Plan to start preparing for CCNP - where to start?

d6bmg

My confusion is where to start?
Route or switch or tshoot?

And till now I don't have any physical devices. Would I start building my home lab now?
If yes, then which components should I buy.


P.S. cheapest is the best option for me. :P

SteveO86

I'd do TShoot last.

How much experience do you have?

I've always heard the switch exam was easier then the route but I honestly had a tougher time with switch. So to each his own.

As far as hardware, you will want as 2610xm or 2611xm's with a 3550's switches for Layer 3 capabilities. Those are fairly cheap.

Next step up would be 1841's and 3560's but those are still a little expensive.

networker050184

Start with either ROUTE or SWITCH and save TSHOOT for last.

Yes, build a lab. At least some switches and GNS3.

What to get? Do some research!

d6bmg

SteveO86 wrote: »

How much experience do you have?

Absolutely 0 experience.

Cisco Inferno

d6bmg wrote: »

Absolutely 0 experience.

You've never even "touched" real gear let alone a "real" network.
Your CCNP will be useless and you most likely will lose your knowledge. I would wait if I were you.

Architect192

Doesn't matter as long as you understand that TSHOOT tests you on your knowledge of both route and switch so...

As for which one you should start with? Start with the one you like the most. If you love working with switches but have a hard time with routers, go for switches. That way it keeps you motivated (you're doing something you like) and once the first one is done, it would be kinda dumb to quit I went switch, route then tshoot.

sacredboy

d6bmg wrote: »

Absolutely 0 experience.

Then why you have decided to start with CCNP and not CCNA?

As about your question so I would advo\ice in the next order ROUTE -> SWITCH -> TSHOOT.
Some start with SWITCH and this is not a mistake but TSHOOT definitely should be the last one.

QHalo

He already has his CCNA if you look at his certs. Not that I'm advocating either way but yeah.

d6bmg

Cisco Inferno wrote: »

You've never even "touched" real gear let alone a "real" network.
Your CCNP will be useless and you most likely will lose your knowledge. I would wait if I were you.

CISCO gear? No, never.

BTW, already placed order for the following items:

2x 2521
2x 2950
2x 2610XM
2x 2501
1x 3550


Would it do any good for now?
I'll order a router rack tomorrow.

I can get 2 more 2501, if it's needed.
Advise please.

sacredboy

I have ordered 2 x 2950 and 2 x 3750 (with PoE) for SWITCH.

networker050184

Well if you already placed the order it's a little late to be asking if its ok now!

I'd say to avoid the 2500s. The 2600XMs are good for labbing, but the 2610XM comes with ony one built in FE port. You are going to need to expand that to do much routing practice with it.

You could save yourself a lot of time and money by going the GNS3 path for routing. Use some of that saved money on some decent switches.

d6bmg

networker050184 wrote: »

You could save yourself a lot of time and money by going the GNS3 path for routing. Use some of that saved money on some decent switches.

Descent switch? Name it.
For now money is not a problem, as my parents are sponsoring on everything I buy (of-course, as long as prices are not very high).

networker050184 wrote: »

I'd say to avoid the 2500s.

Man, I've got those two 2501's real cheap. Order in a local store for ~$15 per piece if I concert them to USD.
Other items are order from ebay to my mom's place, and will get them after 20th of this month.

Cisco Inferno

are you working? try to get yourself in the field!

networker050184

Cisco Inferno wrote: »

try to get yourself in the field!

Agreed. This should be your focus 100%. More than working on certifications that you do not have experience to compliment.

d6bmg

Cisco Inferno wrote: »

are you working? try to get yourself in the field!

No. I'm not working anywhere. Completed my graduation and taking a break from formal studies for 1 year before I go for MS. So, I am completing CISCO certs and I think those would be helpful when I join any company after my MS.

Am I wrong?

networker050184

I'd join a company now personally.

Cisco Inferno

for an entry level networking job, Id hire a CCNA with 1 yr experience over a someone with 0 exp, CCNP, and a MS.

Do not overqualify yourself. It works opposite of what you may think.

Xyro

networker050184 wrote: »

Agreed. This should be your focus 100%. More than working on certifications that you do not have experience to compliment.

I really wish I had understood/known this about 3 or 4 years ago!

Listen to them.

TBickle

Like the others have said, try to get yourself in the field first. But, to answer your question, I would start with Switch first. Reason being, with zero experience, if you do find a job, more than likely it will be supporting basic switches and maybe a few routers. I doubt you'd get into any of the heavy Route topics that you typically find in the CCNP Route exam. I experienced that first hand when i was recently picked up for a position and despite the fact that I had been studying for Route already, I immediately switched to Switch once I realized it was much more beneficial in the position I landed.

Connect those 2950s and 3550s, and have fun.

Good Luck

d6bmg

networker050184 wrote: »

I'd join a company now personally.

Too lazy to join a company in this 1 off year.

Update: got hold of 2x 2621XM from the local grey market. They were selling them dirt-cheap. got two of them for 6,500/- (Indian rupees) which comes to $62 per piece.
Now I got 2x 2621XM & 2x 2501. Starting now, I can build and test basic topologies for the rest of the day and at the night.

P.S. In front of these 2621XM s, My central home router - a D-link DIR655 looks like a toy (except that is a gigabit router).

Cisco Inferno

d6bmg wrote: »

Too lazy to join a company in this 1 off year.

Umm.... ok . You said it, not me. Not our fault if you're stubborn.

d6bmg

Cisco Inferno wrote: »

Umm.... ok . You said it, not me. Not our fault if you're stubborn.

yeah, of-course!!

Cisco Inferno

d6bmg wrote: »

yeah, of-course!!

It may be different in India, but here in the states many find it extremely difficult to find a job when they have high level degrees and certs and 0 experience.

NetworkVeteran

Consider spending your year on the beach. Travel. Take up surfing. Read poetry. Chase the ladies. Those are life-enrichening activities you won't regret five years from now. If you don't have energy to advance your career, consider advancing your life. Better yet, spend your summer having fun and renewing yourself, then hit the job/classes afterwards.