CCDA and CXFS

Good Afternoon everyone! So it seems I have to take a little term break from the WGU MS:ISA program in order to accomplish a few required certifications for my new position. Work recently asked me to study for and pass both the Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA) and the Cisco Express Foundation for Systems Engineers (CXFS) to add towards their requirements for channel partner status. My current plan is as follows:

Reading Material for CCDA:
Amazon.com: CCDA Official Exam Certification Guide (Exam 640-863) (3rd Edition) (9781587201776): Anthony Bruno, Steve Jordan: Gateway
Designing for Cisco Internetwork Solutions 2.0 - Student Guide (Global Knowledge Course)

Video Material for CCDA:
CBT Nuggets streaming subscription.

Reading Material for CXFS:
TBD!!!!

Video Material for CXFS:
Partner E-learning Connection Materials (Cisco PEC required)

I am more than open to any suggestions anyone has for these exams especially for the CXFS. I do realize that for the CCDA I'll have to "drink the Kool-Aid" so to speak for IIN, SONA, and the Cisco Enterprise Architecture Model. This will be a fun journey and IMO great motivation for me to redo my CCNP which I let expire a few years back (anyone remember BCRAN and CIT?).

Thanks in advance!

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Comments

GT-Rob

ooo BCRAN, I think I just missed that one haha.

CCDA is a pretty straight forward exam. Read some of the other topics on here to get an idea, but its pretty well covered in that book. Lots of terminology to get to know.

Unfortunately when it comes to specialization exams, material and feedback are pretty hard to come by. I have looked into a couple, but it really seems like you are on your own. On top of that, some of the blueprints are extremely vague (I think one of the design exams is like 2 lines for their blueprint, and you are supposed to study for 60 questions off that!).

Anyway, don't hold your breath for CXFS material.

* if you have the budget, some training companies (global knowledge for example) usually have a course for EVERY exam. CXFS has a 5 day course with them if you were desperate.

down77

I just noticed INE put up their self-paced CCDA course. I may try to talk work into picking that up for me! I'm having a hard time staying away while listening to the CBT Nuggets streaming CCDA Update material.... Jeremy PLEASE re-record the 640-863 v2.1 nugget!

I looked into Global Knowledge and their CXFS course was over-priced IMO due to the material being covered on the exam. It seems you get ~30hrs CBT material through the Cisco PEC site and with a little digging I found some additional bookmarks that were on the cisco forums that should help to fill content for the test.

down77

CCDA Post Exam Feedback:

Well a friend and I both sat the CCDA exam today before the new version is released and I will say that it covers a broad range of design best practices and tests your ability to apply the most appropriate solution in a given situation. It was a very fair exam and I did enjoy studying for this one.... once I got past the first chapter of the Self-Study guide.

I ended up using both the Self Study and OEG books as well as the INE CCDA video on demand course. I supplemented this with the forum posts found here and over at cisco. As many have discovered the Teare book explains each section in more detail which IMO is required for this exam. The INE videos provided a great review in the week leading up to the exam and helped to reinforce everything that had been learned through the text. I also had the benefit of directly applying the knowledge to design scenarios within my current position. I would HIGHLY recommend to anyone who is looking for "practical" experience with the Design material, to apply the best practices and methodologies to your current place of employment and treat it as a "special project/engagement." It's amazing what you will see when you step back and take a look from the 10,000ft view.

As far as the CXFS, I have started on the ~30hrs of CBT content that cisco provides and will be supplementing this with endless amounts of Cisco whitepapers that have been suggested on the forums. I'm hoping to attempt this one in November and then roll right into completing the CCDP track (Arch/Route left).

Now to put the OEG back up on Amazon Marketplace (keeping the self study).

mikej412

down77 wrote: »

CCDA Post Exam Feedback

Nice Review!

Congratulations!!

down77

I took the CXFS exam a few weeks back and realized I had not updated this thread. After reviewing the 30 or so hours of online training material provided by the Partner Education Connection, reading the cisco forums, and reviewing the first chapter of the Switch Foundation Studies I will say that this was a rough exam. A few people had mentioned that this exam sits between the CCDA and CCDP in terms of knowledge/difficulty and I may have to agree with them.

My suggestion for this exam: Review the PEC material, CCDA Self study, and most importantly the product overviews for each of the devices listed in the PEC course. Since this is an advanced design specialist exam, they are testing your capability to go above simple design and understand how the various pieces interconnect, their features, and their limitations.

The most important tip I can give for this exam is to take your time! Take your time studying the material and most importantly take your time reading the questions on the exam.

Now that this one is complete I am off to review for ARCH.

Cheers

peanutnoggin

CONGRATS on your pass... your write seemed deluded until the very end! LOL!! Again, congrats!

-Peanut