Anyone taken their CCNA?

[Beotch]

Curious to know who might have taken this, what study methods you used, and what to expect.

[Jason ON]

I studied for it years ago but went the way of management instead. Funny you should ask though, I just got rid of my CCNA for Dummies book.

Something tells me it would've been simple enough for you.

[64BonnieLass]

Sorry to interrupt here Honey Bunny, but from my experience as a Recruiter of all things IT - it's a tough test. Maybe easier for others - depending on hands on experience within the workplace, but Cisco does not screw around.

You really have to "study your lil ass off" for this exam.

If you can do this, preferably employer paid, then do it.

I cannot tell you how many clients I work with that "demand" this cert, and even more, they want the CISSP, which is even more demanding.

For those of you in this realm of IT. Find a way to get it, DO IT, and then work on further expansion within these Certs. The higher the Cert you have, the more demanding you are in the market, and for sure, those skills and certs provide a "much higher" pay scale.

Sorry for the hi-jack sistah but thought I could offer value from my world. :)

[Carlsbad]

Mine just expired. I also work on a lot of Junipers, so I'm considering a JNCIA, but just having moved to management, the incentive is not that high anymore.

There is a new pre CCNA exam/test that recently came out - Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician (CCENT)

OK - you want to get your CCNA? The books and classes help a lot. If you want to jam the test, go to www.testking.com and they have the EXACT exam questions as are on the real test. For around $60 you can purchase the whole pool of questions,(400-600) of which 100 are on the CCNA. It's a S-load of Qs to memorize, but like I said, the Qs are exactly the same. I flunked my 1st time on the CCNA (harder than you think) - studied for a weekend, then bought the questions, went through them a few times and aced it the next attempt. A coworker recently took 2 of the CCNP exams w/ testking, and she said that of 100, 90 were exact. It's a good tool to help you & it explains the answers - if you do not understand routing at all, it will be considerably harder.

[mtnairlover]

Ok, so this is what I did when I had to take the CCNA in order to be certified to teach the course.

I came from no tech background at all, well 'cept that I was quick to learn apps. So, my boss sent me to the teacher training for the Cisco Academy. Shoulda seen the look on my face every day in that class...gah! I spent a whole month with other teachers in a classroom cramming for 8 hours a day and then went home and crammed s'more for 3 hours at night. That whole month equated to the first two semesters of the Academy...later in the year, I went back for the second 2 semesters and did that in 2 weeks. Then I started teaching the stuff...after a year and a half of teaching it, I took the exam in 2001. I suffered major test anxiety and was really nervous about the second half of my learning since I hadn't solidified it by teaching it yet. I needed an 849 out of 1000 to pass. I got an 849 and passed the first time. I was freakin' relieved, but when the curriculum was upgraded and Cisco dumped stuff from the CCNP into semester's 3 and 4, I decided that my students weren't of the caliber that would be able to deal with that kind of intensity.

Tough to learn, but sticks with ya when you got it, includes the OSI model, sub-netting, and all the freakin' acronyms for WAN and LAN protocols and what exactly those protocols do. The easy stuff for me was router configuration...I nailed that shite easy.

G'luck and if you need a study buddy, I can help ya in the basics.

[EVO8]

I'm currently studying my cisco CCNA books but it's too hard to remember everything. I've been in the field at least 10 years.

Thanks Carlsbad, I hope this will help me ace it. Is the Q & A and explanation the one to buy?

Ok, I just bought it. Will it come in the mail like flash cards?

[Scribbler]

As has already been mentioned...the CCNA test is very intensive. Taking a class is very beneficial. The only hook though, is that trying to find an institution that can actually get a class to launch can sometimes be a pain. All too often there simply aren't enough students enrolled in the class and thus it gets dropped for the semester (although I have heard that CCNA/CCNP is once again in high demand, so it may be easier to fill a class now). If you can get in one...take it. Without the class, you'll miss out on several labs to get some practical behind your knowledge.

In addition to taking a class, enhance your chances by using the Exam Cram (http://safari.examcram2.com/0789735296) line of study materials.

When taking the class, all you are allowed to bring in with you is a pencil and blank paper (for your own purposes...not needed for the test). You're not allowed to bring in any electronic devices or reference material. However with tips you'll get from the classes, and from Exam Cram, you can quickly draw out some tables you can memorize, and some other helpful diagrams etc... which REALLY helps because you have a 90 minute time limit and there is A LOT of subnetting, so anything that can help you efficiently save time is a bonus.

[dm_gsxr]

When I got my CCNA/CCNP several years ago I used the books and the Boson test aids. My methods were to read the book once then read it again and take notes. Then refine the notes by taking the example tests and using the network simulator from Boson. I took the notes with me to the test getting there about 30 minutes or so early, review the notes and then took the CCNA test.

I passed the CCNA test the first time as well as the next two. The third test took two tries to pass and the final test took three tries.

My certs have expired and since I'm not working in the area any more, I haven't renewed them.

It's easier to keep up on my Unix stuff since I have three Sun boxes, a linux box and two OpenBSD boxes here at home. I also work as a Unix admin so I have a couple of hundred work servers to keep skills up on. Without having the Cisco gear here at home and not working on it it's harder to keep the skills up to date.

Good luck.

