Suggestions for going through CCNP

Hi,

I have read all the FAQ's and peoples experiences regarding starting out on the CCNP track. I especially need advice on what study material i need to purchase, there are soo many books and material, some old, some new, whats the latest on the book list side?

Also, if you have any suggestions regarding physical gear, I would greatly appreciate it (Ciscokits are helping out tremendously).

Help me spend money

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Slowhand

Let's see. . .

CCNP Official Exam Certification Library (5th Edition)

CCNP Nuggets series

Some crazy person's ideas on a CCNP lab

Hope that gives you a start. I'm sure some of the other Cisco gurus and CCNP study-fiends will have some input as well.

Inc

Slowhand wrote:

CCNP Official Exam Certification Library (5th Edition)

gojericho0

I would start with BCSI. From what hear its probably the hardest of the four exams, plus it builds on all those routing protocols you learned in the CCNA and adds a couple more. You also learn some cool tips and tricks for scaling and controlling routing

kpjungle

Slowhand wrote:

Let's see. . .

CCNP Official Exam Certification Library (5th Edition)

CCNP Nuggets series

Some crazy person's ideas on a CCNP lab

Hope that gives you a start. I'm sure some of the other Cisco gurus and CCNP study-fiends will have some input as well.

Cool, it contains all the certification guides. I looked at http://www.techexams.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=26520, and it seems like there is a command guide and a lab portfolio for each. Anyone else using these or extra books to supply with?

Update: What about the self study-guides, anyone using those instead of the exam certification guides?

Read your lab setup slowhand.. I will follow your example

nicklauscombs

kpjungle wrote:

it seems like there is a command guide and a lab portfolio for each. Anyone else using these or extra books to supply with?

I have ordered both the command guide and lab portfolio for BSCI but haven't received them yet, I'm hoping they will be of great use.

Has anyone else used them?

singh8281

I wouldn't start with Certification guide unless you have a years of experience configuring routers. I made the mistake of starting solo with cert guide and regretted it. BSCI study guide and Lab portfolio is the way to go.

networker050184

I agree with singh8281 about the exam certification guide. It is a great pre-exam study source, but if you are learning from the ground up I would go with the study guide and then the certification guide.

Good luck!

mikej412

networker050184 wrote:

I agree with singh8281

ditto

Check the CCNP FAQ for the link to the Cisco Press CCNP web page.

The Quick Reference Sheets are also good for a quick summary of the important points to stay awake for during study -- and for a review before your exam (and to kill time the morning of your exam).

kpjungle

Great. Thanks alot guys.. will spend Cisco money tomorrow

kpjungle

singh8281 wrote:

I wouldn't start with Certification guide unless you have a years of experience configuring routers. I made the mistake of starting solo with cert guide and regretted it. BSCI study guide and Lab portfolio is the way to go.

Just adding to my shopping cart, and I noticed there are no self-study guides for ISCW and ONT, are the exam cert guides the only material covering those areas then?

mikej412

kpjungle wrote:

I noticed there are no self-study guides for ISCW and ONT, are the exam cert guides the only material covering those areas then?

Those exams only have the one book for certification self study.

You'd also want to use the Reference Sheets and the Cisco Documentation to fill in any gaps you find between the exam blueprint and the Exam Certification Guide.

Paul Boz

While you're blowing tons of cash on Cisco Press material, don't forget that the internet is a relatively free resource that has a ton more info than the entire library offered by Cisco press.

I stopped buying Cisco exam prep guides mid way through the CCNP when I realized they're a sham. The DocCD is just as coherent and more concise without the frequent poor writing. The quick reference sheets are good for review but not necessary either. I think I spent a total of $90 on books for the CCNP. I wouldn't be surprised if Cisco makes just as much money peddling poorly written books as they do selling hardware.

Here is my strategy:

1. Print the exam blueprint
2. Review subjects at a CCNA level if possible
3. Once memory loss has been repaired, study foreign topics to a fundamental level
4. Practice basic configuration
5. Study subjects in further depth (DocCD, groupdstudy, RFC's)
6. Practice advanced configuration
7. Sit/pass exam

Also keep good notes. Don't rely on your memory alone to get you through exams. By putting a pen in your hand and putting word to paper you greatly improve your chances of remembering the information. Be in a hurry but take your time

just my $.02

kpjungle

Paul Boz wrote:

While you're blowing tons of cash on Cisco Press material, don't forget that the internet is a relatively free resource that has a ton more info than the entire library offered by Cisco press.

I stopped buying Cisco exam prep guides mid way through the CCNP when I realized they're a sham. The DocCD is just as coherent and more concise without the frequent poor writing. The quick reference sheets are good for review but not necessary either. I think I spent a total of $90 on books for the CCNP. I wouldn't be surprised if Cisco makes just as much money peddling poorly written books as they do selling hardware.

Here is my strategy:

1. Print the exam blueprint
2. Review subjects at a CCNA level if possible
3. Once memory loss has been repaired, study foreign topics to a fundamental level
4. Practice basic configuration
5. Study subjects in further depth (DocCD, groupdstudy, RFC's)
6. Practice advanced configuration
7. Sit/pass exam

Also keep good notes. Don't rely on your memory alone to get you through exams. By putting a pen in your hand and putting word to paper you greatly improve your chances of remembering the information. Be in a hurry but take your time

just my $.02

Thanks for all the valuable input. I assume the blueprint mentioned is http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/current_exams/642-901.html ?

I can only second the thing about keeping notes. It helped me tremendously during my CCNA. I wrote down some major things regarding each chapter. It kept me thinking about each topic and memorize some things that were hard to keep in memory, but keep looking them over and adding to them.

optimus

Paul Boz wrote:

While you're blowing tons of cash on Cisco Press material, don't forget that the internet is a relatively free resource that has a ton more info than the entire library offered by Cisco press.

I stopped buying Cisco exam prep guides mid way through the CCNP when I realized they're a sham. The DocCD is just as coherent and more concise without the frequent poor writing. The quick reference sheets are good for review but not necessary either. I think I spent a total of $90 on books for the CCNP. I wouldn't be surprised if Cisco makes just as much money peddling poorly written books as they do selling hardware.

Here is my strategy:

1. Print the exam blueprint
2. Review subjects at a CCNA level if possible
3. Once memory loss has been repaired, study foreign topics to a fundamental level
4. Practice basic configuration
5. Study subjects in further depth (DocCD, groupdstudy, RFC's)
6. Practice advanced configuration
7. Sit/pass exam

Also keep good notes. Don't rely on your memory alone to get you through exams. By putting a pen in your hand and putting word to paper you greatly improve your chances of remembering the information. Be in a hurry but take your time

just my $.02

Paul, don't you know that that HOT IT BABES in armour with big guns totally dig dudes with big Cisco libraries?! You sillly silly man...........

Paul Boz

optimus wrote:

Paul, don't you know that that HOT IT BABES in armour with big guns totally dig dudes with big Cisco libraries?! You sillly silly man...........

Well, I married a non-IT girl and it's quite the opposite. "Clean these damn books out of the bathroom or I'm throwing them in the tub" has come up a few times

optimus

That is grounds for divorce, especially if they are Cisco books!