Cisco Certifications

yucao89 · Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2003 8:52 pm Post subject: CCNA problems

hello nh8as
I am so lucky on meeting a CCNP. Can you awnser the following questions that i am not good at. Thanks for your comment. As you see once people has more knowledge, the opinion changes!
I am currently reading The book published by Cisco systems called Cisco academy of networking first year companion guide will this guide drive me to pass me CCNA exams? Or you recomends me an other book.
I am currently on the chapter of the 2 layer of the OSI in detail!

nh8as · n00b Joined: 01 Mar 2003 Posts: 26 Location: Norway

Hello

I didn't read Cisco press books to pass my CCNA, but I have done Cisco Networking Academy Program (CNAP) to pass my CCNP. This is online material, but I've heard that Cisco also have realease a book with exactly the same content.. If this is the case, then I can at least say that they tell you what you need to know as a CCNA (P) and a little bit more:)
I used some books from Thompson/Wave learning to pass my CCNA, but these books I don't recommend.
I also have used Cisco Press books to pass my CCNP, but they tend to go very much more in depth than what you need to now, if your goal is just to pass the exams(but, recommended reading, if you are interessted in learning a bit beond the scope of the certification).

On the CCNA they test you _ALOT_ on the OSI model, so be sure you know your OSI well

_________________
Say no to Americas war on Iraq!

yucao89 · Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2003 10:10 pm Post subject: CCNA problems

I know that it is online material and my goal is to pass CCNA but learn network is my goal i am only 13 year old i am pretty slow on reading like 2 months i only get to the 2 layer in detail. When i bought this book i didn't know that it is a online material, and when i notice it i though that i bought the wrong book. This book is about the semester 1 + 2 and it says that it will help me to pass the exam 640-507 and what is this exam about? there will be an other exam on ccna examination appart from this. The other question is that my book is free online? tell me where to get this book but the online version! so that when i come to read the 3+4 semester book (2nd year guide) i don't have to buy it and just read it from the internet!
Also i think that cisco recomends Unix and java as other knowledge so shall i learn it? What is your age? is it early now to start the CCNA examination.

pjp · Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2003 11:47 pm Post subject:

Split from What is a Mac address (detail).
_________________
lolgov. 'cause where we're going, you don't have civil liberties.

In Loving Memory
1787 - 2008

jconover · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2003 3:27 am Post subject:

I used the Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices, ISBN: 1-57870-111-2 almost 3 years ago and the Exam Cram to pass.

In December, I either need to take an upgrade exam or a CCNP exam to hold on to my CCNA.

perry · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2003 5:08 am Post subject:

It looks like 640-507 has been retired, and 640-607 is the new CCNA exam. No idea what the differences are between the two exams, but I'd bet they are pretty similar.

The Cisco Networking Academy has online materials that schools use for teaching classes, but it's really just an abridged version of the book that you have. My professor said that the online stuff will teach you enough to pass the exam, but the book will go into more detail. You can try looking around, but I'm not sure there is a way for you to get access to the Net Academy unless you have some sort of affiliation with a school or company -- http://cisco.netacad.net.

Since you're only 13, I'd say take your time learning all the material in detail, rather than trying just to learn enough to pass the CCNA test. In my course, we're doing each "year" in a 16 week semester, and we're just learning enough to pass the CCNA, and not much else. There's times when I wish we had more time to play around.

yucao89 · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2003 9:53 am Post subject: Dear CCNPs

Hello CCNP my masters.
How old are you?
As you see i am a noob. Please help me! LOl
i bought a book on 507 exam and what is the diference between 507 and 607? So i need to change book? Do you think that i am very slow? Because i did 6 chapters in 3 months

jconover · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2003 12:26 pm Post subject:

No, 3 months isn't slow. IMHO I would go ahead and get the latest book for the exam you plan on taking. There is always updates that you will want to know that will go with exam and book. Also, it is very nice to get either a router to play with the commands or a virtual router software for testing purposes.

BTW, make sure you go play with friends and play some video games or some kind of sports if you can. Your only 13 once. Sorry if I sound like your father, but make sure you have some clean fun to. Sitting in your basement hacking a linux box all night isn't good for you :oops:

Good luck with the test. As "perry" pointed out, you will learn more the more time you can just read and practice. Don't be in a hurry to take an exam w/out the correct knowlege. Anyone can pass an exam, but can they do it in the real world? That's what matters to your future employer.

