Which CCNP exam to take first?

Hello, I have recently obtained my CCNA certification and am now looking to start studying for the CCNP. I am not sure if I should start with the Routing or Switching exam first? Any suggestions?

Also, would you folks recommend investing in lab equipment, such as those kits available at www.ciscokits.com?

Thank you,
Mike

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aquilla

Hi Mike,

Personally I am doing ROUTE first. The main reason is that I do more routing stuff at work on a day-to-day basis than I do with switching. Also, the majority (if not all) of ROUTE can be done with GNS3.

lac

I'm working on SWITCH first as I have test equipment readily available for my lab. Don't think it really matters. I'm hearing ROUTE is very detailed, although I'm finding I had a lot more to learn about switching than I had originally thought! Either way, take your time and don't rush through your studies. Learn as much as you can and enjoy the ride...

SUBnet192

lac wrote: »

I'm working on SWITCH first as I have test equipment readily available for my lab. Don't think it really matters. I'm hearing ROUTE is very detailed, although I'm finding I had a lot more to learn about switching than I had originally thought! Either way, take your time and don't rush through your studies. Learn as much as you can and enjoy the ride...

Glad to hear that, as I find Switch to be relatively easy... Route was worrying me more lol. Should write Switch by the end of January... Also taking a management course @ university, with a final exam mid february. Got my hands full lol... I want to finish CCNP to do the design certs...

lac

I actually just rescheduled my SWITCH exam a few minutes ago. Had it scheduled for this Friday, but pushing it back. Just too much going on right now at home and work and I don't feel ready just yet. Hoping to knock it out in the next week or two though.

Packet-Jockey

Best of luck with that Iac, hope to be sitting mine ovr the next couple of weeks if family stuff allows o_O

thetrillionaire

I think it really a personal choice that revolves around your experience level.......I work in a heavily switched environment....So I decided to tackle ROUTE first then follow that up with SWITCH, as I felt ROUTE would be a little more difficult for me.

nicklauscombs

mikejensen83 wrote: »

Also, would you folks recommend investing in lab equipment, such as those kits available at www.ciscokits.com?

while ebay is a great resource for buying lab equpiment (piece by piece) i always suggest skipping the "all in one" kits you can buy as they always seem to be way overpriced for dated equipment (though i'll admit i haven't looked specifically at what ciscokits is offering).