Cisco Certification

[Serpent]

I am interested in obtaining my CCNA certification.

(...and ideally CCIE a bit later.. -- I hear you can actually name your salary - anywhere, once you have CCIE. hehehe)

Does anyone here have it or have any information on how I can do the following:

- get the best (preferably free ) study guides available
- find the best/easiest way to retain the most knowledge possible, so I can easily pass the tests
- get some insight into the actual exams and the kinds of questions asked.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

(Right now I do *nix (linux, freebsd, openbsd) server administration and have several years experience in this, but I see that dealing with routing and switches and maintenance of such things pays a lot more... so I'm trying to find a way to get into that area since it will still be a couple more years before I get my BSIT.. )

[Neophyte]

Transcender makes the best (actual tests) exam practice software. http://www.transcender.com/. You can buy that software and pass your tests. But you'll probably end up sounding like an idiot when you interview for the position. The certifications cover such a wide range of nothing that it's impossible to do the job with out some other training. Work experience will always be the best training. But an instructor lead course is a descent alternative.

[Serpent]

Transcender makes the best (actual tests) exam practice software. http://www.transcender.com/. You can buy that software and pass your tests. But you'll probably end up sounding like an idiot when you interview for the position. The certifications cover such a wide range of nothing that it's impossible to do the job with out some other training. Work experience will always be the best training. But an instructor lead course is a descent alternative.

I'll chk out transcender, thanks... and ya, I wonder who would let me play around on their cisco routers...LOL (i learn best by *doing* anyway... )

oh ya - how is this transcender compared to smart certify, or do you know?

[KrAzYdAvE]

I have 2 2800 series behind my chair that need to be configured by the end of Jan - lol

I also have a 1605 that needs configuring too...

F - We need a Cisco guy here!

[Serpent]

hey, ya, bring 'em on up here...and I'll take a look at 'em... and watch them sit there. LOL!!!!!

[Dataspel]

I frequently work with Cisco routers for IDS shunning, but they are
in the lab and not accessible to outside access. I also have unlimited
TAC (tech support) access if technical questions arise.

I signed up for the CCNA at work about 4 years ago, and still have
the Cisco CCNA study guide CD. It cost USD 100 at the time, but
it is now probably somewhat out of date. The courseware was
a little buggy and sometimes it crashed my 98 system, but it
may work better in XP. I need to find secure offsite storage
for the CD, so PM me if you would like to archive it for me.

I never did get the CCNA, so if you would like to study it
together with me now, that would be fine too, just let me know.
Who knows, maybe management will spring for an elearning
course for me. At this point a CCNA could only help my so-called
career

Of course you should go to http://www.cisco.com for introductory
material about the CCNA. For example:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/c ... 0-801.html

You won't need a real router to practice on; I would think that
any good router simulator will work for you. Cisco has an internal
implementation that is probably not in the public domain, but I
will check. SourceForge, and maybe others, should have
implementations as well. Worst case, you could send CLI scripts
to me via IM, which I will run on the lab routers. Let me know your
ideas if you decide to pursue this.

Good luck!!

[Serpent]

I frequently work with Cisco routers for IDS shunning, but they are
in the lab and not accessible to outside access. I also have unlimited
TAC (tech support) access if technical questions arise.

I signed up for the CCNA at work about 4 years ago, and still have
the Cisco CCNA study guide CD. It cost USD 100 at the time, but
it is now probably somewhat out of date. The courseware was
a little buggy and sometimes it crashed my 98 system, but it
may work better in XP. I need to find secure offsite storage
for the CD, so PM me if you would like to archive it for me.

I never did get the CCNA, so if you would like to study it
together with me now, that would be fine too, just let me know.
Who knows, maybe management will spring for an elearning
course for me. At this point a CCNA could only help my so-called
career

Of course you should go to http://www.cisco.com for introductory
material about the CCNA. For example:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/c ... 0-801.html

You won't need a real router to practice on; I would think that
any good router simulator will work for you. Cisco has an internal
implementation that is probably not in the public domain, but I
will check. SourceForge, and maybe others, should have
implementations as well. Worst case, you could send CLI scripts
to me via IM, which I will run on the lab routers. Let me know your
ideas if you decide to pursue this.

Good luck!!

what do you think is better? the one test way of getting the cert, or the two test way?

[Dataspel]

I don't know which is better, but 1 test would be OK with me.

[Neophyte]

I'll chk out transcender, thanks... and ya, I wonder who would let me play around on their cisco routers...LOL (i learn best by *doing* anyway... )

oh ya - how is this transcender compared to smart certify, or do you know?

I don't know about Smart Certify, or what ever it is. I Googled for it (see results) and it seems like people are generally unhappy with it. I've also tried TestOUT (url= http://www.testout.com) which I liked for learning but it didn't compare to Transcender for practice questions. TestOUT also had the simulator's that Data mentioned. And, it didn't crash me! But they would only show up for specific questions in the study chapters. Which made them a little out of place to find if you just wanted to play around. I think TestOut will give you some more insight on routers and such but just don't expect to know every aspect and be able to pass the certification after you go through it. It will at least give you a better understanding of configuring routes and an understanding of how the OSI layers work and get you talking in the right language. Again, a descent instructor lead course would be better, but this might be slightly more affordable. YMMV. Finally, like I said before, if you just want the cheapest certification regardless of knowing anything, then study the questions through the Transcender and it will get you there.

(Transcender is an exam Simulation. TestOUT is a virtual instructor lead course. They don't replace the other, but compliment each other.)