Scheduled BSCI for April 8th at 4pm (UPDATE-PASSED!)

jamesp1983

*****PASSED, story at bottom.....****

Wish me luck!! I'm planning on getting the CBT Nuggets, I'm almost done the Cisco Press book on BSCI(page 400), waiting on the Routing TCP/IP Volume 1 book, and I'll probably buy the Transcenders. If I'm really feeling generous I may buy a lab.

Costs so far:

180$ for the CCNP library and Video Mentor
150$ to register for the test
67$ on the Routing TCP/IP book

Total: 397$ so far.

When all is said and done, I'll probably end up spending 3500$

How much have you non-schooled guys paid so far in your pursuit?

Since January, my home lab is a lot bigger.

Find more posts tagged with

Free for TechExams community: Cybersecurity salary guide

Compare cert salaries and plan your next career move

Button

Comments

cisco_trooper

So far I have the Cisco Press BSCI, Routing TCP/IP Vol I 2nd edition, and dynamips. I have not had to purchase any hardware yet. I don't think it will be necessary for the BSCI since dynamips rocks. Today I created my own template BSCI lab, with my own manually configured frame-relay switch. Now I can quit reconfiguring everything everytime I want to try something. I always have a clean lab I can fire up.

jamesp1983

Dynamips huh? have you any of you worked with Boson for sims for the CCNP?

bmauro

For routing nothing comes close to dynamips.

As long as you have access to real IOS files - the software is FREE.

I worked with Boson during my CCNA studies and was not impress with the "feel" or that some commands were not supported - or that some debugs did not work how they should have.

Dynamips is how it really works as if I actually powered on my lab - only downside is no switching.

GT-Rob

$3500 for BSCI? Or for CCNP?

I have worked out the costs myself, and assuming I don't fail and do not buy a multilayer switch, I am look at about $2000. (couple 3600s, 2900s, 2 books per test, and 150 per test)

Books and test fees alone are over a grand.

cisco_trooper

Dynamips man is the most reliable and most economical way to go. It uses actual IOS images and runs exactly as if you were on actual equipment. I'm kind of repeating what someone else already said, but hey, it's THAT good.

Boson sucks compared to dynamips, and I don't think it is sufficient for all the CCNP tests anyhow. I found Boson to be buggy. There were times when routes were just disappearing and whatnot with no rhyme or reason when I was working on the CCNA, which is pathetic because CCNA routing is pretty basic - you can't really screw it up.

It was at that point I stumbled upon dynamips. Download it from sourceforge man, take the time to figure it out (yes you may need a couple hours...so what...its worth it) and you won't be disappointed. You'll still need switches for the BCMSN, but for the BSCI...dynamips has it all.

Have Fun!

Aquabat [banned]

oh god boson. they only good product that company makes is the secret password decrypter

sprkymrk

Aquabat wrote:

they only good product that company makes is the secret password decrypter

I always thought their IP Subnet Calculator was okay.

Paul Boz

sprkymrk wrote:

I always thought their IP Subnet Calculator was okay.

Solarwinds is better.

jamesp1983

GT-Rob wrote:

$3500 for BSCI? Or for CCNP?

I have worked out the costs myself, and assuming I don't fail and do not buy a multilayer switch, I am look at about $2000. (couple 3600s, 2900s, 2 books per test, and 150 per test)

Books and test fees alone are over a grand.

3500 for CCNP.

My books and Video guide were around 250$
CBT Nuggets were 600$
Tests, 150$x4- 600$
The lab I want will be about 2000$

So I think $3500 is a good estimate of the cost.

P.S. I took everyone's advice and started using dynamips

Darthn3ss

jimmypizzle83 wrote:

GT-Rob wrote:

$3500 for BSCI? Or for CCNP?

I have worked out the costs myself, and assuming I don't fail and do not buy a multilayer switch, I am look at about $2000. (couple 3600s, 2900s, 2 books per test, and 150 per test)

Books and test fees alone are over a grand.

3500 for CCNP.

