Bryant Advantage

mtorres

Hello Everyone, I am beginning to study for ICND2. I have Wendell Odom's book, Todd Lammle's book and CBT Nuggets. I have noticed that the Bryant Advantage CCNA package is only $25.00 right now and includes CCNA Security. But I have noticed on his website for over a month that it seems like including the CCNA security package will only be available for a few more days and then it is extended all the time.

I think I have plenty of material to study for ICND2 and be prepared for it, but I wanted to wait until after I read both books and watched CBT nuggets and if I was still a little iffy on certain subjects then I'd purchase it, but I definitely would like to have the CCNA Security included. Do you guys think if I waited like another month it would still be available with the CCNA Security stuff?

miller811

mtorres wrote: »

Hello Everyone, I am beginning to study for ICND2. I have Wendell Odom's book, Todd Lammle's book and CBT Nuggets. I have noticed that the Bryant Advantage CCNA package is only $25.00 right now and includes CCNA Security. But I have noticed on his website for over a month that it seems like including the CCNA security package will only be available for a few more days and then it is extended all the time.

I think I have plenty of material to study for ICND2 and be prepared for it, but I wanted to wait until after I read both books and watched CBT nuggets and if I was still a little iffy on certain subjects then I'd purchase it, but I definitely would like to have the CCNA Security included. Do you guys think if I waited like another month it would still be available with the CCNA Security stuff?

Yes, for whatever reason Chris has a really cheesy website.... almost infomercial ish.....

I purchased his material for CCNA, and ultimately used his information for CCNP. Good material, good guy, he will take and respond to your emails... But when I purchased his material 3 years ago for CCNA, same deal "Purchase today and today only":D

[Deleted User]

How long are these guides? I am interested in the CCNA:S but I want to know if it is worth the money.

SephStorm

What i'm wondering is how his CCNA package compares to his CCNA on demand Boot Camp, and how they both compare to his Train Signal material.

EDIT: I'll try to give you guys a review of the information, I just purchased it.

SephStorm

Well I can tell you that ATM, I am not pleased. There is no obvious way to access the training. I opted not to pay through PayPay and decided to use the credit card option. I contacted chris@thebryantadvantage.com which is the only way to get assistance, the phone number is only for orders. (i.e, the bryant advantage staff are simply salespeople...)

About 30 minutes after sending I received the info I needed from Chris, so I'll keep you guys updated.

mtorres

miller811 wrote: »

Yes, for whatever reason Chris has a really cheesy website.... almost infomercial ish.....

I purchased his material for CCNA, and ultimately used his information for CCNP. Good material, good guy, he will take and respond to your emails... But when I purchased his material 3 years ago for CCNA, same deal "Purchase today and today only":D

Haha, ok, good to know. That is exactly what I was wondering if it was always like that (the purchase today and today only). THen I am going to wait. Thanks for the information that really helped.

mtorres

Thanks everyone, good information to know and those that went ahead and purchased it please let me know how you like it.

Ryan82

I purchased the CCNA Security and old CCNP material from the Bryant Advantage. I prefer the Train Signal videos to the pdf's, but the pdf's are much cheaper.

I haven't seen anything of his that I wasn't happy with. In fact I much prefer his Train Signal videos over the CBT nuggets training.

Llane

I, too, noticed that he has a really cheesy website. Time to fire someone from the sales department.

His content is top notch, though!

chmorin

Llane wrote: »

I, too, noticed that he has a really cheesy website. Time to fire someone from the sales department.

His content is top notch, though!

Yeah I'm not sure how someone so deep in networking can't know the least bit about making a proper website.

phantasm

chmorin wrote: »

Yeah I'm not sure how someone so deep in networking can't know the least bit about making a proper website.

My sarcasm meter is out of batteries, but I hope you're kidding. I've been on the internet since '95 and my HTML experience is limited to notepad and frames. I couldn't code a decent web site by today's standards if you paid me (well depending on how much you paid me I'd outsource the work to a local college student and keep a bit for myself).

Networking != Web Design

SephStorm

I am liking the material so far, its difficult to explain, but it seems like he has taken a section of the CCNA material, say OSI-TCP/IP models and explains them quickly with the information you need.

Somnipotent

I've used his stuff for my studies. Some say he comes across very bland and monotone, but I don't find it so. Sure he's not as entertaining as Jeremy Cioara but then again, there can only be one Jeremy Cioara. Chris gets down business and in the end, it's how much information you can ultimately absorb that counts. I use both Cioara and Bryant on the CBT side and Lammle and Odom on the book side. So far so good.

Netwurk

Bryant gave me a free trial and it wasn't for me. One of my jobs at work is to write technical documents and his stuff is full of typos and he mixes up megabits and megabytes. So the tech writer in me cringes.

But the material looked good - I never saw anything that wasn't technically correct if you factored out typos

I'm an old guy (50) so you fast texting whiz kids won't even notice the typos

Try a demo - it might work for you!

SMR511

The ICND2 Train Signal videos were an enormous help to me in passing the ICND2 exam. He's a great teacher and an expert to say the least.

That said, I found them lacking in VLSM and Route Summarization... Be very sure to read Todd Lammle's chapters on those topics and practice the math until it's quick and easy.

