Sitting the CCDA test by the 25th of July

I bought a voucher for $89 but it expires on the 25th of July. That gives me about 13 days of hard core preparation. I've read about half of the Cert Guide in the last two days. Right now I'm up to the IP section (Ip protocol, IGP's, etc). Having sat the BSCI before, I should get through it quickly.

I'm looking forward to the CCDP

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dynamik

+1 for tight deadlines

Good luck!

scheistermeister

Cool, I bet you'll do fine though. I would think 2 weeks would be plenty of time.

Paul Boz

2:50am

Well I just re-read the entire book in one six hour sitting. I took two 15 minute breaks and drank about 10 cups of green tea but it's over with. This is the third time I've completely read through the book in the last six days so I think most of the stuff is saturated now. There isn't much beyond the theory so I'm approaching this one a bit differently. I've also been doing some product research on Cisco's site, reading deployment docs for various security systems, etc. Once you get the hang of the network models they're pushing it becomes quite elementary. I much prefer this new stuff to the old CCDA.

The Enterprise Architecture Model is very straight forward and common sense but it's nice to see a logical depiction of how things should be done.

for anyone that cares, here is some good Cisco paper on SONA and how it relates to the EAM.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/solutions/collateral/ns340/ns517/ns477/net_implementation_white_paper0900aecd80693c19.html

I'm going to do a bit more research tonight and punch out around 4. I'd say I've got around 24 hours in over the last 3 days. This stuff is actually fun though. I haven't enjoyed studying Cisco stuff this much since the BSCI.

Turgon

Paul Boz wrote:

2:50am

Well I just re-read the entire book in one six hour sitting. I took two 15 minute breaks and drank about 10 cups of green tea but it's over with. This is the third time I've completely read through the book in the last six days so I think most of the stuff is saturated now. There isn't much beyond the theory so I'm approaching this one a bit differently. I've also been doing some product research on Cisco's site, reading deployment docs for various security systems, etc. Once you get the hang of the network models they're pushing it becomes quite elementary. I much prefer this new stuff to the old CCDA.

The Enterprise Architecture Model is very straight forward and common sense but it's nice to see a logical depiction of how things should be done.

for anyone that cares, here is some good Cisco paper on SONA and how it relates to the EAM.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/solutions/collateral/ns340/ns517/ns477/net_implementation_white_paper0900aecd80693c19.html

I'm going to do a bit more research tonight and punch out around 4. I'd say I've got around 24 hours in over the last 3 days. This stuff is actually fun though. I haven't enjoyed studying Cisco stuff this much since the BSCI.

Which books have you used? Im seeing mixed reviews on Amazon about Diane's book. Too wordy and repetitive by some accounts.

Paul Boz

The Bruno/Jordan Exam Cert Guide. It, on the other hand, is very well written and only sometimes comes off like one big commercial

Compared to the professional-level stuff I've spent the last year on, this book is a quick read. If you take out the appendices and end-of-chapter fluff it's like 450 pages tops. Very concise and fluid.

I'm also quite intrigued that Cisco's site lists the BCMSN as suggested prerequisite knowledge. I've read through the material and blueprint numerous times and don't see why that is. There isn't any complex switching going on. The highest-level stuff is L3 switching and that's practically CCNA level now given the prevalence of layer 3 switching. It can't be the security stuff because it's way too high-level. Who knows.

Turgon

Paul Boz wrote:

The Bruno/Jordan Exam Cert Guide. It, on the other hand, is very well written and only sometimes comes off like one big commercial Compared to the professional-level stuff I've spent the last year on, this book is a quick read. If you take out the appendices and end-of-chapter fluff it's like 450 pages tops. Very concise and fluid.

I'm also quite intrigued that Cisco's site lists the BCMSN as suggested prerequisite knowledge. I've read through the material and blueprint numerous times and don't see why that is. There isn't any complex switching going on. The highest-level stuff is L3 switching and that's practically CCNA level now given the prevalence of layer 3 switching. It can't be the security stuff because it's way too high-level. Who knows.

Have you seen the reviews for the Bruno book on here? Concerning.

http://www.amazon.com/CCDA-Official-Certification-Guide-640-863/dp/1587201771/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216025303&sr=8-15

Paul Boz

If it was my only source of information I'd probably be screwed, but like I said I've poured over the product sheets for the various technologies listed on the exam and I've also done plenty of independent research on the blueprint topics as well. Never mind sitting every one of the CCNP exams previously.

The only reviews on Amazon.com seem to either complain about the subject material itself (as if it's the book's fault the exam is the way it is) or says it leaves out things such as VoIP call bandwidth calculations, which I've already gone over twice in the CCNP.

nel

Good luck paul mate!

Turgon

Paul Boz wrote:

If it was my only source of information I'd probably be screwed, but like I said I've poured over the product sheets for the various technologies listed on the exam and I've also done plenty of independent research on the blueprint topics as well. Never mind sitting every one of the CCNP exams previously.

The only reviews on Amazon.com seem to either complain about the subject material itself (as if it's the book's fault the exam is the way it is) or says it leaves out things such as VoIP call bandwidth calculations, which I've already gone over twice in the CCNP.

Let's hope you are covered then. Good luck in the test.

mikej412

Good Luck!

APA

Good luck Paul

Bloody take a break would you..... give the rest of us a chance to catch up... ;p

GT-Rob

Good luck sir! I'll be testing on the same day (for something else) so I will be there sharing your pain!

Don't forget to drink lots of water for the Vue urine test :P

Paul Boz

OH ****. THEY PISS TEST?!

kidding

I'm starting my new job as a cook at a fairly up scale restaurant tomorrow so that I can finish my degree. I still have my narrow window, I just have to find a time when I'm off.