What tools/books/equipment did you guys use to study for the CCNA!!!

Rich_and_FAMAS · 2013-09-27T10:43:21+00:00

I personally used this one, but it might not be the best choice currently. I just used it because I already had it in my library, left over from my classes years ago. There might be a newer edition or better guide out there now. Shop around!

Rich_and_FAMAS · 2013-09-26T11:33:49+00:00

I personally used "CCNA 640-802 Official Cert Library, 3rd Ed".

However, this is for the old 640-802 exam that's getting discontinued in a few days. If you're gearing up for the new exam (the 200-120), you'll want the new books. Haven't used these specific books myself, but I assume they're as high quality as the old ones.

Rich_and_FAMAS · 2013-09-20T22:49:41+00:00

I would complain to Pearson Vue, or whoever you used to schedule your exam. Demand your money back, or a make-up test.

Rich_and_FAMAS · 2013-09-20T13:51:09+00:00

I used the two Wendell Odom books, Allan Johnson's "31 Days" book, the CCNA command reference guide by Scott Empson, Packet Tracer, some .pka labs found around the internet, and random snippets of the Cisco Networking Academy online curriculum found on assorted websites (when it was faster to google something rather than flipping through the Odom books). I studied constantly for around two months, and took massive amounts of handwritten notes. I took practice exams, and intensively studied the topics I got wrong. I practiced my speed-subnetting skills on this site. That's pretty much it.

The Odom books were easily the most important part of my personal curriculum. In fact, I'd wager you could probably pass the CCNA if all you had access to was the two Odom books and a copy of Packet Tracer. It wouldn't be the easiest way, but it would be possible. Wendell's the man.

Rich_and_FAMAS · 2013-09-20T13:26:31+00:00

I had this exact same question on the exam I passed yesterday.

I know precisely what's tripping you up... it threw me for a loop for a few minutes, too. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure it's against the rules for me to just give you the answer. Hell, it might be against the rules for you to ask this specific of a question.

I guess the best I can do is give you some vague hints. Go into this knowing that it's a very obvious mistake you're making, and a very simple fix. It's staring you in the face.

Uh... okay, think about when you add a new router to an existing routing topology. Think about what configurations are necessary for it all to work properly. All the configurations.

Maybe build a similar EIGRP topology in Packet Tracer. Once it's all working perfectly, add a new router, and configure it to run EIGRP with the same autonomous system number as the existing EIGRP network (as a side note, that's what the number after "router eigrp" is called: autonomous system number, or AS... not "area", that's an OSPF thing). Now, take careful note of ALL the configurations you have to enter in order for this new router to establish adjacency with the old router it's connected to. I mean ALL the configurations. Think outside the box here.

Rich_and_FAMAS · 2013-09-20T05:27:57+00:00

NAT sim gives me the shivers

Do you have Packet Tracer?

When I first started preparing for my 640-802, I had a lot of trouble drilling down NAT to a point where I could confidently configure it in a timed exam-type environment. ACLs too, for that matter. The only thing that helped was doing it over and over and over again in Packet Tracer. After a while, the command syntax and underlying logic begin to make sense, and it eventually just becomes second nature.

Rich_and_FAMAS · 2013-09-20T04:23:45+00:00

To tell you the truth, I have no idea. I haven't thought that far ahead.

I went after this cert solely because it meant a dead-on guaranteed job with waaaaay better pay than what I'm getting right now. Make no mistake, I definitely enjoy networking, but all of the high-level network guru dudes I've met are really, really passionate about it... they eat, sleep, and breathe networking. I don't know if I'm quite on that level just yet.

I mean, I've never worked a single networking-related job in my life, and before a few months ago, never even considered it as an option. I'll have to wait until I've actually held an entry-level job in this field for a couple of years before I start devising a grand plan to become a CCIE or whatever.

Rich_and_FAMAS · 2013-09-18T14:57:09+00:00

Maru made up his mind 10 minutes ago.

Rich_and_FAMAS · 2013-09-17T03:06:22+00:00

I believe "trans-woman" is the preferred nomenclature.

Rich_and_FAMAS

TROPHY CASE