Just doing what seems to be the tradition here, letting the forum know that I just passed ICND1. The score was 925, and I got these percentages:
Operation of networks 80%
Implement a small switched network 100%
Implement an IP addressing scheme 100%
Implement a small routed network 80%
WLAN 100%
Security 100%
WAN 75%
Towards the end I started running out of time. I had to fly through the last several questions, and when I did the very last one there was 35 sec left on the clock.
I'll set the date for ICDN2 these days, probably for some time early December (subject to reschedule - depends on work; I just got a call from a recruiter as soon as I told them I am CCENT now... talk about the value of certs!)
I've based my prep on CBT Nuggets and Odom's book (and I used other stuff as well, here and there). I've spent many hours having fun with GNS3. I didn't use Packet Tracer that much, but I plan to for the Second Exam.
Tomorrow I'll start with CBT Nuggets 2. And will order Odom's ICND2 as well.
Further down the track, I'm considering CCNP, unless a future job directs me more towards Microsoft or Linux, in which case I might go for MCITP or NCLE... anyway, I'm talking way too soon
. I now have the base level cert for all three directions. Probably now's the time to specialize.
Parallel with all this, I am now (again) a postgrad student (
here), doing Masters in Networking and Systems Admin (CCNP Stream, subject to change, as noted earler.)
