Best way to learn

[telnettech]

Guys,

need some advice. I have been trying to study for the CCNA for 1 year now. I have the latest Sybex CCNA study guide and even purchased a 2500 series router off od ebay for 12 bucks to assist in my studies. As all of us do, I work fulltime during the day and go to Devry in the evening working on a bachelors in Network and Communications mgmt. I have a little free time and from time to time i read the book and use the router but not enough to retain the info. I have thought about taking a week vacation and going to a local CCNA boot camp. I currently dont work with the Cisco equipment enough to retain the info but am wanting to complete this so that i can continue to CCVP. what would you suggest i do.

1) take the week vacation to go to the boot camp
2)find somebody that is also trying to get certified and work with them to keep myself motivated
3)take a year off from school and take the local Cisco academy which takes 1 year to complete

Help is greatly appreciated

Brian

To error is human.....if the machine doesnt work, then KICK IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lerdalt]

Don't really know what direction to point you towards. I didn't have quite the same scenario, in that I work on Cisco equipment daily, but finding the time to learn what Cisco wanted you to know for the CCNA was tough.

I liked the buddy approach for learning. Mainly because one of you might learn and retain one topic a little easier than the other. What we ended up doing, is teaching each other various topics. For example, I had a better handle on Subnetting, so we'd sit down, and I'd explain it step by step with him. This did 2 things, helped him, and made me understand it even more.

 

[CiscoGuy33]

telnettech,

I have taught in a Cisco Network Academy for over 7 years, I think that would be your best option but I DO NOT think you need to take a year off your BS.

I am working full time, I am doing my BS in Management Technologies and I am still doing some of my lower level classes at the local community college - 3-4 classes a semester between the two.

You might cut back a little on your BS classes at Devry as you take Cisco Network Academy classes - I taught in a year long program and you could easily do 1 Cisco Academy class and 1 3rd or 4th year class at the same time.

DO NOT do the boot camp - if you said that you work with Cisco equipment daily and have for the past 5 years and just do not have time to study for CCNA - then maybe boot camp would be for you!

You also said you bought ONE 2500 router on eBay - for the best lab experience for the CCNA you should have 3 Cisco routers (Ethernet - 2501, 2503 or 2514 to name several) and 2 Cisco switches.

Hope this helps!



E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[helpdeskdan]

A 2500 for twelve bucks?! Dang, at that price, maybe I should get some equipment, I could really use more practice.

CiscoGuy33 has an excellent point - the Cisco Academy can be pricey, but it's a great way to learn and it is often taught as a night or Saturday class. It's not a difficult class; I found it quite enjoyable. Lerdalt also has a good point about the buddy system - one can find somebody to study with in the Cisco Academy.

If you're in a crunch for a third router, quagga (or zebra) can be used. It runs OSPF, RIP, even BGP and configures very similar to Cisco. However, for 12 bucks, I'd get the real deal.

 

[CiscoGuy33]

telnettech,

Dan makes some good points - check around for prices from different Cisco Network Academys - it is taught in high schools, adult education centers, community colleges and even colleges.

I taught in a community college and the classes were about $200 each (4 classes X $200 = $800) and it was worth 12 credit hours towards an AS degree in networking.

Check around prices are not standard - but also check to see what equipment they are using and how many routers per student.

Just some thoughts!


E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +