When to start labs?

I'm using Odom Wendell's book as my primary reference. I have just started chapter 7, which is Installing and Operating Cisco LAN switches. What I want to know is when should I start with the labs? Is it going to come later as I go on with book? Is Wendell or whichever other author I use, going to ask us to start with the labs at any point in the book? Or do I have to start with the you tube videos pertaining to switches or whatever topic I'm on?

And what about IOS, where do I get to practice the IOS commands without the actual lab equipment? Is that imitated too?

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Comments

networker050184

I suggest you lab as you go though the sections that go over configuration.

TechGuru80

I purchased the network simulator for some additional structured labs and they start at Chapter 8. You probably can start at any point but the foundational knowledge of how things work helps before you actually start lab exercises. Could not tell you off hand how it will go though because I have used other training material and have already been doing most of the early labs.

Death Dream

Todd's books have labs at the end of some of the chapters in his books which is a good reference on when to do them.

Usually what I end up doing, read the book once, then on my second read, I do labs as the section discusses what can be done. That way I don't get bored reading the same material twice.

NetworkVeteran

networker050184 wrote: »

I suggest you lab as you go though the sections that go over configuration.

Simple enough.

As for where to practice, you have the options (in no particular order) of buying or renting real equipment, an emulator like GNS3, or a simulator like Boson Netsim or Packet Tracer. All of them are viable ways to pass. There are many threads on here discussing the pros/cons of various approaches if you do a forum search.

If you don't want to do any research, simple & easy--

http://www.boson.com/network-simulator/ccna-640-802-cisco-network-simulator
http://www.certificationkits.com/economy-ccna-certification-kit/

DoubleNNs

When you see examples in the book, try them out right then on your equipment/simulator if you can.

Do labs whenever and as often as you can. Then when you're done reading, enforce what you learned by experimenting and/or doing more labs.

fly2dw

Hello

I have a set study pattern for certifications. Generally it goes like this:

Read official press book from front to back (Gives me good idea of content, doesn't matter if it doesn't sink in at this stage)
Watch videos (Make notes, especially "how to" parts, as I will use these notes in the practicals)
Go back to official book and do lab activities (Or do lab activities from other books, such as specific lab guides)
Read a book from a second source/or online content to supplement
Schedule exam (Helps me focus when a date is set, generally 2 weeks in advance)
Blast exam simulator until exam time (Any weak areas highlighted from exam simulator go back to official book, videos, other books, or online)
Sit exam

Like others have mentioned use network simulator software to practice commands. I mentioned above specific lab guides. Cisco has plenty of them which is the kind of book you are describing, where is explains the topic and then tells you to do a specific lab in relation to that topic. I used these lab guides for ICND2:

LAN Switching and Wireless, CCNA Exploration Labs and Study Guide: Allan Johnson: 9781587132025: Amazon.com: Books

Routing Protocols and Concepts, CCNA Exploration Labs and Study Guide: Allan Johnson: 9781587132049: Amazon.com: Books

Accessing the WAN, CCNA Exploration Labs and Study Guide: John Rullan: 9781587132018: Amazon.com: Books

I think these have been updated now though to match the updated exam:

Network Fundamentals: CCNA Exploration Companion Guide: Mark Dye, Rick McDonald, Antoon Rufi: 9781587133480: Amazon.com: Books

For ICND1 I went back to Odom's book to do all the labs after the once over and followed everything Jeremy did from the CBT Nuggets videos series. I felt that was sufficient for the exam, whereas I don't regret doing all those labs for ICND2 as it prepared me well.

Best of luck!

fly2dw