Remember Me? I'm finally back

So the last time I posted here I was telling you guys how I had just taken a new job as the new Sr Sys Admin for the US for a company based out of Europe.

Well I started the job and things have been going great. They have a blade server with 4 blades hooked up to a nice big SAN, and lots of other fun toys to get my hands dirty on.

However, one area I've noticed I'm lacking in is my networking skills. I told them in my interview that I'm not a networking guy and they understand that...but for a small company, they have a pretty complex network setup. As such, it would make my job much easier if I had a better understanding of the way networks work.

Can you guys recommend a good self-study program for me to get my CCNA? I don't need/want to be a CCIE at any point, but I think getting my CCNA would make me much better at my job as it currently stands.

So what say you guys...can anybody help a brother out?

Thanks in advance!

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Comments

vCole

Get some CBT Nuggets, setup GNS3 and/or get Packet Tracer and some of the Cisco Press books.

The Cisco Academy is great

Bl8ckr0uter

FadeToBright wrote: »

The Cisco Academy is great

.. IF you have the time. I think the netcad is great for someone who either is a student or has some time on their hands. If you really want you CCNA quickly, grab the materials F2B mentioned and self study for a few months rather than go to school for a year or so.

darkerosxx

SrSysAdmin wrote: »

So the last time I posted here I was telling you guys how I had just taken a new job as the new Sr Sys Admin for the US for a company based out of Europe.

Well I started the job and things have been going great. They have a blade server with 4 blades hooked up to a nice big SAN, and lots of other fun toys to get my hands dirty on.

However, one area I've noticed I'm lacking in is my networking skills. I told them in my interview that I'm not a networking guy and they understand that...but for a small company, they have a pretty complex network setup. As such, it would make my job much easier if I had a better understanding of the way networks work.

Can you guys recommend a good self-study program for me to get my CCNA? I don't need/want to be a CCIE at any point, but I think getting my CCNA would make me much better at my job as it currently stands.

So what say you guys...can anybody help a brother out?

Thanks in advance!

You say their setup is pretty complex... are they actually using Cisco devices? What vendors u using?

SrSysAdmin

darkerosxx wrote: »

You say their setup is pretty complex... are they actually using Cisco devices? What vendors u using?

We're using some Cisco 3750s and a 7206 internally. However, our firewalls are just OpenBSD boxes.

Really I just want to get a much better understanding of the way networking works. At the moment I'm often spinning wheels trying to grasp what we want to setup. I'm fine with the systems side of things, but I need to understand the network side much better.

I just see the CCNA as a way to pickup this knowledge and get a valuable cert in the process.

Bl8ckr0uter

SrSysAdmin wrote: »

We're using some Cisco 3750s and a 7206 internally. However, our firewalls are just OpenBSD boxes.

Really I just want to get a much better understanding of the way networking works. At the moment I'm often spinning wheels trying to grasp what we want to setup. I'm fine with the systems side of things, but I need to understand the network side much better.

I just see the CCNA as a way to pickup this knowledge and get a valuable cert in the process.

Is it just *BSD using PF PF: The OpenBSD Packet Filter or is it using something like m0n0wall or pfSense Open Source Firewall Distribution - Home (pfsense is based on FreeBSD I believe). It might help to read those links so you can better understand whats going on.

I suggest that you pick up Network Warrior and a few CCNA books.

rogue2shadow

I can vouch for the Cisco Network Academy. It definitely helped get me the understanding I wanted about Cisco devices on the CCNA level.

SrSysAdmin

knwminus wrote: »

Is it just *BSD using PF PF: The OpenBSD Packet Filter or is it using something like m0n0wall or pfSense Open Source Firewall Distribution - Home (pfsense is based on FreeBSD I believe). It might help to read those links so you can better understand whats going on.

I suggest that you pick up Network Warrior and a few CCNA books.

It is OpenBSD using PF...I will check out the link you provided, thanks for that.

Bl8ckr0uter

SrSysAdmin wrote: »

It is OpenBSD using PF...I will check out the link you provided, thanks for that.

No problem. There is also a book coming out in a few weeks
Amazon.com: The Book of PF: A No-Nonsense Guide to the OpenBSD Firewall (9781593272746): Peter N.M. Hansteen: Books

SrSysAdmin

knwminus wrote: »

No problem. There is also a book coming out in a few weeks
Amazon.com: The Book of PF: A No-Nonsense Guide to the OpenBSD Firewall (9781593272746): Peter N.M. Hansteen: Books

Excellent, that will be very helpful...now I just need enough time to read it!

earweed

Welcome back.

rogue2shadow

Welcome back homie.

Heero

The cisco netcad worked well for me. While the CCNA may focus on Cisco devices, you certainly get a very strong view of networking in general. Since you don't need the specifics on configuring devices as much as the theory, I think the CCNA would do you well, but you will get some possibly unneeded Cisco proprietary stuff.

thenjduke

I would really get some lab equipment and play around. I would set some things up at home. Read Cisco Press books. Make sure to practice alot. CBT Nuggets and Train Signals is a good start as well.

brad-

thenjduke wrote: »

I would really get some lab equipment and play around. I would set some things up at home. Read Cisco Press books. Make sure to practice alot. CBT Nuggets and Train Signals is a good start as well.

Does anyone know if CBT Nuggets or Trainsignal is better? I used CBT for 2k3 and TS for Exchange 07 - TS was a better product, but more expensive. Just curious if anyone had first hand with either for CCNA/CCENT.

darkerosxx

SrSysAdmin wrote: »

We're using some Cisco 3750s and a 7206 internally. However, our firewalls are just OpenBSD boxes.

Really I just want to get a much better understanding of the way networking works. At the moment I'm often spinning wheels trying to grasp what we want to setup. I'm fine with the systems side of things, but I need to understand the network side much better.

I just see the CCNA as a way to pickup this knowledge and get a valuable cert in the process.

In that case, the CCNA material will help you out a lot. I've perused tons of CCNA material and videos. The only ones I would suggest are:

CBT Nuggets

Jeremy Cioara is the sh*t.

zerglings

knwminus wrote: »

.. IF you have the time. I think the netcad is great for someone who either is a student or has some time on their hands. If you really want you CCNA quickly, grab the materials F2B mentioned and self study for a few months rather than go to school for a year or so.

Studying for a few months will mean that you're gonna be spending more time studying than going to school once a week and study for an hour or two before the quizzes. Nothing beats instructor-led in my opinion.

Bl8ckr0uter

zerglings wrote: »

Studying for a few months will mean that you're gonna be spending more time studying than going to school once a week and study for an hour or two before the quizzes. Nothing beats instructor-led in my opinion.

I suppose. I think that for the most part if you are motivated, you can get a lot out of self study.