cisco books, whats the difference?

What is the difference between these 2 cisco books for BCMSN?

CCNP BCMSN Official Exam Certification Guide (4th Edition) (Exam Certification Guide)

and

Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks (BCMSN) (Authorized Self-Study Guide) (4th Edition) (Self-Study Guide)

which book should I get?
The exam certification guide is cheaper, but does the self study guide have more detailed information?

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Comments

joshgibson82

you want the short story of this common question?

The Self-study is more in-depth and covers pretty much the entire test plus more (CatOS commands)

The Exam Cert Guide is meant more for people who already know most of the stuff and are just brushing up to take the test.

My advice ...if there is a self-study book, buy it, not the exam cert.

joshgibson82

fonque

thats what I thought, then im getting the self-study guide.
Thanks for the info.

and no I didnt search, im surprised i didnt get flamed.

kryolla

buy them both. The exam guide has a test engine. This is how I sudy

1) watch videos from CBT nuggets
2) read study guide for more details
3) Lab guide
4) watch videos again, there is something in the video that I missed the first time
5) read exam guide
6) Do test engine
7) Take test

fonque

You dont think the self-study guide by itself will be enough?

Im working on a limited budget.
I need to keep money aside to actually purchase equipment.

rakem

i got both for the BSCI and found them to complement each other quite well. If one was a bit light on a topic then the other one filled in the gaps.

I plan on getting both for BCMSN as well.

AlanJames

I bought both the books for BCMSN

I find the Official Exam Certification Guide a lot more readable and easier to comprehend. The self study guide is not as coherent and the writers tend to woffle on a bit. But they do go more in depth, and also more commands etc

CBT nuggets are a good backup to the books.

mikej412

fonque wrote:

You dont think the self-study guide by itself will be enough?

Im working on a limited budget.
I need to keep money aside to actually purchase equipment.

Getting both recommended books is cheaper than finding out the hard way that the one book you picked wasn't enough for you to pass the exam.

If you already have lots of knowledge and experience on the exam topics -- then you might be able to get away with just the Exam Certification Guide.

If you're learning most of the stuff for the first time -- then you need to start with the Self Study Guide for the exam. But if you just use the one book and fail -- then you'd probably be buying the 2nd books anyway and paying for another exam....

I used all the recommend Cisco Press books, the Cisco Documentation, and used some books on the CCIE recommended book lists.

fonque

I just bought the self study guide for BCMSN today.
The exam cert guide will have to wait

I am saving to buy a CCNP switching kit next, preferably one that includes a 3500 of some kind.

qplayed

fonque wrote:

I just bought the self study guide for BCMSN today.
The exam cert guide will have to wait

I am saving to buy a CCNP switching kit next, preferably one that includes a 3500 of some kind.

make sure its a 3550 not a 3548 .....and if you've got the $$ get a 3560

and this is how i study

1. read the whole chapter once
2. watch CBT's for that specific chapter (i.e eigrp)
3. labs
4. read chapter a section at a time
5. cbt once again
6. read chapter a section at a time + labs
7. labs + flash card + test engine(try to avoid the test engines, or use only to find weaknesses)
8. 3 days before exam read/skim the whole book
9. day before exam, rest and pray to <insert here> that you pass
do not study anymore, you will not learn anything new, if you didn't
know it then, you won't now...
10. don't ever memorize anything.....know it

mikej412

qplayed wrote:

make sure its a 3550 not a 3548 .....and if you've got the $$ get a 3560

And if you don't have the money for the 3550/3560/3750 -- then stick with the 2950/2960.

The 3524-XL-EN and 3548-XL-EN and 2924-XL-EN are only good as the 4 switch (or 3rd if you're really poor) once you hit the CCNP level. It is useful to have one around for some of the legacy stuff.

I use the 3500s in my home network, but the only one in my Lab is an inline power version for the IP Phones -- and that's just while my 3550-PWR is configured in my CCIE R&S Rack.

qplayed

that's why I never throw anything out! haha

kryolla

make sure 3550 has the EMI image if not you can get that IOS from cisco with a guest account. The EMI lets you do routing.

Paul Boz

Pfffft.

Go to half.com and price both books on the used market. Buy the cheapest one. Supplement subjects which need further explanation with the Cisco docCD.

It drives me nuts when people spend hundreds of dollars on duplicate material when either of the books is good enough when paired with free information on the internet.

fonque

this is all really good advice and i very much appreciate it.

what is the Cisco docCD?

right now my plan

1. buy self study guide - done
2. purchase CCNP kit - waiting on tax return
3. set up dynamips for routing - done
4. complete all labs and test scenarios/case studys repeatedly
5. possibly buy exam cert guide when finished with self study guide

I feel like im at least headed in the right direction.

mikej412

fonque wrote:

what is the Cisco docCD?

The Cisco Documentation - free access online. Or you can buy it on DVD from the Cisco Marketplace.

There are some suggested Documentation Links in the CCNP FAQ.