Im hoping that my current employer (who already has a few CCNA's) will work with me towards this qualification. Im competent with PC's etc and also have a good basic understanding of VoiP / networking... How long does it roughly take to pass? Are there any pre-requisits to starting???
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How challenging is a CCNA?
- Thread starter I3astards
- Start date
You need to know how to do subnetting very quickly. I originally did it in 2000, then retook the exam in 2009. Before I took the exam I took a 1 week class as a refresher. Out of a class of 12 people, only 2 passed. The key was subnetting. If you can't do it, you'll run out of time and fail.
Prior to the class, I read the CCNA books by Wendell Odom (as boring as they are). The material is dry, but if you can answer the questions at the end of each chapter you'll be in good shape.
Also, get your hands on GNS3 and the IOS for a 3600 or 3700 router. GNS3 is a router hardware emulator which allows you to run full IOS images. The 3600 and 3700 routers have a switch module. This will allow you to do some hands on work with the IOS without having to pay a lot of money for gear.
PSC
[—] CCNP (R&S/Wireless) [•] CCSP [•] MCITP: Enterprise Admin [•] MCSE [—]
Governments and corporations need people like you and me. We are samurai. The keyboard cowboys. And all those other people out there who have no idea what's going on are the cattle. Mooo! --Mr. The Plague, from the movie "Hackers
Prior to the class, I read the CCNA books by Wendell Odom (as boring as they are). The material is dry, but if you can answer the questions at the end of each chapter you'll be in good shape.
Also, get your hands on GNS3 and the IOS for a 3600 or 3700 router. GNS3 is a router hardware emulator which allows you to run full IOS images. The 3600 and 3700 routers have a switch module. This will allow you to do some hands on work with the IOS without having to pay a lot of money for gear.
PSC
[—] CCNP (R&S/Wireless) [•] CCSP [•] MCITP: Enterprise Admin [•] MCSE [—]
Governments and corporations need people like you and me. We are samurai. The keyboard cowboys. And all those other people out there who have no idea what's going on are the cattle. Mooo! --Mr. The Plague, from the movie "Hackers
I3astards,
It took me 7 months for the CCNA and about the same for the CCNA Security. Working on the wireless now.
GNS3 is good and a actual lab is also a pretty good idea. Just take a peek around this forum for recommendations there.
This forum and the Cisco Learning Network really helped me to get through mine (and I even managed to learn a little something during the process) LOL
Check out the blindhog.net site... Nice resource for GNS3.
As soon as you pass your CCNA I would suggest knocking out the routing and then the switching JNCIA (Juniper) certifications since they correspond quite closely to the CCNA blueprint with the exception of syntax. That way your studies will provide you 3 (or 4) certs in stead of 1 or 2..>
CCENT
CCNA
JNCIA Routing
JNCIA Switching
Then immediately take the Network+ and you will have a ton of stuff next to your name (probably about 1 yr from start). There is a nice goal and it only goes up from there. I take one Cisco cert followed by one non-Cisco. That way I renew my Cisco certs and can keep working on the other Security stuff that I like too!
Good luck and Have Fun!
PSC,
It's funny but I just watched that movie earlier... Don't tell anyone, wouldn't want to ruin my rep! LOL Later guys!
Billy Haines
CISSP Associate, CCNA Security, CCNA R&S, ETA FOI
It took me 7 months for the CCNA and about the same for the CCNA Security. Working on the wireless now.
GNS3 is good and a actual lab is also a pretty good idea. Just take a peek around this forum for recommendations there.
This forum and the Cisco Learning Network really helped me to get through mine (and I even managed to learn a little something during the process) LOL
Check out the blindhog.net site... Nice resource for GNS3.
As soon as you pass your CCNA I would suggest knocking out the routing and then the switching JNCIA (Juniper) certifications since they correspond quite closely to the CCNA blueprint with the exception of syntax. That way your studies will provide you 3 (or 4) certs in stead of 1 or 2..>
CCENT
CCNA
JNCIA Routing
JNCIA Switching
Then immediately take the Network+ and you will have a ton of stuff next to your name (probably about 1 yr from start). There is a nice goal and it only goes up from there. I take one Cisco cert followed by one non-Cisco. That way I renew my Cisco certs and can keep working on the other Security stuff that I like too!
Good luck and Have Fun!
PSC,
It's funny but I just watched that movie earlier... Don't tell anyone, wouldn't want to ruin my rep! LOL Later guys!
Billy Haines
CISSP Associate, CCNA Security, CCNA R&S, ETA FOI
CiscoGuy33
Instructor
I3astards,
No prereq to CCNA, can do the 1 or 2 test option.
