, you will be spending quite a bit. At the end of the exam and you see the congrats you passed its all worth it!

JohnDouglas

networker050184 wrote:

Yeah it can become expensive preparing for certifications. At around $40 - $50 per book and even more for video training, not to mention lab equipment, you will be spending quite a bit. At the end of the exam and you see the congrats you passed its all worth it!

it's all money well spent i know. got a lifetime of certs ahead of me! hopefully i'll be able to sell the books on afterwards unlike all the ccna stuff i now have!

geezer

I was interested in this post as I too am deliberating over which book to study and don't have time to read many of them unfortunately.

ravindrathe1

hi, I have cleared ccie R&S theory and my CCNA was expired a year back. Is it posible to write bsci using ccie cisco ID.?
Thanks in-advance...