I need help to be a CCNA

[CCNAny]

Dear CCNAnies,

I have recently started studiing for CCNA. I need your help and guidence on how to proceed?

what books to buy?

should I take up this course that the Training partner of CISCO is offering? Its a 5 day full time course and its too expensive. I wanna study on my own.

Please send me links of sites which offer material online and free. Can one study on its won and take the exam in a month?

luv u all and thanks for all yr help in advance..
R

 

[vampirevicky]

CCNAny

Yes possible, but better thu academy or on job experience.

you need

1) books (ICND:cisco press, Todd Lammel:study guide)
2) a sim (very imp if u are not getting practical exp)
3) practice tests (More than half the battel is won here)
4) lots of self studies
5) Be in touch with this and other forums.
6) Get in touch with a CCNA,CCNP in ur neighborhood who offers some coaching/help in his free time

Note: advantge of academy is u get hands on on routers at the lab. Alternative buy a router. Sim equals rtrs but just not the same feeling.

CAUTION: THIS MAY PASS U THE EXAM, BUT IT IS POSSIBLE STUDYING ON UR OWN, U MAY REALLY END UP STRENGTHENING FALSE CONCEPTS SINCE THERE WILL BE NO ONE TO GUIDE YOU VIS-A-VIS FORMAL PROGRAM.

I've seen guys with superficial knowlege and not much insight into the concepts pass because they did lots of practice test and the questions are very similar/even repeat

Also refer to rworell "looking for insight post".

Vikram
SAP BASIS R3\IBM AIX\Tivoli Administrator, CCNA

 

[CCNAny]

Hi Vikram,

Thanks so much for your valuable piece of advice. To be frank I dont have much of an experience in Networking , I mean practical exp. But I have some theoretical knowledge. Someone adviced me to do MCSE first before doing CISCO as thats more basic and easy as compared to CCNA. What do u think? I am so very confused. Please advice.

Also, there will be a change in CCNA curriculam after Sept 30 so I was thinking that its best to do it before that. What do u think?

I am ready to study hard and I know I can do it but I agree with u that I need some practical knowledge as well. I have a small LAN set up in my office which I will use to practice the basics. I have bought the Cisco CCNA Exam Guide by Wendell Odem. I didnt get the ICND:cisco press, Todd Lammel:study guide. They dont have the latest addition i.e. 640-607 they only have 640-507. Do you know where I can get this from? Do u have it as I read somewhere that u just gave yr exam on Aug 6. I am based in Delhi.

Thanks
Preeti

 

[vampirevicky]

Hi Preeti,

For info regarding CCNA vs MCSE refer to missing30 "CCNA or MCSE" post. A lot has been said there. I cudnt possibly add to it. Also refer to magsam "I just wanted to know" post. I have put my 2 cents on both threads.

I would suggest, dont jump. The 5 day course is for those who are already working, not for those who are completely new to routers. The crash course approach for ur engg/other grad studies may not work here. Ofcourse if you have an IQ of 200 then it may be possible...

I checked out the book u are talking abt.

Looks a lot heftier book at 1014 pages. I've not heard of this book until now, thats coz my ccna shopping happened long before I actually started working on the exam.

This link shud solve ur problem...

http://www.bpbonline.com/Books/delhi.htm

One of the stockists ought to have it.

I may be able to help you on a few other points. But not on this forum. I may inadvertently break some of this forum's policy and then they inhumanely zap all ur posts, tata, u never existed. If you want mail me at srvikram@hotmail.com. Todd Lammel I did have, a friend has borrowed it now, but even I cud get it, buying the book might be easier than making me courier it all the way from Mumbai



Vikram
SAP BASIS R3\IBM AIX\Tivoli Administrator, CCNA

 

[vampirevicky]

Preeti

...and one more thing...I overlooked the "can u study on ur own and pass it in a month". Possible to study on ur own, but a month that too when u are new to this...NO WAY. It requires 3 months self study w/o practical experience assuming u are pretty bright.

Vikram
SAP BASIS R3\IBM AIX\Tivoli Administrator, CCNA