March to the CCNA
Bl8ckr0uter
Inactive Imported Users Posts: 5,031 ■■■■■■■■□□
in CCNA & CCENT
Greetings all:
Like many of before me, I am starting a thread to keep track on my final study habits before I take the CCNA on June 26th. I will keep everyone posted on the final outcome.
Like many of before me, I am starting a thread to keep track on my final study habits before I take the CCNA on June 26th. I will keep everyone posted on the final outcome.
Comments
I believe you and I are both walking the same path to enlightenment
later
Kronik2009
I have been using the router sim software that came with Todd Lammelle's sybex book. It has serious limitations but I think it will get the job done.
A little bit off topic, but is there a reason why you are going for the 290 instead of the 270 first?
Well for starters I already have a server 2003 "lab" set up and I already have the books I need for the 290 ( I will be using the Sybex books, any objections?). But mostly because of the fact that I am (hopefully) about to start a job working with a small outsourced IT/ISP/Webhosting/Managed Server company and I would like to say that I am certified on their flagship server platform. Is there a reason why I should change this?
I havent posted in a few days. I am still using the router sim software that came with the sybex book. I have now started to read the cisco ios commands book and the CCNA fast pass. I am commited to doing about 50 subnetting questions a day to improve my subnetting speed.
For the readers the this post, how hard is the CCNA security, CCNA voice, and CCNA Wireless exams. I plan to go for the MCSA exams next then following up with the MCSE and Security+ by the end of the year. I am trying to consider which Cisco exam to take. Is the CCNA Security (the one I am leaning towards) valuable and a logical step or should I go str8 to the CCNP level exams?
I have learned a lot just doing these studies and I know that getting the CCNA will increase my marketability in the company that I am in and externally.
That said -- CCNA:Security is probably the easiest. You'll cover some new material, but in all it should probably take less effort then studying for the CCNA. Plus the lab requirements are not that outrageously expensive.
I'd say the CCNA:Voice is easy.... but I already have a CCVP and the home Voice Lab.
I'd say the CCNA:Wireless is another interesting exam.... if you're already working in a Cisco wireless environment. If you don't have access to wireless equipment at work, then you can probably get by with just 1 Wireless LAN Controller and supported Lightweight Access Point in your home lab (about $1300-$1500). If you want the "full wireless home lab experience" -- that will probably be about $3000.
I was pricing wireless hardware this weekend for my home lab.
That said -- CCNA:Security is probably the easiest. You'll cover some new material, but in all it should probably take less effort then studying for the CCNA. Plus the lab requirements are not that outrageously expensive.
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This is good to hear because I am thinking of getting that as my next exam. I like networking and for now I would like to focus on networking and security. After I am finish with the MCSA/MCSE/MCSE:S and Security+ I think I will come back and finish the CCNA
[QUOTE=mikej412;318202
I'd say the CCNA:Voice is easy.... but I already have a CCVP and the home Voice Lab.
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Honestly I know I need to know voice but I don't find it as interesting. Furthermore I do not know many people who even know what a CCVP is, most of the "Cisco heads" around me are CCNAs or CCNPs. I think this will be something that I will put on the backburner because I want to get some other things done first.
[QUOTE=mikej412;318202
I'd say the CCNA:Wireless is another interesting exam.... if you're already working in a Cisco wireless environment. If you don't have access to wireless equipment at work, then you can probably get by with just 1 Wireless LAN Controller and supported Lightweight Access Point in your home lab (about $1300-$1500). If you want the "full wireless home lab experience" -- that will probably be about $3000.
I was pricing wireless hardware this weekend for my home lab.
1500 is pretty high
Also I am trying to figure out if the CCNA elective exams are even worth it? I mean do people even care about CCNA:S or do they only care about CCNP, CCSP, CCVP and etc?
And then there are the unlucky people who get tossed into managing the firewall (or other security devices) when the person doing it suddenly takes a better job elsewhere or the Var/Consultant who put it in goes out of business -- or worse, the company wants to save money and lays off all the "high priced help" and you're now the IT Department.
But for the people who aren't lucky (or unlucky, as the case may be) and don't have the opportunity to learn and gain experience with things like Voice, Wireless, and Security at their current job, the CCNA Specializations give people the chance to gain some of the knowledge and skills to get those opportunities down the road.
I'd say the CCNA Specializations have value and are worth pursuing for the topics you have an interest in or want to learn more about. They should help you "get your foot in the door."
The professional certifications do have even more value -- when you have the experience to go with them.
I think I will go for the Security track before I go for anything else. I think net security is and will always be important. Plus i think that it will fit nicely with the MCSE:S that I plan on obtaining by the end to year. Do you think they will compliment each other well?
On an unrelated topic, how exactly did you become a cisco god?
I actually find the CCNA material interesting and I think I will be ready on the 26th.
My materials have not changed although now I am doing about 10 labs a day. I have cut back on subnetting because I think I got it down.
As far as the CCNA studies go, I have really been focusing on the CCNA fast pass guide and I have been a bit dissapointed with the lack of material, although it has helped jog my NVRAM (lol). I will be finished with all of the provided labs that came with the CCNA kit so starting tommorow I will create my own practice network using all of the commands I need to know in Packet tracer. I am then going to work on doing practice test and test specific flash cards from here on out. I will be sitting for the exam on the 26th so it is coming down to the wire....wish me prepardness
Two things I'd like to pass along that I've seen alot...
1) Know when to use an access-class (for securing vty access) this seems to be on of those little bits of info I never saw until recently
2) make sure you can figure out router to router subnets quickly (ie have two routers connected together using a 255.255.255.252 subnet with randomly chosen ips) this seems to be a favorite on every practice test I've taken/seen
Although I'm sure you know these things already
SE Notebook
I will def take this into consideration, esp the access-class config. I will review it. Thanks.
Tonight was a good night. Got to exactly where I wanted to be in my studies, I was able to finish all of my labs including the 16 labs on EIGRP and VLSM design. I was also able to get to chapter 4 of the fast pass book. From here on out it is only going to be doing flash cards, practice test, working in PT, and reading Fast pass. I think that this is the final turn in my CCNA studies and I am very pleased with the results so far.
Perfectly normal, don't worry.
My goal is to get a 900 on the exam. Wish me prepardness all.....
Hopefully we can both post not-so-embarrassing results tomorrow afternoon!
Great! I hope to give and hear good news
I FAILED!!!!
I missed questions in access-list and thats what killed me. I plan to retake the test July 10th and I am going to go ahead and by the transcender package....
And wholly freaking signature you have there! Maybe a little less time making that and more time studying and you would have passed
I kid...