Not sure I know what I was thinking... 1

[lerdalt]

but I registered for the bgp-mpls exam tomorrow morning. I'm feeling pretty confident, and with the re-take promo going on, it helps ease the nerves a little bit.

I'm feeling pretty confident on the BGP side, and hope it's enough to carry me through the MPLS. I just don't have the MPLS experience to back any of the theory. Would feel a lot better about it if I had seen it in action a little bit.

Oh well, hopefully tomorrow morning I can add another 4 letters to the resume.

 

[lerdalt]

well..I pulled it off amazingly. Must have been better prepared than I though. Of course I did get to the lab question and forgot most of my show commands for the topic needed. Fortunately I had plenty of time to figure it out.

All in all, it wasn't as bad as I had been expecting or read about.

 

[burtsbees]

Congrats!
Now you're a Super Guru...

Burt

 

[lerdalt]

Haha..and now kind of confused. Not sure what to do next. Been working on Cisco certs so long now, not sure where to go. Definitely taking a break for a little while though. My arms need to recover from carrying around the books.

 

[CiscoGuy33]

lerdalt,

GREAT JOB!!!! Congrats

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

 

[maczen]

Yes, Congrats Lerdalt.. Hello guys.. I take my CCNA tomorrow.. Studying now... Wish me luck.. Just wanted to drop in here and say hello to my Cisco chums!

~Billy

 

[maczen]

By the way Lerdalt.. Almost bought a book on MPLS today.. I know that it is coming but I think I am going to follow CiscoGuy's path and try to tackle the CCDA after the CCNA.. (If I miss it this test I will try again in a week or two).. Then on to the other.. After that I will attempt the CCNP..

Lots of talk about MPLS in the Carrier/Metro ethernet community right now.. Touched on it in one of my classes...

Hey do you guys recommend anything (bookwise) for the CCDA? And when are you going to try to tackle the CCDP CiscoGuy?

Later Guys,
~Billy

 

[CiscoGuy33]

Billy,

I really want to do CCNP first, trying to finish my BS before I get back into CCNP

I think CCDA is a good follow to CCNA because it gave me a better understanding of overall network design where CCNA is more on the troubleshooting side of networking. It kind of completes the understanding of networking!

I talked to a CCIE at Cisco Networkers a few years back and she said that the CCDP was the hardest test she ever took - she felt it was harder then the CCIE written (not the lab) - I think CCNP will serve me better in what I do!

Now that I have my lab at work updated, I hope to start working in some CCNP study over the next year!


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

 

[maczen]

Thanks for the advice. I have to pass the CCNA first. MISSED IT BY ONE QUESTION!!!

Got an 837 and needed an 849 on a 40 question test!

I am retaking it next weekend! WAS SO CLOSE!!!

I am studying now and will of course let you guys know! Not giving up! Not even slowing me down! Do hate the $150 though! LoL

~Billy

ps. Talk to you soon!!! And thanks again!!!

 

[lerdalt]

ouch..don't feel bad though, I had a test for my CNE that I missed by 5 points once. I was PISSED. Don't forget the promo going on right now too for retakes.

I would highly recommend the CCNP exam before moving up the ladder much. I skipped the CCDA stuff, might go back someday though.

 

[maczen]

Yeah, I am kinda pissed too but it's my own fault.. The sim got me.. I honestly didn't know what they were looking for.. I won't elaborate on it too much but I guarantee that I could do anything that they wanted if I could have just figured out what it was that they wanted.. LoL

And there was another question about access and trunk ports that read something like.. List the access ports and list the access ports. Not sure exactly what they wanted there either.. access ports only or a typo but I listed the access ports.. LoL (I know this sounds cryptic but don't want to give too much detail).. Suffice it to say it was kinda goofy but all in all I am really pleased with the test.. If it can give me as much trouble and challenge me the way it did at this point then it will just make the cert that much better...

Thanks Lerdalt...

So you recommend the CCNP over the CCDA as my next step? Can not find any info on the benefit of the CCDA because everyone that has one has other more recognized Cisco certs so they base the numbers off of those in stead. IE. CCNP/CCDA gets thrown into the NP bucket...

Lastly, any ideas on the wireless question I brought back up? I really want to get that up and running.. Going to up my account so that I will have some static IP's and can NAT and set up some other cool things to play with once the CCNA is done... Maybe I will go CCNP next!

 

[burtsbees]

When I took the 640-801 the first time, I got a 785 or something. I way underestimated it! I did not look into any forums...the second time I got 825, third time got like an 843 or thereabouts... wanna talk about pissed? I was confused on what the hell I wasn't getting, but I was also in a hurry to get certified---I could not STAND the job I had at the time. So before I took it the fourth time, I REALLY studied the hell out of VLANs, VTP, and all that switches do. Got a 987 the fourth time.
When I took CCNP, I failed BSCI the first time by like 10 points, but got like 950 the second time, and around 980 or so the other three tests. I got used to how I needed to study. I had no experience (and really not a lot yet today either!) Then I took the Express Foundations Field Specialist---got a 960, and then the sales exam---got 1000.
Anyway, I would advise to take your time, but I do understand the way you think! I am somewhat comfortable where I am now job-wise, but I have been playing around with a PIX 520 and a Catalyst 2980G (CatOS), so maybe some security certs next...good luck on the ICND2!

Burt

 

[lerdalt]

Yeah..I'm sure we all have our failed attempts horror stories. I hate to think how many times I failed exams and how much money I've spent on it.

I can't say I'd recommend one over the other. I just haven't had the desire to go for the CCDA at this time. I went for the CCNP because a co-worker and I were both working on it all at the same time. Helped to have a "team study" approach to working on the exams.

I did pick the CCIP before making an attempt at the CCIE written. The CCIP covered BGP and QoS both of which are both part of the blue prints.

 

[maczen]

Thanks Lerdalt + Team!
I will keep that in mind.. One day... I bought a Juniper NS-5GT Wireless Security App... NetScreen/Scream Not sure yet.. LoL and am about to try to tag the JNCIA-ER onto my name next before jumping back into the CCNP track.. Thans for the advice all!!!

B Haines
CCNA, FOI