I am currently studying to take my CCNA and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on the best study guide out there, (Bosons, testking, cisco press). I have been through the CCNA classes and I am currently a Network Engineer, but i am horrible at taking tests, so I fear that I will not pass the test. I understand most of the stuff on there, but the little stuff that I never use like the update time for routing protocols and subnetting w/o a calc, i need some brushing up on. If some people could reccommend a study guide for the most recent version of the CCNA i would really appreciate it.
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Best study guide 1
- Thread starter Gihzmo
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cyberspace
Technical User
I believe the most recent version is 3.1 - but don't quote me on that!!
Cisco Press official CCNA books are very good in my opinion, also, the Sybex CCNA book comes highly reccommended - I read the free sample chapter on Subnetting and I felt that Sybex addressed Subnetting better than the Cisco press book.
Boson NetSim is superb, and i hear Test King is good for exam practice.
My old instructor reccommended too.
Hope this helps!
Cisco Press official CCNA books are very good in my opinion, also, the Sybex CCNA book comes highly reccommended - I read the free sample chapter on Subnetting and I felt that Sybex addressed Subnetting better than the Cisco press book.
Boson NetSim is superb, and i hear Test King is good for exam practice.
My old instructor reccommended too.
Hope this helps!
- Thread starter
- #3
Thank you! One thing I have been reading is that Sybex is usually better suited for those who do not have any experience or who have not been through the CCNA program, the Cisco Press books are better for those who have experience. Is this a valid assumption or what, also the simulators which come with these books, are they worth the extra 50 bucks or should I just get the book and be done with it. How flexible are the sim programs included in the books, I know the full version of boson's is very good because I remember using it in our Lab. I just wonder how watered down the book version is.
Thank you
Thank you
- Thread starter
- #4
These were the two packages i was considering:
What are some peoples thoughts on these, has anyone used them?
What are some peoples thoughts on these, has anyone used them?
cyberspace
Technical User
Thats no problem 
You said:
"One thing I have been reading is that Sybex is usually better suited for those who do not have any experience or who have not been through the CCNA program, the Cisco Press books are better for those who have experience. Is this a valid assumption or what"
I cannot comment directly for the Sybex book, as I mention I have not used it, only the Subnetting chapter, but when I did the CCNA training I only really used the official Cisco Press book and I did not feel that it was not aimed at beginners as such - BUT on the other hand, if everything in Sybex is as good as the Subnetting chapter and explained so well then that could be true.
I am starting the CCNA training again today as a refresher before I take the prometric, and I do plan on picking up a copy of the Sybex book.
As for your questions regarding the Book/Lab Sim packages, I cannot comment directly, but I should imaagine that they will be "cut down" to CCNA standard but still fully appropriate for the CCNA.
You said:
"One thing I have been reading is that Sybex is usually better suited for those who do not have any experience or who have not been through the CCNA program, the Cisco Press books are better for those who have experience. Is this a valid assumption or what"
I cannot comment directly for the Sybex book, as I mention I have not used it, only the Subnetting chapter, but when I did the CCNA training I only really used the official Cisco Press book and I did not feel that it was not aimed at beginners as such - BUT on the other hand, if everything in Sybex is as good as the Subnetting chapter and explained so well then that could be true.
I am starting the CCNA training again today as a refresher before I take the prometric, and I do plan on picking up a copy of the Sybex book.
As for your questions regarding the Book/Lab Sim packages, I cannot comment directly, but I should imaagine that they will be "cut down" to CCNA standard but still fully appropriate for the CCNA.
cyberspace
Technical User
Oh you will be able to get a feel of the quality of the Sybex book by taking a look at this free example chapter on subnetting:
ElijahBaley
IS-IT--Management
I started with the Sybex book and it was a good introduction to the material but the Cisco press book was more comprehensive, i only really felt ready after working through the Cisco book, along with Labs and practice tests.
..EB
"Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast!"
"Captain A.J. Rimmer, Space Adventurer!"
..EB
"Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast!"
"Captain A.J. Rimmer, Space Adventurer!"
I agree with most of the people here. The Sybex book is good to introduce you to topics in which you don't have experience (I'd imagine fewer and fewer new sys admins are having to deal with ISDN, which is still a big part of the exam). Then for the more advanced stuff, if you can't afford the official Cisco courses ($2000 - $3000/5 days), then the Cisco Press books are the next best thing.
Also, before you take the exam, I'd recommend you get the RouterSim CCNA practice exam package and go through it several times. It's pretty close in both form and function to the actual exam (in my experience anyway), and will pretty quickly help you figure out areas in which you may be deficient.
Also, before you take the exam, I'd recommend you get the RouterSim CCNA practice exam package and go through it several times. It's pretty close in both form and function to the actual exam (in my experience anyway), and will pretty quickly help you figure out areas in which you may be deficient.
cyberspace
Technical User
I am currently doing the CCNA course part time over 40 weeks at a cost of £150!
The insructor isn't great mind - he says that we won't be doing much ISDN....glad I already pretty much know it.
wildmagpie - where can the RouterSim CCNA practice exam package be bought from and roughly how much is it? Are the practice exams on the CCNA CD any good? What other good practice exam resources are there?
I think I will hammer the Test King exams nearer to the time of my exam.
Systems Administrator
BSc Network Computing, CCNA. Both in training!
The insructor isn't great mind - he says that we won't be doing much ISDN....glad I already pretty much know it.
wildmagpie - where can the RouterSim CCNA practice exam package be bought from and roughly how much is it? Are the practice exams on the CCNA CD any good? What other good practice exam resources are there?
I think I will hammer the Test King exams nearer to the time of my exam.
Systems Administrator
BSc Network Computing, CCNA. Both in training!
cyberspace
Technical User
I'm in Newcastle.
Thanks for the tip I will take a look.
Averaging at over 90% so far in the chapter tests, so I am hoping i can keep it up
Systems Administrator
BSc Network Computing, CCNA. Both in training!
Thanks for the tip I will take a look.
Averaging at over 90% so far in the chapter tests, so I am hoping i can keep it up
Systems Administrator
BSc Network Computing, CCNA. Both in training!
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