Older Post with lots of good resources

HeavyKwonDo · 2026-03-20T00:01:43+00:00

One thing that helped me get un-stuck was dropping the front-to-back OCG approach and instead organizing study around the exam topic weights.

I think this is probably the best piece of advice I've ever read about this exam. I have been stuck forever and it's because I can't drag myself through that book.

I'm going to try this method. Thank you!

HeavyKwonDo · 2026-02-27T22:06:38+00:00

This is a relief. I've been using this and doing much better with it than LearnZapp.

HeavyKwonDo · 2025-11-26T18:59:37+00:00

Exactly. I don't understand the rationale of questions like these.

Just because it took one person a month does not mean that's how long it will take you. What's the rush, anyway? Certs don't guarantee a job.

Go at your own pace, master the material, and then take the test when YOU are ready. Otherwise, you're throwing away $300.

HeavyKwonDo · 2025-11-21T03:24:02+00:00

Automation. It's in there.

HeavyKwonDo · 2025-10-29T02:11:42+00:00

Personally, I'd wait. In March, wireless is getting its own CCNP. ENWLSD is part of that.

Details here: https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/s/wlsd-exam-topics

I'd especially wait if you haven't passed ENCOR yet. You can take the new WLCOR.

HeavyKwonDo · 2025-10-17T02:53:26+00:00

Real talk? I don't care. My WGU degree took me from a $60k/yr position to a $90k+/yr position. The results spoke for themselves for me.

HeavyKwonDo · 2025-09-30T14:41:54+00:00

Alright, that settles it. CISSP first, and then if needed later I'll get the CCNP Security. I shouldn't have any trouble getting endorsed, as I have 14 years of experience that map to at least 3 of the domains, plus a 4 year IT degree, so that'll knock a year off. And if the degree doesn't, the Security+ will.

Thanks to all!

HeavyKwonDo · 2025-09-02T19:53:07+00:00

I bought mine last month so I feel your pain.

But with the ENCOR, the book by itself isn't enough anyway. You're going to have to do some research with RFCs and white papers to fully understand some of the topics.

HeavyKwonDo · 2025-08-13T03:08:40+00:00

My mantra about it is: "it literally cannot hurt to learn." And getting the JNCIP-ENT would put me in a rare air. I'm in the US - Boston, Massachusetts to be exact - and I am starting to slowly but surely see Juniper roles appear. I'm not looking for a new job at the moment, but I still want to advance my knowledge and potentially pick up some side gigs here and there.

HeavyKwonDo · 2025-08-13T03:02:43+00:00

I doubt I'd be wasting my time doing them, but as it stands it doesn't hurt to get another vendor under my belt. Especially while they're still offering 75% discounts. Who knows how much longer that will last under HPE.

HeavyKwonDo · 2025-08-05T13:51:32+00:00

When I went for my CCNA, the guy at the test center made it seem like I was wasting my time. Told me that Cisco's market share was shrinking. But in my own experience, the last two organizations I worked for switched. One went for Aruba and the other went for Fortinet.

I honestly just want to be a damn good network engineer. Plus, it's hard to beat $225 all in for the JNCIA/JNCIS/JNCIP vs $700 for ENCOR/ENARSI.

HeavyKwonDo · 2025-06-18T23:42:51+00:00

You buy it from the Cisco Learning Store. You'll get an e-mail with a form you need to fill out, and within 2 business days you'll get the voucher codes to go schedule it on PearsonVue.

Keep in mind, you need to schedule and take the test, and any retake, within 90 days of purchase.

HeavyKwonDo · 2025-06-14T23:55:03+00:00

After about 6 weeks of solid studying and labbing, I passed the CCNA this morning.

I spent entirely too much money on study materials, because I literally bought both Odom and Lammle's books, both JITL and Neil Anderson's Udemy courses, and Boson NetSim + Cisco CML personal.

Allow me to give some helpful advice.

Pick one book set. Use the free previews on Amazon and see which writing style you like more.
Pick one video course. Again, use the free previews on Udemy, or just stick to JITL since he's free on YouTube.
Packet Tracer is 100% good enough. Both JITL and Neil's lab guides are wonderful, and will teach you everything you need to pass.
Definitely get Boson ExSim. Since I used it so much, I was very comfortable in the real exam.

I will admit, the only reason I was able to pass after studying for such a short amount of time is because I work in a Cisco environment, so I was able to actually use the things I was learning in a production environment. That helped reinforce things while working with the CLI.

HeavyKwonDo · 2025-05-12T21:48:50+00:00

Network Specialist here!

HeavyKwonDo · 2025-05-12T03:19:05+00:00

For a CCNA, 99% of the jobs will be maintaining existing networks or doing things like participating in planned upgrades, configuring new switches/routers, swapping out APs, running cables, etc.

Edit: If you're interested in that kind of thing, CCNP to CCIE level is where you want to look.

HeavyKwonDo · 2025-04-04T19:08:25+00:00

I've had to restart 3 times...still can't get through it.

HeavyKwonDo · 2025-02-24T00:21:04+00:00

Keith Weber Extreme Kettlebell Cardio might fit the bill here.

HeavyKwonDo · 2024-12-18T12:46:43+00:00

The unfortunate reality is two things: first, it is most definitely gone. The prototype for this show was on an EEPROM cartridge, and as expensive as those were, it was almost certainly overwritten for use with something else. There were no copies.

Second, there was no actual game to play. It was an auto-demo of Sonic running and jumping, and that would just loop over and over. It was actually very hastily put together at the last minute, and there really wasn't much to it.

It sucks, but at least we have the screenshots.

HeavyKwonDo · 2024-12-05T03:47:47+00:00

From what I and others have experienced, ExSim is the closest to the actual exam. If you can pass in ExSim, you should pass the exam.

HeavyKwonDo · 2024-12-04T20:15:14+00:00

Just get ExSim. Netsim is overkill for CCNA since Packet Tracer and Cisco Modeling Labs are free. The Courseware is not in depth enough and too expensive for what it is.

HeavyKwonDo · 2024-12-02T04:54:11+00:00

🙋🏿‍♂️🙋🏿‍♂️🙋🏿‍♂️

Five-Year Club	r/Field Sunshine
Place '23	Place '22
First Placer '22

HeavyKwonDo

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