Boot camp class or books and computer lab

[mcintosh78]

Ok, so I have looked into the CCNA training and found 2 avenues. A "Boot camp" style class ($2500.00) which is 5 days long, or buying the 2 recommended books and software program for labs???

Any suggestions??

Kyle

 

[darkhut]

I don't think there are many people who can become CCNA in 5 days, and without having the books too. I started reading on the subject 6 months ago, and started studying really hard after my first -failed- try, in january. What I heard in this forum is that the best thing to do with the bootcamps is know the subject really well before taking it. So you should get at least Odom's books, go through them, try a few free labs online, get a couple used 2500 series routers from Ebay and get hands-on with them. Just my humble opinion.

fresh CCNA

 

[helpdeskdan]

I tend to agree, however, I have heard some very good Cisco people say that the boot camps were the way they learned. It is very important to for you to know your method of learning. If you do not cram well, you probably should NOT take a boot camp. If you do cram well, and are able to continually review to keep from forgetting it, a boot camp may be the way to go especially if you have limited time.

 

[CiscoGuy33]

Kyle,

What is your background in networking - I had a student in the Cisco Academy that was a CCNA - he paid $2,000 for a bootcamp and learned just what he needed and passed the CCNA in 5 days BUT ........ he went to his first interview as a CCNA and was BLOWN OUT OF THE WATER when they started to ask him technical questions a CCNA should know!!!

They told him to come back when his experience matched his certs!!

His background had been electrical and doing cable installs so he was not totally new to the area but no way he could learn all there is to WORK AS A CCNA in 5 days!!

Get the Sybex CCNA Study Guide 5th edition by Todd L., another CCNA book by Cisco Press and a good router sim or 3 routers and 2 switches off eBay and learn what you need to be a CCNA!

Just my thoughts having taught CCNAs in the Cisco Network Academy for about 8 years!


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

 

[CiscoGuy33]

Kyle,

IMHO - bootcamps are for those who have been working with the subject for years and just need to cram to get all the facts that they have been working with already - straight!

If you are new to the subject - I think you need a little more then what can be cramed into 5 days - I am not saying you will not pass the test - just that you might not be a good CCNA


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

 

[mcintosh78]

Thanks for all of the help. I have decided to purchase the Cisco second edition CCNA book, with the cdrom and simulator.
My background is Telecom, Large phone switch and cabling. I just started programming small networks, With a gateway router, and unmanaged switch. Nothing to fancy. I want this cert for the Voip side of telecom, and to up my resume and need to companies.

Kyle

 

[darkhut]

You did good. The simulator is not gona be enough, once you get used to IOS it will become annoying because of the lack of support for all the commands you will need to know as a CCNA, as well as for the incorrect behaviour of some of its features. Nevertheless, the simulator is a good start, and it also helps when you need to mimic more routers than you have available. You can get some real router experience here:

http://www.free-labs.com.

It helped me a lot. There are other free labs out there, I had to subscribe to myspace to get in contact with somebody who offers his lab equipment for free I think CCNA is a good start if you want to go for the VoIP.

fresh CCNA