Passed CCENT

Passed the 1st part of CCNA today scored 862 and had about 25 min remaining but this was not an easy test at all. How long would you guys recommend studying for the next part. Also, if money is not an issue "which it is" would you recommend doing ICDN2 or just take the CCNA total test? Thanks for any advise.

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Comments

bigmantenor

First of all, congrats on the pass! How long you study on the next part is largely predicated by how much experience you have with the topics. I am taking about a month to study for ICND2, but I also have a good amount of study time available to me.

As far as taking ICND2 or the composite, my view is that you're already halfway there, so why bother with anything but ICND2? If money is an object, then here is some dollars and cents logic for you: ICND2 will cost you $125, composite will be $250. This means you could take ICND2 twice for the same money as taking the composite once. What this effectively means is that you essentially get a "free" shot at ICND2. You could treat it like a practice exam if you wanted. Here's the best part: The first time you take ICND2, you could get a passing score, and you just saved $125. I know what sounds better to me

alan2308

Congrats!

tink334

Thanks! I really got to admit I was shocked by how hard this test was. Very tricky some of the questions.

jamesleecoleman

Congratulations on passing. The ICND2 is tough. You really really have to know the information, how things work, and subnetting. I also suggest taking the ICND2 exam. The length of study depends on how much time you up into studying. I've honestly spent over seven months studying for the ICND2.

MrBrian

Congratulations! Just keep reading and doing labs and you'll be a CCNA in no time!

wave

Congrats tink!

jamesleecoleman wrote: »

Congratulations on passing. The ICND2 is tough. You really really have to know the information, how things work, and subnetting. I also suggest taking the ICND2 exam. The length of study depends on how much time you up into studying. I've honestly spent over seven months studying for the ICND2.

Wow seven months! How much time are you studying each day?

I've been studying for almost three months for ICND1 doing about 2.5 hours, sometimes 3.5 hours a day. I've had to take a few days off here and there due to travel. I've got about three chapters of the Odom ICND1 book left and I've been reading a chapter then going over it again, taking notes all the way through. I've filled one note book and am on to the second. I've also been watching the CBT Nugget videos and have been labbing on real equipment, packet tracer and GNS3 depending on where I am at the time.

Looking at the size of the Odom ICND2 book I'm thinking I'll need to dedicate at least three months to study for that exam.

I finally cracked subnetting in my head, I'm proud to say I can answer questions from subnettingquestions.com in 10 to 20 seconds. When I first started tackling the beast of Subnetting I never thought I would be able to do that!

Dakinggamer87

Congrats on pass!!

MrXpert

I've not been studying for ICND1 very long.Not as long as i want to. Probably a few weeks on and off. I'm on chapter 5 of wendell odoms ICND1 book. i only have packet tracer. dont have enough money or even space for real equipment.
I did a 180 odd question practice ICND1 test from Boson which apparently is highly recommended(or at least one or two people mentioned it here)
I achieved 49% score.Obviously a fail but i'm only on chapter 5 of the book and only am half way through the videos of trainsignal and cbt nuggets.

wave

MrXpert wrote: »

I've not been studying for ICND1 very long.Not as long as i want to. Probably a few weeks on and off. I'm on chapter 5 of wendell odoms ICND1 book. i only have packet tracer. dont have enough money or even space for real equipment.
I did a 180 odd question practice ICND1 test from Boson which apparently is highly recommended(or at least one or two people mentioned it here)
I achieved 49% score.Obviously a fail but i'm only on chapter 5 of the book and only am half way through the videos of trainsignal and cbt nuggets.

Yeah, probs too early for a practice test yet. I've found the Odom book to be excellent so far. The Nuggets are a good break from the text but the text certainly contains much more content. I've been doing the quizz that's printed at the beginning of each chapter at the END of the chapter after I've reviewed the content. That's one thing that's missing from Odom's book, good solid end of chapter tests like Lammle's books.

THA_DOC

Congrats!

tink334

This may be a stupid question but what are the advantages of a real lab vs Packetracer. I know you get to touch the equipment but if you know how to connect a cable i don't see any advantages.

I do however see advantages to PT no extra electric used, as many devises as you need, and you still need to know what cables to use.

I have a couple of physical devise 800, 2500 series routers but I feel I would need much more to help out. I can update the IOS with the physical stuff.

Hypntick

tink334 wrote: »

This may be a stupid question but what are the advantages of a real lab vs Packetracer. I know you get to touch the equipment but if you know how to connect a cable i don't see any advantages.

I do however see advantages to PT no extra electric used, as many devises as you need, and you still need to know what cables to use.

I have a couple of physical devise 800, 2500 series routers but I feel I would need much more to help out. I can update the IOS with the physical stuff.

The main reason physical is better than packet tracer: Functionality. You have access to everything that IOS has on it with the real gear, with PT you do not.

xenodamus

tink334 wrote: »

This may be a stupid question but what are the advantages of a real lab vs Packetracer. I know you get to touch the equipment but if you know how to connect a cable i don't see any advantages.

I do however see advantages to PT no extra electric used, as many devises as you need, and you still need to know what cables to use.

I have a couple of physical devise 800, 2500 series routers but I feel I would need much more to help out. I can update the IOS with the physical stuff.

My very first networking gig.....very first ticket in my queue....was to update the IOS on several devices. You can't do that on a simulator. I think everyone who attains CCENT/CCNA should have at least 1 real device to upgrade/xmodem for experience.