Which order should you take the CCNP tests? 6

[stockton111]

Well, I decided that my CCNA is worth enough to impress my help desk buddies but to truly get your way in I think i need to work towards the CCNP.

I was thinking about the 642-891 first followed by the 642-821 then the 642-831. I took the CCNA in two tests and I always thought that maybe it would have been better to have taken it all at once. This is why I was thinking that the 642-891 composite might be a better option.

Any thoughts on this?
Thanks

 

[wabob]

CCNP is a much bigger challenge than the CCNA, dude. Unless you have near-CCIE experience, I would advise against taking the composite exam. I would take the BSCI and the BCMSN separately.

From what I've heard, the Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (642-801) is the hardest of the four CCNP exams. That's why I'm targeting that one first.

I passed the CCNA almost two years ago, and like yourself, have decided that more is needed. So I am currently studying for the BSCI, and once I pass, my CCNA is extended for another three years AND I am one-fourth my way to a CCNP.

Good Luck!

There are 10 kinds of people in the world.
Those who understand binary, and those who don't...

 

[stockton111]

Well for sure no CCIE level here,haha.I do know a little about BGP. I did a class project on BGP so I did learn the very basics. Talk about getting complicated very fast.

You are right I have heard that the BSCI is hard.I have an acquaintance who recently just completed his CCNP. He said that the BSCI was a bear but the others were not that bad.

Anyways thanks, you have helped me decide a game plan.

 

[KiscoKid]

I did the exams in the following order:

BSCI
BCMSN
BCRAN
CIT

Based on the difficulty of questions I saw (most difficult first):

BSCI
BCRAN
CIT
BCMSN

This was before the rewrote all the exams (2.5 years ago now?). I think since then they've added some stuff to BCMSN and BCRAN so it may have changed the overall difficulty for better or worse. I don't think they've really changed much to BSCI and CIT

 

[wabob]

This is the guy we need to listen to, stockton111.

He has confirmed what we've heard about the BSCI.

So we better read, learn, and do BGP labs!

There are 10 kinds of people in the world.
Those who understand binary, and those who don't...

 

[techkiwi]

It can also depend on what your background is. A friend of mine had a lot of experience in switching, so found the BCMSN a breeze, but BSCI difficult. I've only done those two (working towards BCRAN now) but found the opposite - BSCI was straightforward, but BCMSN just about killed me!

Graham

 

[maturus]

I can't verify this yet (I'm planning on taking the composite very soon,) but I would guess that the composite is similar to the composite of the CCNA. What I mean by that is that it will probably be mostly BSCI with some BCMSN questions in it (much like the composite CCNA is mostly ICND with some INTRO in there.)

Like I said, just my guess.

 

[jfk8680]

I am taking the BCMSN test next monday. Took the BSCI test last year and must say that it was the hardest test I have taken so far (MCSE, MCSA, CCNA) but it was certainly doable (scored 896 or something)...

I don't think it matters a lot in which order you take the exams, as long as you put in CIT last...

 

[leedsit]

Hi,

Took the CIT in June 04 ( dont ask ) and passed, however this was the hardest exam.


Took BSCI in Jan 06, this was hard, just know your stuff
Took BCMSN in March 06, surprisingly easy.
Taking BCRAN next week, I`ll let you know.

If you read the course material and know your stuff, you`ll pass.

However, I would recommend as mentioned above to do the CIT last, has questions that you learn from the other 3 courses.



LEEroy
MCNE6,CCNA2,CWNA, Project+, CCSA

 

[leedsit]

Crap..... BCRAN is hard... very hard.... failed it with 700 points ( 790 pass score ).

Know your VPN`s and PPPoE / DSL stuff... back to the drawing board for me.

LEEroy
MCNE6,CCNA2,CWNA, Project+, CCSA

 

[NettableWalker]

I failed my BCRAN this week as well, 706 points!
It was all about RFC 1483 bridging and tons of crappy little questions about backup interfaces and DSL. Oh and lots of VPN stuff that you've got to know in detail.

I've got the CIT course next week and then the exam a week after. What's CIT like?

MCP,CCA, Net+, 1 quarter CCNP...

 

[leedsit]

Thats it, I had lots of Bridging questions too... to be honest Im not sure where I covered that in the course or the book!... I liked the crappy questions on Backup interfaces... you know Im sure I had the same question twice!

CIT was very hard for me, only to the fact I took this one first.. but that was way back in 2004. Im sure if you have done the first three... then you`ll be ok... I do remember a question on my CIT about Magic numbers... I didn`nt have a clue to what they were talking about, but after the BCRAN course i now understand.. so Im sure you`ll be fine.

LEEroy
MCNE6,CCNA2,3/4 CCNP,CWNA,CCSA,Project+

 

[NettableWalker]

Yeah, i had the same backup questions several times, which would have been great except i didn't know that the second number was the AGGREGATE bandwidth.

I skirted over all the DSL stuff in the book thinking it didn't really matter but i'll know better for next time.

I'm looking forward to the CIT but it's a year since my BSCI, the rest of them i have all done in the last month. my head hurts

MCP,CCA, Net+, 1 quarter CCNP...

 

[leedsit]

Lol, I call it brain bruising it really does hurt sometimes... That backup command "Backup interface 60 10 " I read about it but did`nt really think about it, so the same as you presumed that it was the primary interface, however my Boson questions corrected me on that one.

DSL was boring... thats why I skipped it + the PPPoE and PPPoA go me a little lost as Ive never used ATM before but Ill read up this time. Dont know if you did the ISDN BRI to PRI lab.... but when I clicked next I remembered I forget to cofigure the SPID`s, probably the easiest part!!!

Did you do the Frame Relay lab with 2 DLCI`s??? I could not make my mind up if it should be Point to point or Point to multipoint. Thought I was ready for the exam but Ive got a lot more studying to do.

The RFC 1483.. what section is that under?

Im sure you`ll breeze the CIT, when I did it, it was around 60-70% of stuff in the CIT course book and you needed about 30% knowledge from the other 3.

LEEroy
MCNE6,CCNA2,3/4 CCNP,CWNA,CCSA,Project+

 

[leedsit]

Opps... I meant "backup load 60 10 " :}

LEEroy
MCNE6,CCNA2,3/4 CCNP,CWNA,CCSA,Project+

 

[NettableWalker]

yeah i had the PRI to BRI lab, i got the spids but i skipped over them in the books so not sure if i got them totally right. I also had the FR i think. Dunno. it's all a blur now.
I do vividly remember thinking "I hope i pass this so i never, ever have to do it again!" doh!

RFC 1483 Bridging is under DSL.

MCP,CCA, Net+, 1 quarter CCNP...

 

[leedsit]

I do actually find this one sort of Fun in a weird kind of way.... but I do wanna get it out the way... so Im taking again in two weeks time.

Good luck for your retake.

LEEroy
MCNE6,CCNA2,3/4 CCNP,CWNA,CCSA,Project+

 

[NettableWalker]

Good luck to you too.

CCIE next then?

MCP,CCA, Net+, 1 quarter CCNP...

 

[leedsit]

Urm.... No... it takes too much dedication to become one of those + cant afford the lab exam its CCIP for me next, after a couple of month break or my head`ll explode!

LEEroy
MCNE6,CCNA2,3/4 CCNP,CWNA,CCSA,Project+