Studying for ICND2 200-101

Staunchy

I'm currently studying for INCD2 200-101, aiming to write in Jan 2014.

Studying for ICND2 200-101 I am finding it tougher to study for ICND2 than ICND1, my mind is struggling to absorb all the info while trying to remember the stuff I have learned from ICND1....

Anyone else battling with ICND2 200-101?

zxbane

What did you use to prepare for the ICND1 and how long ago?

Staunchy

zxbane wrote: »

What did you use to prepare for the ICND1 and how long ago?

I started with Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices, Part 1 (ICND1) Foundation Learning Guide, 4th Edition while while I was waiting for the Official Cert Guide by Wendell Odom and also CBT Nuggets. Lab with packet tracer and week before the exam I used Todd Lammle's book just to reinforce the stuff I learned.

It took me about 6-7 weeks of studying everyday for about 3 - 4 hours in week days and weekends 6 - 8 hours, I loaded the CBT Nuggets videos on my iPad so when I was driving in traffic to work and while being at work I watched the videos and at night I would read a chapter and lab.

I started with ICND2 but about a week ago I went and read the whole ICND1 book again to just brush up on all the topics and things I have forgotten a bit as I don't work on networks on a daily basis. Working with networks daily just making studying and understanding the topics a whole lot easier.

CoolAsAFan

I take my CCENT on 12/23, then start 200-101 on 12/24. I'll let ya know how it goes when I start. I could be wrong, but since 200 builds upon 100, I really feel like you should basically "master" the 100 concepts before you move on to 200.

In your opinion (I am very curious), do you think your struggling because you have not "mastered" the concepts in 100-101? Or is because 200-101 adds a ton of new info?

Staunchy

CoolAsAFan wrote: »

In your opinion (I am very curious), do you think your struggling because you have not "mastered" the concepts in 100-101? Or is because 200-101 adds a ton of new info?

I know 100-101 well enough if I have to write now I will pass, but 200-101 adds loads off stuff that I concentrate so hard trying to understand the work that it overwhelms my brain a bit but after going through 100-101 and have worked through spanning-tree that I remember things. Let me know how it goes with your exam and also how you find 200-101.

olaHalo

Im in the same boat.
It is harder indeed.
To keep my mind up to date I do daily labs that I made up, rewatch CBT nuggets vids, and reread things I seem to forget often.

jamesleecoleman

I agree that the ICND2 is way more difficult now. I plan on buying CCNA material from The Bryant Advantage: Get CCNA, CCNP, and CCENT Certified! Doing the labs help but the material is still confusing to me.

sixtyten

Man thanks for posting this. I passed my ICND1 in August, took the old ICND2 on the last day it was offered in September and failed. Now I'm studying the new material and I'm finding that its not sticking like the ICND1 stuff. I also noticed that this forum has kinda died out a bit. There was more activity with the old tests and it seems like everyone is regrouping. I would love to test on the ICND2 next month or February but I need to get my butt into gear.

I'm using the Odom ICND2 book (which is great and very detailed) and I just bought the Bryant CCNA ICND2 kindle book on Amazon. I used CBT Nuggets to refresh myself and do lab work in Packet Tracer.

Lets do this! I'll send some friend requests and maybe we can get some momentum going and pass this thing.

DoubleNNs

Staunchy wrote: »

My mind is struggling to absorb all the info while trying to remember the stuff I have learned from ICND1....

Same here, especially since I did the older CCENT, and the new ICND2 seems to rely on knowledge I haven't learned yet. So I'm reviewing the newer ICND1, but then it makes me feel as if I'm not making any progress.

olaHalo

DoubleNNs wrote: »

Same here, especially since I did the older CCENT, and the new ICND2 seems to rely on knowledge I haven't learned yet. So I'm reviewing the newer ICND1, but then it makes me feel as if I'm not making any progress.

I was afraid that would happen to me too.
Which is why I studied the new ICND1 even when I had time to take the old one.

Staunchy

olaHalo wrote: »

Im in the same boat.
It is harder indeed.
To keep my mind up to date I do daily labs that I made up, rewatch CBT nuggets vids, and reread things I seem to forget often.

I wish I had a networking gig, it would have helped a lot to remember the knowledge....

Staunchy

sixtyten wrote: »

Man thanks for posting this. I passed my ICND1 in August, took the old ICND2 on the last day it was offered in September and failed. Now I'm studying the new material and I'm finding that its not sticking like the ICND1 stuff. I also noticed that this forum has kinda died out a bit. There was more activity with the old tests and it seems like everyone is regrouping. I would love to test on the ICND2 next month or February but I need to get my butt into gear.

I'm using the Odom ICND2 book (which is great and very detailed) and I just bought the Bryant CCNA ICND2 kindle book on Amazon. I used CBT Nuggets to refresh myself and do lab work in Packet Tracer.

Lets do this! I'll send some friend requests and maybe we can get some momentum going and pass this thing.

Sweet let's nail that CCNA

olaHalo

Staunchy wrote: »

I wish I had a networking gig, it would have helped a lot to remember the knowledge....

Yeah it would. Its nice to be able to ask coworkers questions too.
If you have a desk job then install Packet Tracer and start labbing at work. Just run through basic configs and such all the time. Or download labs where you cant ping a device on the other end and you have to figure out why.

Studying at work is the best lol.

Staunchy

olaHalo wrote: »

Yeah it would. Its nice to be able to ask coworkers questions too.
If you have a desk job then install Packet Tracer and start labbing at work. Just run through basic configs and such all the time. Or download labs where you cant ping a device on the other end and you have to figure out why.

Studying at work is the best lol.

lol true but i got co-workers including boss that are incompetent forcing me to having to do all the work so I don't get study time at work at the moment Luckily I am working my notice, finishing my current job on 31st Dec and starting a new job on the 6th Jan (still server support sigh but luckily they have a network team as well even though they an HP house I will have an opportunity to break into networks)

sixtyten

olaHalo wrote: »

Yeah it would. Its nice to be able to ask coworkers questions too.
If you have a desk job then install Packet Tracer and start labbing at work. Just run through basic configs and such all the time. Or download labs where you cant ping a device on the other end and you have to figure out why.

Studying at work is the best lol.

I couldn't agree more!

sixtyten

Staunchy wrote: »

lol true but i got co-workers including boss that are incompetent forcing me to having to do all the work so I don't get study time at work at the moment Luckily I am working my notice, finishing my current job on 31st Dec and starting a new job on the 6th Jan (still server support sigh but luckily they have a network team as well even though they an HP house I will have an opportunity to break into networks)

Well good luck on the new job! I agree that I wish I could land a entry network job but so far I feel like my CCENT doesn't mean jack. But I can understand. They probably look at it from the angle that they had to suck it up to complete the CCNA so they expect new hires to do the same.