I would get 2 books, Sybex CCNA Study Guide by Todd Lammel and one of the Cisco Press CCNA books, Wendell Odom is one of the better.
Between the 2 books the Lammel book will give you what you need to know for the exam and the Cisco Press books tend to go into more detail so you understand it a little more and can work with it.
It also helps to have 2 different perspectives.
The CCNA is a lot about troubleshooting - a sim like Cisco's Packet Tracer is good, an emulator like GNS3 is better and a home lab of real equipment (3 routers and 2 switches) that you can do end to end networking is the best, a place where you can try all the different commands and labs!! Using all 3 to get hands on PRACTICE,PRACTICE and MORE PRACTICE is the BEST !!!!!
HANDS ON PRACTICE, as you read about it get in the lab and try it. Here is a link to Wendell Odom's blog at Networkworld about setting up a home CCNA lab -
Study the material, take practice tests and use those to determine where you are and go back to the areas that you don't do well in. DO NOT JUST LEARN THE PRACTICE TESTS !!!! Use them to understand where you are at in your study!!
As far as how long it should take depends on how much time you have to put towards study, it could take a few weeks or almost a year, when you know the stuff in the books and on Cisco's CCNA exam blueprint like the back of your hand - take the exam !!!
Good luck and I hope this helps !!
E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +
No prereq to CCNA, can do the 1 or 2 test option.
I would get 2 books, Sybex CCNA Study Guide by Todd Lammel and one of the Cisco Press CCNA books, Wendell Odom is one of the better.
Between the 2 books the Lammel book will give you what you need to know for the exam and the Cisco Press books tend to go into more detail so you understand it a little more and can work with it.
It also helps to have 2 different perspectives.
The CCNA is a lot about troubleshooting - a sim like Cisco's Packet Tracer is good, an emulator like GNS3 is better and a home lab of real equipment (3 routers and 2 switches) that you can do end to end networking is the best, a place where you can try all the different commands and labs!! Using all 3 to get hands on PRACTICE,PRACTICE and MORE PRACTICE is the BEST !!!!!
HANDS ON PRACTICE, as you read about it get in the lab and try it. Here is a link to Wendell Odom's blog at Networkworld about setting up a home CCNA lab -
Study the material, take practice tests and use those to determine where you are and go back to the areas that you don't do well in. DO NOT JUST LEARN THE PRACTICE TESTS !!!! Use them to understand where you are at in your study!!
As far as how long it should take depends on how much time you have to put towards study, it could take a few weeks or almost a year, when you know the stuff in the books and on Cisco's CCNA exam blueprint like the back of your hand - take the exam !!!
Good luck and I hope this helps !!
E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +
I'm trying to remember how long it took me when I finished up my CCNA back in 2006 (WOW, time flies). I went back on the Certification Tracking system, and I can tell you it took me 6 months from the time I took INTRO before I passed ICND. Thinking I spent at least that same amount of time studying for the first part as well. Granted, that was with working full time, self study, and trying to have a life at the same time.
Now, a lot has changed with the program, but one thing that definitely factors in is the dedication you give it. Obviously, the more you put into it, the more you are going to get out of it. I do remember thinking at the time, since I was working on the gear, had a pretty good size frame-relay network in production, I thought it'd be a lot easier than it really was.
That said, everyone here has given great advice already, but everyone seems to have skipped over one of the best resources, everyone forgot about tek-tips. Great group out here to help answer questions.
TL
-CCNA RS, CCNA Voice, CCNP R/S, CCIP, CCNP-Voice (in progress) CNE5/6-
Now, a lot has changed with the program, but one thing that definitely factors in is the dedication you give it. Obviously, the more you put into it, the more you are going to get out of it. I do remember thinking at the time, since I was working on the gear, had a pretty good size frame-relay network in production, I thought it'd be a lot easier than it really was.
That said, everyone here has given great advice already, but everyone seems to have skipped over one of the best resources, everyone forgot about tek-tips. Great group out here to help answer questions.
TL
-CCNA RS, CCNA Voice, CCNP R/S, CCIP, CCNP-Voice (in progress) CNE5/6-
@lerdalt - so true. I wish there was a better way to thank those who have helped, especially you, burtsbees, and ciscoguy33. I'm sure I've left someone important out. And that doesn't even start with Tek-Tips and the Tecumseh Group whose diligence and hard work makes it all possible.
