I want to do a CCNA but not had much experience in Networks

Hi,

Im currently in the process of doing a CCNA but i havent had any experience really in networking. I was wondering what would be the best way to start.

Should i do a CCENT, A+/Network +/CompTIA.

Could somebody please advise as im not sure which way to go?

Your help would be much appreciated.

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Comments

Slowhand

If you're planning on doing A+ and Network+ anyway, I'd say start with those. As you go along, begin finding yourself used hardware to play with, both in the areas of networking and general computers. Then do CCENT, and then CCNA. Once you're at that point, if you study using both books and hands-on lab experiments, you'll have plenty of experience.

Daniel333

suhaylp,

A+ will never hurt your resume though. Personally I found Network+ to be too committed to legacy technologies like Novell and AppleTalk to the point that I feel the cert if worthless. Don't take my word for it, jump on monster.com and search for A+, Net+ and CCNA I think you will see the value there. Not so much in Network+

Cisco's curriculum is AMAZINGLY well organized so I think even with no prior knowledge starting with CCENT and then CCNA is the perfect starting point for a networking. Or even IT in general. I have almost no interest in Cisco technologies at this point, but what I learned on my CCNA has helped me a lot on my 70-291 exam studies.

Best of luck on what you decide!

ITdude

Daniel333 wrote:

I have almost no interest in Cisco technologies at this point,

That almost borders on sacreligious!

Daniel333

Looks like I might have posted in the wrong side of the message board

ITdude

That is okay. Some of us visit the dark side from time to time, too.

Plazma

The cisco stuff is pretty well organized.. I suggest picking up the CCNA exam cert guide by Wendell Odom (640-802) also get your hands on some real lab gear.

If you have the cash, look into CBT Nuggets, i find the vidoes are very gentle, yet very thorough in introducing you to new concepts..

You can never have too many resources really to have in your arsenal..

As for the A+.. it's a nice cert to get your foot in the door and helps you kinda get a high level overview of the PC world technologies as well as how the Windows operating system works.

hypnotoad

There is a similar thread from this week with some really good comments here: http://www.techexams.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=36271&start=0

I personally don't like CompTIA because they ask stupid things..."What IRQ will COM3 use by default?"

While the question has a lot of geek merit, it's not something you need to know on a regular basis.

suhaylp

Thanks for all the information guys. Im considering doing a A+ just to get brushed up on things because i come from a computer background but not a techie one. Ive always been intrested in computers and networks but never really did anything and i thought it was time to pull my socks up and get somewhere in life.

Anyone got any ideas what the best book is to use for A+?

Or am i best off just getting on with CCENT/CCNA ICDN1?

To be frank i dont have any computer technical experience at all.