SWITCH before CCNA

net_nomad

Hi guys,

I would like to get back on the cisco cert train.

I had a CCNA that expired about 2 years ago. right now I work with a large layer 2 network and im very comfortable with 90% of the contents of the switch exams.

I was thinking of studying and doing the SWITCH exam first and then going back to do the CCNA.

I know the CCNA is a pre-req for a CCNP, but since this knowledge is fresh in my mind I would like to get this particular exam out of my way first.

deth1k

yep, there is nothing stopping you from taking the exam as long as you don't forget to take your CCNA before going for all of CCNP exams :P

mikej412

As long as you're up to the task it doesn't matter which mountain you climb first.

creamy_stew

The only problem I see is that MANY people are saying the new SWITCH exam is a mess. Poor grammar, poorly worded questions, simulations that crash or don't work.

Also, some topics that didn't seem to covered by the at least the cert guide. (IP SLA and snmp) Thats probably of less concern to you, though - if you're working on a large L2 network you're probably profient in both.

DPG

Cisco has been know to throw ungraded "beta" questions into their exams. Is this the case with SWITCH?

creamy_stew

DPG wrote: »

Cisco has been know to throw ungraded "beta" questions into their exams. Is this the case with SWITCH?

That's probably part of it, but the ROUTE exam hasn't been receiving the same kind of hate. Well, apart from it being hard, which is par for the course.

I haven't taken either, so I really don't know anything apart from the rumors.

/usr

I might be wrong, but the impression I get is that it may have improved a little. A lot of people have been passing on here and I've seen less complaints.