I'm officially a CCNA!
stlsmoore
Member Posts: 515 ■■■□□□□□□□
in CCNA & CCENT
I haven't posted much but I've been lurking this forum ever since I started my Cisco path 2 months ago. I know that two months is considered a pretty short time especially considering I haven't had a ton of on the job experience with Cisco. The thing is I started my Cisco training back in high school where I learned most of the fundamental concepts such as subnetting, access-lists, routing protocols, etc. Flash forward 5 years the ICND 1 was like review for me, I went through the Cisco Press book in about two weeks. I then patched up all the things I didn't know to well the next week and managed to pull a 930.
I spent this May going through the ICND2 reading a chapter a day studying between 4-7 hours a day. This took a little over 2 weeks then I went through the same process as ICND1. I used various sources which included:
ICND1/2 Cisco Press Books
Packet Tracer 5.0 for switches mainly
GNS3 for most of the major Frame Relay concepts
Boson Exam Sims included with Press Books
Open Ended Q's, Subnetting Q's, Memory Tables, and extra Scenarios included with Press books (I went through everything and wrote mostly everything out on a notepad)
CCNA Lab PDF included here on the forums (Highly Recommended)
Cisco Learning Network for more practice Questions (Another good free source)
ICND2 is harder mainly because of the time limit, I was very nervous I wouldn't pass when I only had 30 minutes left with only 15 questions answered. I had most of my sims within the first questions which shook me up a little. I passed with a 863 with 5 minutes left on the clock (watch your time carefully). I DO NOT recommend going through the CCNA within the 2 month time period I did especially if you have no networking experience. I had a ton of time on my hand because I recently finished a contract and I had most of the basic experience needed already. I also wish I had real routers and switches but I couldn't afford it. I plan on taking my CCNP once I get settled with a new job in which I know I'm for sure getting real equipment. The CCNA has been the hardest but my favorite testing experience so far. It's challenging but doesn't try to trip you up like Microsoft Exams which felt like every question was a trick question (That's why you get a 4 hour time limit).
(P.S. I kinda stole the CCIE wannabe's blog idea and started one for my CCNA the link is http://shawnmoorecisco.blogspot.com)
I spent this May going through the ICND2 reading a chapter a day studying between 4-7 hours a day. This took a little over 2 weeks then I went through the same process as ICND1. I used various sources which included:
ICND1/2 Cisco Press Books
Packet Tracer 5.0 for switches mainly
GNS3 for most of the major Frame Relay concepts
Boson Exam Sims included with Press Books
Open Ended Q's, Subnetting Q's, Memory Tables, and extra Scenarios included with Press books (I went through everything and wrote mostly everything out on a notepad)
CCNA Lab PDF included here on the forums (Highly Recommended)
Cisco Learning Network for more practice Questions (Another good free source)
ICND2 is harder mainly because of the time limit, I was very nervous I wouldn't pass when I only had 30 minutes left with only 15 questions answered. I had most of my sims within the first questions which shook me up a little. I passed with a 863 with 5 minutes left on the clock (watch your time carefully). I DO NOT recommend going through the CCNA within the 2 month time period I did especially if you have no networking experience. I had a ton of time on my hand because I recently finished a contract and I had most of the basic experience needed already. I also wish I had real routers and switches but I couldn't afford it. I plan on taking my CCNP once I get settled with a new job in which I know I'm for sure getting real equipment. The CCNA has been the hardest but my favorite testing experience so far. It's challenging but doesn't try to trip you up like Microsoft Exams which felt like every question was a trick question (That's why you get a 4 hour time limit).
(P.S. I kinda stole the CCIE wannabe's blog idea and started one for my CCNA the link is http://shawnmoorecisco.blogspot.com)
My Cisco Blog Adventure: http://shawnmoorecisco.blogspot.com/
Don't Forget to Add me on LinkedIn!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnrmoore
Don't Forget to Add me on LinkedIn!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnrmoore
Comments
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networker050184
Mod Posts: 11,962 Mod
Congrats!An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made. -
UnixGeek
Member Posts: 151
Congrats! It's amazing how much of the material sticks with you, isn't it?
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mikej412
Member Posts: 10,086 ■■■■■■■■■■
Congratulations on the PASS and CCNA!!
Go Celebrate!!
:mike: Cisco Certifications -- Collect the Entire Set! -
djmaya
Member Posts: 59 ■■□□□□□□□□
I plan to take it this summer, but I will take the 640-802.Jedi never stop training...... -
miller811
Member Posts: 897
congratsI don't claim to be an expert, but I sure would like to become one someday.
Quest for 11K pages read in 2011
Page Count total to date - 1283 -
blackninja
Member Posts: 385
congrats!Currently studying:
CCIE R&S - using INE workbooks & videos
Currently reading:
Everything. Twice
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stlsmoore
Member Posts: 515 ■■■□□□□□□□
Thanks all, I was indeed surprised by the amount of stuff I remembered. I even somehow remembered the settings needed to console into a router from Hyper Terminal!My Cisco Blog Adventure: http://shawnmoorecisco.blogspot.com/
Don't Forget to Add me on LinkedIn!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnrmoore
