Cisco CCNA?

[AStaUK]

My company has agreed to allow me to go off and do some training to gain some recognised qualifications.  I currently work as a SystemAdmin and feel my networking knowledge is pretty basic so thought I would start there.

 

Would Cisco's CCNA cert by a good place to start, I found this course which meets my needs; http://www.qa.com/training-courses/technical-it-training/cisco/borderless-networks/routing-and-switching/ccna-boot-camp-(8-day-course)/.  But I am a little wary that an 8 day course for the CCNA could be a little to intense and require more pre-requisite knowledge than I have.  I was thinking that a good place to start would be to do a few months studying from books along with GNS3 so I can get some hands on with the Cisco CLI.

 

Has anyone here done Cisco's CCNA exam and could they give me some pointers?  Is there another certification route that I should be looking at?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

[+John Teacake MVC]

I did a CCNA Bootcamp in 5 days, It helps if you are doing the job day in day out. the Cert is just a technicality,

[Nick H. Supervisor]

I tried the Cisco CCNA exam back at University. I wouldn't say it's impossible but it isn't easy, especially if networking isn't your forte. I know it isn't mine, and I seem to remember getting 68% or something. Basically one more right answer and I would have passed. :(

It's a good start point for networking, in my opinion.

EDIT: I partially agree with ChuckFinley. Since I didn't plan on going in to networking it was good enough for me just to learn the theory behind things, I didn't need the qualification. With that said though, if your company is offering to pay for it they will probably expect you to come back with something. ;)

[AStaUK]

I don't deal with routers on a day to day basis, but I'm not a complete novice either.  Does CCNA go in to the command line of setting up the Cisco devices as well as some of the more basic concepts of network such as routing/VLAN's etc?

 

Any recommendations on books that I could start with?  I seem to recall reading somewhere that CBT Nuggets is also worth a look; http://www.cbtnuggets.com/

[JonnyLH]

I don't deal with routers on a day to day basis, but I'm not a complete novice either.  Does CCNA go in to the command line of setting up the Cisco devices as well as some of the more basic concepts of network such as routing/VLAN's etc?

 

Any recommendations on books that I could start with?  I seem to recall reading somewhere that CBT Nuggets is also worth a look; http://www.cbtnuggets.com/

It does but not much, it goes into interfaces, setting IP's and the configuring of RIP, RIPv2, VLSM and OSPF as far as I can remember.

[+BudMan MVC]

" Does CCNA go in to the command line "

"It does but not much"

What have you been smoking? You better know the IOS if you think your going to pass a CCNA test.

Unless your already familiar with cisco ios I would not suggest a bootcamp - they are great refresher type courses, but they touch on each topic for such a short period you should already know the material if your thinking your going to pass the test.

Bootcamps are great cram sessions before a test, but I would not by any means suggest them to someone that is new to the material at hand. If you are not already comfortable with say the command line on a cisco device then your going to just be spending time typing out commands you prob don't quite understand what they do in your lab assignments just to get them done but will prob not take away much from it.

Maybe this is more your speed?

http://www.qa.com/training-courses/technical-it-training/cisco/borderless-networks/routing-and-switching/interconnecting-cisco-networking-devices-icnd1/

If your network understanding is at basic level.

[AStaUK]

Thanks for the reply BudMan you are probably right, the course you have suggested is more likely to fit my needs.  If I was to take that and the follow up course; http://www.qa.com/training-courses/technical-it-training/cisco/borderless-networks/routing-and-switching/interconnecting-cisco-networking-devices-icnd2/ do you think that would put me in to a position to do the CCNA exam?

 

Are you able to recommend any books that I can buy as preparation?

[+BudMan MVC]

Well after that course you should be able to get your CCENT, so you have something to take back to work, etc.

Then you could do CCT routing and switching. And then sure CCNA, or if you fill ready you could just skip CCT and go straight to CCNA

As to books, are you looking for something only designed to help you study for CCNA or something more rounded.. This is a good ref book to have on the shelf if you ask me, and might be better suited to overall sysadmin not just router jockey.

http://www.amazon.com/TCP-Guide-Comprehensive-Illustrated-Protocols/dp/159327047X/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378468031&sr=1-5

Are you looking for something to specifically help you get your CCNA, or just overall good reference/reading material?

[+John Teacake MVC]

VLAN's you would be expected to know BEFORE anything lol! They are networks 101. I have seen you sent me a PM Budman but I haven't read it yet haha!

 

From what I know you have to do ICND 1 & 2 to be in a place to be able to sit the CCNA exam. The Bootcamp I did was both rolled into 1. Again I wasn't paying for it. :shiftyninja:

[AStaUK]

Well after that course you should be able to get your CCENT, so you have something to take back to work, etc.

Then you could do CCT routing and switching. And then sure CCNA, or if you fill ready you could just skip CCT and go straight to CCNA

As to books, are you looking for something only designed to help you study for CCNA or something more rounded.. This is a good ref book to have on the shelf if you ask me, and might be better suited to overall sysadmin not just router jockey.

http://www.amazon.com/TCP-Guide-Comprehensive-Illustrated-Protocols/dp/159327047X/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378468031&sr=1-5

Are you looking for something to specifically help you get your CCNA, or just overall good reference/reading material?

 

Both, a good reference book is always handy.  I have a number loaded up onto my iPad already, so I'll look to add the one you have suggested as well.  A good book aimed towards CCENT/CCNA would also be useful, I'm also going to see if I can get the company to give me a subscription to CBT Nuggets as well as I've heard a number of people say the video's on there a useful to watch.  They seem to have a lot of video's for Microsoft/Linux which will be useful to me as well.

