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Scheduled BSCI for April 8th at 4pm (UPDATE-PASSED!)
jamesp1983
Member Posts: 2,475 ■■■■□□□□□□
in CCNP
*****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.
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.
"Check both the destination and return path when a route fails." "Switches create a network. Routers connect networks."
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cisco_trooper
Member Posts: 1,441 ■■■■□□□□□□
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.
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Optionsjamesp1983
Member Posts: 2,475 ■■■■□□□□□□
Dynamips huh? have you any of you worked with Boson for sims for the CCNP?"Check both the destination and return path when a route fails." "Switches create a network. Routers connect networks."
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Optionsbmauro
Member Posts: 307
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. -
OptionsGT-Rob
Member Posts: 1,090
$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. -
Optionscisco_trooper
Member Posts: 1,441 ■■■■□□□□□□
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! -
OptionsAquabat [banned]
Inactive Imported Users Posts: 299
oh god boson. they only good product that company makes is the secret password decrypteri herd u leik mudkips lol
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Paul Boz
Member Posts: 2,620 ■■■■■■■■□□
sprkymrk wrote:
I always thought their IP Subnet Calculator was okay.
Solarwinds is better.CCNP | CCIP | CCDP | CCNA, CCDA
CCNA Security | GSEC |GCFW | GCIH | GCIA
pbosworth@gmail.com
http://twitter.com/paul_bosworth
Blog: http://www.infosiege.net/ -
Optionsjamesp1983
Member Posts: 2,475 ■■■■□□□□□□
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"Check both the destination and return path when a route fails." "Switches create a network. Routers connect networks." -
OptionsDarthn3ss
Member Posts: 1,096
now you can use that $2000 for switches. you could get 3 3550s and a 2950 atleast.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 dynamipsFantastic. The project manager is inspired.
In Progress: 70-640, 70-685 -
Optionsjamesp1983
Member Posts: 2,475 ■■■■□□□□□□
Darthn3ss wrote:now you can use that $2000 for switches. you could get 3 3550s and a 2950 atleast.
I already bought 3 2950s, 2x3640, a 2522, and a 2509"Check both the destination and return path when a route fails." "Switches create a network. Routers connect networks." -
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qplayed
Member Posts: 303
Here's my lab...its in the mail:
3x Cisco 3640 Routers (128/32 RAM MAX), 12.4 Enterprise IOS
2x Cisco 2611XM Routers (256/32 RAM MAX), 12.4 Enterprise IOS
2x Cisco 3550-24PWR Switch w/Latest EMI IP Services IOS (2 GBIC Ports)
2x Cisco 2950G-24 12.2 Enterprise IOS switch (2 GBIC Ports)
1x Cisco 2511 Router, 16/16 RAM (MAX)
5x Cisco NM-4A/S Four Port Serial Modules (1 per 3640/2611XM)
6x Cisco NM-1E2W Ethernet Modules (2 per 3640)
1x Cisco 2522 Router, 16/16 RAM (MAX)
2x Octal Cables (2511)
10x DCE/DTE Serial Crossover Cables
12x AC Power Cables
1x Console Cable Kit
4k total
PS. I'm also using dynamips..its awesome!,.....but to work with real hardware and the chance to screw up the wiring/cabling is much betterIf you cannot express in a sentence or two what
you intend to get across, then it is not focused
well enough.
—Charles Osgood, TV commentator -
Optionsjamesp1983
Member Posts: 2,475 ■■■■□□□□□□
Well, my lab took forever to arrive and my job kind of killed my study time so I had to postpone. I'm thinking of using the getcertify4less 90$ early expiry voucher. Does anyone have any experience using them for vouchers?"Check both the destination and return path when a route fails." "Switches create a network. Routers connect networks."
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OptionsYossarian
Member Posts: 14 ■□□□□□□□□□
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. -
Optionsqplayed
Member Posts: 303
skip the CCNP Video Mentor....get the CBT or Trainsignal stuff betterIf you cannot express in a sentence or two what
you intend to get across, then it is not focused
well enough.
—Charles Osgood, TV commentator -
Optionsjamesp1983
Member Posts: 2,475 ■■■■□□□□□□
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."Check both the destination and return path when a route fails." "Switches create a network. Routers connect networks."
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Optionsjamesp1983
Member Posts: 2,475 ■■■■□□□□□□
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."Check both the destination and return path when a route fails." "Switches create a network. Routers connect networks." -
Optionsjezg76
Member Posts: 97 ■■□□□□□□□□
Grats, Jimmy! Your score is eerily similar to mine.... :P
Good luck on the BCMSN!policy-map type inspect TACO
class type inspect BELL
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mikej412
Member Posts: 10,086 ■■■■■■■■■■
Congratulations!jimmypizzle83 wrote:I passed the BSCI with an 877.
Was you post a test to see who really reads entire posts?
:mike: Cisco Certifications -- Collect the Entire Set! -
Optionsjamesp1983
Member Posts: 2,475 ■■■■□□□□□□
haha, yes, and it seems about 46 people havent came to the end of the post. Thanks!"Check both the destination and return path when a route fails." "Switches create a network. Routers connect networks."
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kryolla
Member Posts: 785
Was the testing center in KOP. I was there last week taking my BCMSN and she was rude to me as well.Studying for CCIE and drinking Home Brew -
Optionsjamesp1983
Member Posts: 2,475 ■■■■□□□□□□
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."Check both the destination and return path when a route fails." "Switches create a network. Routers connect networks."