Iolair MacWalter
Network Engineer
Iolair MacWalter
Network Engineer
I think I actually took the CCNA too seriously when I took it. It was one of the first certification exams I did, and on top of the normal exam stress I also had the whole "the cost of the exam is covered if you pass" stress going on. Studied crazy hard, and did so many flash cards and lab sims that the actual exam seemed like nothing. One of very few exams in the Cisco world where no question got me stuck or even slowed me down.
CCNP, CCDP
CCNP, CCDP
I think the truly difficult part of the CCNA is the fact that it covers so much information. Every other Cisco cert (and most other certifications as well) tend to focus on one subject where the CCNA can jump from wireless, to voice, to frame relay, to route redistribution etc... With the other certs, even the professional level certifications, your exam is focused more on a single topic (with the exception of hybrid exams).
That said, Todd is absolutely correct. Tek-Tips was one of the biggest factors in me passing the CCNA and more importantly it was a huge factor in my deeper exploration of networking in general. Not to mention the fact that you can actually make some real friends here. I talked to Gene (Ciscoguy) about a month ago and Burtbees (let him tell you the story about how he got the name) last week for probably over an hour. And Lerdalt has always been a really good friend and helped me time and time again. I would like to hear from Bill again... the crypto wiz...
By the way, Gene.. You did not post your Lulu link here... That is a good free resource as well. Did you ever talk to your friend about revamping it?
Billy Haines
CISSP Associate, CCNA Security, CCNA R&S, ETA FOI
That said, Todd is absolutely correct. Tek-Tips was one of the biggest factors in me passing the CCNA and more importantly it was a huge factor in my deeper exploration of networking in general. Not to mention the fact that you can actually make some real friends here. I talked to Gene (Ciscoguy) about a month ago and Burtbees (let him tell you the story about how he got the name) last week for probably over an hour. And Lerdalt has always been a really good friend and helped me time and time again. I would like to hear from Bill again... the crypto wiz...
By the way, Gene.. You did not post your Lulu link here... That is a good free resource as well. Did you ever talk to your friend about revamping it?
Billy Haines
CISSP Associate, CCNA Security, CCNA R&S, ETA FOI
CiscoGuy33
Instructor
Billy,
I am this close to writing a "How to Build a CCNA Home Lab" and then the 2nd part of the book would start with 1 router and all the labs, add a 2nd router and more labs and then a 3rd router ...... Then the switches.
That old book REALLY needs to be updated!! It really needs to be done and maybe Cisco Press will like the idea or I will do the LuLu publishing thing - I have an outline done and bits and pieces - we will see where this goes !!!!!
E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +
I am this close to writing a "How to Build a CCNA Home Lab" and then the 2nd part of the book would start with 1 router and all the labs, add a 2nd router and more labs and then a 3rd router ...... Then the switches.
That old book REALLY needs to be updated!! It really needs to be done and maybe Cisco Press will like the idea or I will do the LuLu publishing thing - I have an outline done and bits and pieces - we will see where this goes !!!!!
E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +
gene,
In fact... You could go the "route" (no pun intended) of a "Learning Cisco" book that tailors to the CCNA. Same format that you mentioned but with the advantage of a Dynamips/GNS3/QEMU setup that demonstrates how to design and implement these technologies in addition to the physical lab. Remember, I had 5 - 8 routers running virtually in addition to my physical lab when studying for CCNA R&S. I would also cover SDM and CCP.
Billy Haines
CISSP Associate, CCNA Security, CCNA R&S, ETA FOI
In fact... You could go the "route" (no pun intended) of a "Learning Cisco" book that tailors to the CCNA. Same format that you mentioned but with the advantage of a Dynamips/GNS3/QEMU setup that demonstrates how to design and implement these technologies in addition to the physical lab. Remember, I had 5 - 8 routers running virtually in addition to my physical lab when studying for CCNA R&S. I would also cover SDM and CCP.
Billy Haines
CISSP Associate, CCNA Security, CCNA R&S, ETA FOI
CiscoGuy33
Instructor
Billy,
My outline right now has a chapter on SIMS and a chapter on GNS3 I feel they need to be discussed but I don't want to do a "how to" on "Packet Tracer" or GNS3. But, I want to add some tips as to how to find more info and use with the labs.
When I get to the labs, I want some physical labs where they connect the cables etc. as well as some labs that can use your pick, real routers, a simm like Packet Tracer or GNS3.
When I get to the lab section I would like to do some "general" labs - getting to know your routers and then do labs that address different lines in the exam blue print such as SDM and CCP.
It should be fun and at the very least be another line in my resume
As far as who is interested - I will check with them all !!!!
Also it is 12:08AM on the East Coast so Merry Christmas or to be "PC" Happy Holidays to all !!!!!!
E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +
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