My books and Video guide were around 250$
CBT Nuggets were 600$
Tests, 150$x4- 600$
The lab I want will be about 2000$

So I think $3500 is a good estimate of the cost.

P.S. I took everyone's advice and started using dynamips

now you can use that $2000 for switches. you could get 3 3550s and a 2950 atleast.

jamesp1983

Darthn3ss wrote:

now you can use that $2000 for switches. you could get 3 3550s and a 2950 atleast.

I already bought 3 2950s, 2x3640, a 2522, and a 2509

qplayed

Here's my lab...its in the mail:

3x Cisco 3640 Routers (128/32 RAM MAX), 12.4 Enterprise IOS
2x Cisco 2611XM Routers (256/32 RAM MAX), 12.4 Enterprise IOS
2x Cisco 3550-24PWR Switch w/Latest EMI IP Services IOS (2 GBIC Ports)
2x Cisco 2950G-24 12.2 Enterprise IOS switch (2 GBIC Ports)
1x Cisco 2511 Router, 16/16 RAM (MAX)
5x Cisco NM-4A/S Four Port Serial Modules (1 per 3640/2611XM)
6x Cisco NM-1E2W Ethernet Modules (2 per 3640)
1x Cisco 2522 Router, 16/16 RAM (MAX)
2x Octal Cables (2511)
10x DCE/DTE Serial Crossover Cables
12x AC Power Cables
1x Console Cable Kit

4k total

PS. I'm also using dynamips..its awesome!,.....but to work with real hardware and the chance to screw up the wiring/cabling is much better

jamesp1983

Well, my lab took forever to arrive and my job kind of killed my study time so I had to postpone. I'm thinking of using the getcertify4less 90$ early expiry voucher. Does anyone have any experience using them for vouchers?

Yossarian

jimmypizzle83 wrote:

Well, my lab took forever to arrive and my job kind of killed my study time so I had to postpone. I'm thinking of using the getcertify4less 90$ early expiry voucher. Does anyone have any experience using them for vouchers?

I have. They're legit.

qplayed

skip the CCNP Video Mentor....get the CBT or Trainsignal stuff better

jamesp1983

the Video mentor seems pretty useless. It's VERY basic. The CBT nuggets have it all over that product. I just bought another 3640 for 150$. Ebay is great! After many reschedulings due to our desktop tech being out and me doing two jobs for 3 months (desktop and network admin), I have set a date. I set it for this tuesday! I'm nervous, but I think I have it down. I'm rereading the Cisco press BSCI book now and I'm going to do some lab work this weekend.

jamesp1983

I took the test at the closest testing center to work which was a New Horizons CLC about 5 miles away. The receptionist was very rude and did not pay attention to me at all for about 30 minutes and would just dismiss anything I said. I got there at 3:20 and she didn't let me take the test until 3:55. Every other center I've gone to will let you start as soon as you arrive.

Bad experience aside, I passed the BSCI with an 877. Not as high as I wanted, but whatever.. I was hammered with multicast questions. I'd make sure you know that topic very well. I've studied for this since the beginning of January with the assistance of a home lab, dynamips, the ciscopress CCNP library, video mentor, CBT nuggets, and the CCIE Routing TCP/IP book. I read the BSCI CCNP library book twice, read the CCIE book once, and reviewed my weak points with CBT nuggets and dynamips. There was some stuff that I definitely didn't see in the books.

For those of you who took BSCI then BCMSN, how long did you wait in between? I'm thinking of waiting a week.

jezg76

Grats, Jimmy! Your score is eerily similar to mine.... :P

Good luck on the BCMSN!

mikej412

jimmypizzle83 wrote:

I passed the BSCI with an 877.

Congratulations!

Was you post a test to see who really reads entire posts?

jamesp1983

haha, yes, and it seems about 46 people havent came to the end of the post. Thanks!

kryolla

Was the testing center in KOP. I was there last week taking my BCMSN and she was rude to me as well.

jamesp1983

It was KOP. On Horizon rd. She said she couldnt set me up because she was finishing other work and my test wasn't until 4. She was sitting there staring off into space.