JSK

Chris also has a bunch of stuff on Youtube. Might be helpful if someone is on the fence trying to decide. YouTube - ccie12933's Channel

iSpaZZZ

So is that a thumbs up from SephStorm? How much content is there, I'm keen to know as $25 is cheap

chmorin

phantasm wrote: »

My sarcasm meter is out of batteries, but I hope you're kidding. I've been on the internet since '95 and my HTML experience is limited to notepad and frames. I couldn't code a decent web site by today's standards if you paid me (well depending on how much you paid me I'd outsource the work to a local college student and keep a bit for myself).

Networking != Web Design

I actually am not kidding. If nothing else knowing what is a proper website should look like when you are trying to offer a professional service to sell to others should be required. Hopefully you have observed in your 15 years IT experience to at least know what a professional website looks like versus a gimmicky website. You don't need to know how to DO it, but know what needs to be done to make a professional looking website.

IMHO having a base of technical knowledge in all departments can and should be pursued. I can't program, but I understand the logic and have played a little with python, C#, and Java. I can't make a custom website, but I can troubleshoot HTML and PHP. I can't make a database from scratch, but I can investigate MYSQL errors. People expect IT professionals to be able to know enough to be able to sit down in front of a bash script or website problem and tell you what they think is up. Even if you can't fix it, you should know how to properly say what is wrong and know what type of service to contact to get someone to fix it.

Not to mention that all technology really works over the same standards, and as network administrators we should be aware of the means our technology is being used and how to supplement it. Not because we NEED to know it, but because we SHOULD know it.

My network teacher once said: "If you hire a person to do your Tax's, you want them to know how the tax process works and be able to answer your questions. You don't want the person using TurboTax to be your Tax Advisor." I think this can be stretched to most fields of IT.

I'm kind of ranting here... but I feel like if you were making a website to sell your service, you should at least learn how to make a proper one.

earweed

The website does leave a lot to be edesired. His little gimmick of having todays date and acting like you have to act now is very infomercialist.

miller811

chmorin wrote: »

My network teacher once said: "If you hire a person to do your Tax's, you want them to know how the tax process works and be able to answer your questions. You don't want the person using TurboTax to be your Tax Advisor." I think this can be stretched to most fields of IT.

I'm kind of ranting here... but I feel like if you were making a website to sell your service, you should at least learn how to make a proper one.

You mean like turbo tax Tim Geithner the head of the federal reserve.... forgot to pay his proper taxes (used turbo tax)... but he still became the federal reserve....

mtorres

I went ahead and purchased the $25.00 ccna package with the security package based on the recommendations in this thread, despite the cheesy website. I still have 2 books to go through before I begin the chris bryant stuff but I'll post on here what I thought. Thanks again everyone for all your help.

chmorin

miller811 wrote: »

You mean like turbo tax Tim Geithner the head of the federal reserve.... forgot to pay his proper taxes (used turbo tax)... but he still became the federal reserve....

Hahaha that is pretty funny.

He sounds like 'manager' material XD

phantasm

chmorin wrote: »

I actually am not kidding. If nothing else knowing what is a proper website should look like when you are trying to offer a professional service to sell to others should be required. Hopefully you have observed in your 15 years IT experience to at least know what a professional website looks like versus a gimmicky website. You don't need to know how to DO it, but know what needs to be done to make a professional looking website.

IMHO having a base of technical knowledge in all departments can and should be pursued. I can't program, but I understand the logic and have played a little with python, C#, and Java. I can't make a custom website, but I can troubleshoot HTML and PHP. I can't make a database from scratch, but I can investigate MYSQL errors. People expect IT professionals to be able to know enough to be able to sit down in front of a bash script or website problem and tell you what they think is up. Even if you can't fix it, you should know how to properly say what is wrong and know what type of service to contact to get someone to fix it.

Not to mention that all technology really works over the same standards, and as network administrators we should be aware of the means our technology is being used and how to supplement it. Not because we NEED to know it, but because we SHOULD know it.

My network teacher once said: "If you hire a person to do your Tax's, you want them to know how the tax process works and be able to answer your questions. You don't want the person using TurboTax to be your Tax Advisor." I think this can be stretched to most fields of IT.

I'm kind of ranting here... but I feel like if you were making a website to sell your service, you should at least learn how to make a proper one.

I can agree with this this, however I do not have 15yrs of IT experience on a resume. lol. But I can tell you what a professional website looks like. But I'll be damned if I can make it. lol.

mtorres

Yeah, I am baffled about how cheezy his website is. A guy as smart as he is has to know it is pretty lame. But maybe he knows this and knows people will be posting on forums about how cheezy his website is and in effect promotes his website and his material....?

Netwurk

Website doesn't bother me. A lot of us network guys are old command line whizzes. Why would we want to learn HTML in depth?

Jollycork

Netwurk wrote: »

Website doesn't bother me. A lot of us network guys are old command line whizzes. Why would we want to learn HTML in depth?

I think Chris has his site the way he does because it's easy to change. With the more "polished" sites, with flash, or PHP, it's a bear to change anything and with 3rd party, expensive.

Heck with Frontpage, he probably just changes the date in 2 seconds and volia!

The problem with web sites is they become like commercials. you have to keep updating it so it doesn't become old, stale and boring, especially with the young kids where, latest and greatest wins their dollars. Spend all your time designing, updating web sites rather than working... I got stuck in that trap once.... always something that's the latest and greatest and have to get it up on the net...

SephStorm

rofl,

This Chris B is one heck of a scam artist. (In a good way). The material on his CCNA prep ebook is for the most part taken from his Train Signal course! And i'm going to take a guess that the material for his CCNA boot camp is the Train Signal training as well. Sly dog... but it is good information in general, I never knew about proxy arp before today.