Oh, I'm 27 :idea:

yucao89 · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2003 1:51 pm Post subject: CCNA

Jconover and other network Experts
Thanks for your comment on have fun when you are 13! This is what i need to do in my free time. I am slow i think because i only readed 6 chapter in 3 months and there is 30 chapters! But your comment is always useful because you are CCNA and you can help me! So are going to take the CCNP exam? My goal is to be a JAVA programmer and a CCIE and i am now starting to learn alot! One question how many years took you to learn CCNA?
And what is BTW as you mentioned on your sentence
I am happy to meet you. You are from America? I am chinese and living in spain.

jconover · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2003 1:59 pm Post subject: Re: CCNA

BillyD · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2003 3:43 am Post subject:

I used the Sybex books by Todd Lammle and fooled around with some old routers at work to do my CCNP. Courses are ok I guess (I only did the one for CCNA) but they cost a bunch - around $10,000 for all the CCNP courses. You can do it by yourself quite easily if you take your time to study.
_________________
We used to have hominid cousins that were vegetarian. The palæontological record suggests that our ancestors killed them and ate them.

Ian · l33t Joined: 28 Oct 2002 Posts: 820 Location: Newport, RI

i'm taking the CCNA course for free in my high school (i'm a junior, 16 years old). we're on semester 2 now, and i find the course great. semester 1 sucks, i hate the OSI model :p. otherwise, i found the course pretty cool, and actually, using gentoo helped me understand a bunch of stuff about DHCP and some other stuff. don't ask, it's a long story :p.

perry · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2003 4:07 am Post subject:

You can't really learn or read too slowly or too quickly.. You learn at whatever pace is comfortable to you. If English is your second or third language, and you're trying to read a technical book written in English, then I could see that slowing you down a bit. Sometimes I have trouble understanding the stuff, and I've been speaking English for 24 years now

The Cisco Networking Academy for the CCNA was designed to be taught in 2 years to high school students. My college is teaching the CCNA material in two 16 week semesters (one year). I used to work with a guy who went through the Sybex book in a couple months during free time at work, took a week off to do heavy studying, and then passed the CCNA test. So you can see that the time it takes varies by quite a bit. Learn at whatever pace you feel is right for you.

Take some time to learn the basics as they'll provide the basis for everything you learn in the future. It's just like math... you can't do Algebra or Calculus if you can't figure out how to do 2 + 2

RobertTheBruce · n00b Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 41

I just did my CCNA exam and I just used the cisco.netacad.net and the Cisco Press books. 1 Month straight studying after finishing the CCNA course at my local college. I'm trying to figure out what cert. to do next. Linux+ or a M$ cert what does everyone think?

nh8as · n00b Joined: 01 Mar 2003 Posts: 26 Location: Norway

Get experience instead of certs, experience counts sooo much more

But, security is a hot topic these days, I'm currently studing for a CompTIA Security+ exam, hoping it, together with my countless hours in the basement and my CCNP cert. will get me a job some day

_________________
Say no to Americas war on Iraq!

RobertTheBruce · n00b Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 41

thanks for the advice. I've been working on getting experiance but it takes a long time to get.

yucao89

Thanks All professionals i will go ahead and will study only for the experience.

nh8as · n00b Joined: 01 Mar 2003 Posts: 26 Location: Norway

When I said experience I ment "handson", work, eployed somewhere, refrences

_________________
Say no to Americas war on Iraq!

yucao89 · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2003 10:18 pm Post subject: What does handson means

What does handson means (my english level is not so good but i predict that is hand done work isn't is e.g setting up the router designign and not pure theory?)

BillyD · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2003 7:02 pm Post subject:

Yep handson or hands on is exactly that - actually working with the gear, configuring and installing etc.

While it is true that experience counts for a lot, certifications help you get your "foot in the door". If there are 2 people going for the same job, both with equal experience and only one with certification, then the guy with certification will almost always get it. IF on the other hand an employer actually gets candidates to do some practical demonstration of their skill (which doesn't seem to happen too often), then the guy without the cert may be in for a better chance.

Take me for example - I have a CCNP but no practical experience with it - if I was put to the test then I would fail miserably, wheras there are many people with no certifications that are far more competant then me.

If you are looking at gaining employment in the networking industry in today's competative environment, then definately try and get some certification(s). It will put you ahead (on paper, anyway) with the 150 other people competing for the same job.
_________________
We used to have hominid cousins that were vegetarian. The palæontological record suggests that our ancestors killed them and ate them.

yucao89 · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2003 7:22 pm Post subject: Thanks

I will gain more experience before doing the CCNA
and i think that my goal is to get TO CCIE
please advanced friends could you mail me information about the exam CCNA (e.g parts in it...)

Thanks

BillyD · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2003 7:25 pm Post subject:

Take a look at this.
_________________
We used to have hominid cousins that were vegetarian. The palæontological record suggests that our ancestors killed them and ate them.