[sc302 Veteran]

I have always liked the self study/CBT of testout.  They aren't inexpensive by any means, but they do teach you if you can learn in that type of setting.  I cannot learn in a classroom setting, things tend to go in one ear and out the other...my retention is limited to none in that setting.  I am a much more practical learning type of person, I break things then fix things....I have learned if it can be broken in computers/networking it can be fixed in most cases without making phone calls to vendors (it usually isn't faster). 

 

http://www.testout.com/home/it-certification-training/labsim-certification-training/ccna

[AStaUK]

I have always liked the self study/CBT of testout.  They aren't inexpensive by any means, but they do teach you if you can learn in that type of setting.  I cannot learn in a classroom setting, things tend to go in one ear and out the other...my retention is limited to none in that setting.  I am a much more practical learning type of person, I break things then fix things....I have learned if it can be broken in computers/networking it can be fixed in most cases without making phone calls to vendors (it usually isn't faster). 

 

http://www.testout.com/home/it-certification-training/labsim-certification-training/ccna

 

I'm the same, I prefer books that I can read in my own time combined with practical applications.  I spend a lot of time within VM's just trying out things I've seen on forums or read in a book.  Having said that, I have good recall and training video's are of use to me so I'll book mark the site.

[JonnyLH]

" Does CCNA go in to the command line "

"It does but not much"

What have you been smoking? You better know the IOS if you think your going to pass a CCNA test.

Unless your already familiar with cisco ios I would not suggest a bootcamp - they are great refresher type courses, but they touch on each topic for such a short period you should already know the material if your thinking your going to pass the test.

Bootcamps are great cram sessions before a test, but I would not by any means suggest them to someone that is new to the material at hand. If you are not already comfortable with say the command line on a cisco device then your going to just be spending time typing out commands you prob don't quite understand what they do in your lab assignments just to get them done but will prob not take away much from it.

Maybe this is more your speed?

http://www.qa.com/training-courses/technical-it-training/cisco/borderless-networks/routing-and-switching/interconnecting-cisco-networking-devices-icnd1/

If your network understanding is at basic level.

Why do people show such fierce when they have a different opinion on this place?

 

If you think the basic setting interfaces, configuring basic protocols and VLAN's are "heavy in CLI" then you're definitely smoking something. CCNP is heavy on the CLI. CCNA is more theory in sub-netting and the basic network fundamentals compared to physical configurations. 

 

A tip from me. Understanding the overall theory in networking is greater knowledge than understanding your way round a CLI. As boring as it is, understand the fundamental theories around subnetting, protcols, packets in general before attempting to configure anything. More than often when you gain a job in networking, you won't actually be working with Cisco kit.

[sc302 Veteran]

cbt nuggets are supposed to be good, however when I tried their video for CCA, I failed the test...I think I was able to get 15% right.  It is strictly lecture based and it was terrible for me.

 

http://www.cbtnuggets.com/it-certifications/cisco-ccna

[AStaUK]

cbt nuggets are supposed to be good, however when I tried their video for CCA, I failed the test...I think I was able to get 15% right.  It is strictly lecture based and it was terrible for me.

 

http://www.cbtnuggets.com/it-certifications/cisco-ccna

 

Interesting as that was one I'm interested in doing, partly because of the practice tests they provide.

[sc302 Veteran]

I am very bad with lecture based, I retain nothing even in a classroom setting.  Everyone learns differently, I don't learn by being talked to.

[+BudMan MVC]

If you think the basic setting interfaces, configuring basic protocols and VLAN's are "heavy in CLI" then you're definitely smoking something.

I didn't say it was "heavy" what I said is you should be familiar with it.. Lets just grab an example lab for CCNA and so where is the "little" cli in this lab?

Sure there are bits of it that are easy assign ports to vlans, create some vlans - and theory wise your going to need to understand what a root bridge is. So your going to need to know how to find it, how to change priorities, etc.

My point is there is a LAB, its not all theory questions - you need to understand what commands to use. What is the OSPF commands needed to verify adjacency for example in task 7. Keep in mind this lab should take no more than about 20 minutes. So you don't really have a whole hell of a lot of time to going tooling around the command structure looking ;)

If not at min familiar with the commands, doing a bootcamp type class is going to be typing in stuff your not really going to understand the whys and what the commands are actually doing is going to be lost on someone that is not familiar with the IOS. And you sure and the hell are not going to pass the exam if your not decent with the cli, that is just plain fact!

[AStaUK]

A quick update and a big thank you to those that posted here, based on the advice given I have signed up for the INCD1 5 day course in November.  In preparation I've got a monthly subscription to CBT Nuggets and the study guide from Cisco to give me a boost before the course.  I've got a few days off work, but when I return I'll grab a copy of GNS3 and load up a Cisco IOS to play with, we also have a couple of Cisco 800 series routers spare at work that I can work with.

 

**edit.  Would this be worth getting?; http://www.informit.com/store/cisco-ccent-icnd1-100-101-official-cert-guide-and-simulator-9781587204678

[sc302 Veteran]

If the cbtnugget were any good they would offer a labsim and that would negate the need for that.

[AStaUK]

If the cbtnugget were any good they would offer a labsim and that would negate the need for that.

 

I did look at TestOut and agree the labs are a good addition but decided on CBT as they covered some other topics that I would like to look into such as Wireshark and Kali, which TestOut didn't cover.  Hopefully between the books, video's and the course I've got things covered.