Carl

[Devaclis]

Talk to Matt and see f he still has the routers he used to study for his exam. I used the Dummies book and a 750 router and studied for about 1 month. Not an easy test but you can pass it. Key is to study, absorb and regurgitate that knowledge on exam day

[t_jolt]

Well let me point one thing out, I got my ccna before i graduated high school :bananna:

OK aside from that, It is a pain. There is lots of information that you need to know. Also you take 2 tests at the end. A written one. ( that was no problem for me ) And then a pratical. You have to setup 5 stations in 30 min. Not hard really. But then the testers come in and change 3 things. I almost didnt pass. Damn teacher changed the dtc and (what ever that other end of the cable is) and i found it about 30 seconds before my time was up.

Study habits: i really dont study to much normally. I have some older books if you would like to read over them. But i would read a chapter every day and take notes on it. It took me a year of this.

My last words will probably be:

orange white orange, blue white green, green white blue, brown white brown



Tyrel

[Dysco]

I took a 4-day cram class way back in the day and failed the first test by 3 points because I misunderstood one small section. I recommend taking a short class, but not a 4-dayer unless you have wicked retention (I do and still failed because I had no experience in any of the technologies at the time). Eventually passed by sitting on a rock on Dakota Ridge and reading 3 different CCNA books a couple of times and memorizing the numbers.

If you don't want to take the class, get some books and read them and since I'm totally bored lately, I'll show you the brain-dump stuff I can remember, including how to subnet. I kept all my materials (and the 3 books) but some are outdated.

The sad part is that I doubled my salary after getting the cert and I've logged into about 3 routers at work... ever. It'll get you in the door but you better be quick enough to do everything that wasn't on the test like troubleshoot connectivity with vendors and work through UNIX interfaces, etc.

[mclarke]

I still have all my routers and switches... somewhere....

I have taken and passed my CCNA, it aint easy...

[pauliep]

six books later, I'm still not ready, lol. Maybe if i would just study for two weeks I could, but I got out of the IT industry and in the Analyst

[rforsythe]

Sorry to interrupt here Honey Bunny, but from my experience as a Recruiter of all things IT - it's a tough test. Maybe easier for others - depending on hands on experience within the workplace, but Cisco does not screw around.

You need to study, but CCNA can be passed just by studying - no hands on experience is required. It's considered by most network-types to be the entry level exam to that type of work, and as such only really tests on entry level work. It requires reading their book all the way through at least once (more if you've never seen this stuff before) and using the Bosom router simulator also helps, but I have studied for far worse. JNCIA for example was much harder than CCNA; it's considered to be somewhere in between CCNA and CCNP in terms of difficulty. JNCIS is, IMO, more difficult than CCNP, but any of the Juniper certs won't matter much if you are just working on Cisco other than the common elements like how BGP works, etc.

From my experience as a network and security engineer of over a decade, CCNA is good to have to get you in the door, but beyond that doesn't mean much. Employers want it because it means you have at least seen the stuff in a book and can learn.

I cannot tell you how many clients I work with that "demand" this cert, and even more, they want the CISSP, which is even more demanding.CISSP is not even the same planet as CCNA. CISSP is purely security oriented (not network operations, and not vendor specific), requires years of documented actual experience to even take the exam, and is very multi-disciplined, not to mention requires continual work to maintain it. I have it, and while it's in-demand, personally I feel the SANS certifications are more relevant to actual work getting done and technical competency, at least in the world of information security.

[Devaclis]

^^^ Anyone who passes the CISSP is a GOD IMO. Ralphy is the only one I know personally with one. You da MAN Ralph!!

[64BonnieLass]

CISSP is not even the same planet as CCNA. CISSP is purely security oriented (not network operations, and not vendor specific), requires years of documented actual experience to even take the exam, and is very multi-disciplined, not to mention requires continual work to maintain it. I have it, and while it's in-demand, personally I feel the SANS certifications are more relevant to actual work getting done and technical competency, at least in the world of information security.

I understand Ralph. I only mentioned it from the standpoint of "one thing" that I see being in demand in the market. Nothing more. :)

[rforsythe]

I understand Ralph. I only mentioned it from the standpoint of "one thing" that I see being in demand in the market. Nothing more. :)

Gotcha. :up:

[clustermagnet]

You need to study, but CCNA can be passed just by studying - no hands on experience is required. It's considered by most network-types to be the entry level exam to that type of work, and as such only really tests on entry level work. It requires reading their book all the way through at least once (more if you've never seen this stuff before) and using the Bosom router simulator also helps, but I have studied for far worse. JNCIA for example was much harder than CCNA; it's considered to be somewhere in between CCNA and CCNP in terms of difficulty. JNCIS is, IMO, more difficult than CCNP, but any of the Juniper certs won't matter much if you are just working on Cisco other than the common elements like how BGP works, etc.

From my experience as a network and security engineer of over a decade, CCNA is good to have to get you in the door, but beyond that doesn't mean much. Employers want it because it means you have at least seen the stuff in a book and can learn.

CISSP is not even the same planet as CCNA. CISSP is purely security oriented (not network operations, and not vendor specific), requires years of documented actual experience to even take the exam, and is very multi-disciplined, not to mention requires continual work to maintain it. I have it, and while it's in-demand, personally I feel the SANS certifications are more relevant to actual work getting done and technical competency, at least in the world of information security.


yeap, CCNA can be passed by pure memorization... You will get a section on your test for ios stuff, but if you memorize that, you should be fine.

I suggest a cisco 2610 (around 300 on ebay).


CCNP is not passable by pure memorization. I've had exteeeeensive experience with cisco stuff at work, high end stuff.. and i failed the first time.


CCIE should not be attempted by a mortal.

Also unix background helps tremendously... Dont know why, but i see unixy geeks reading the manual better.

[dm_gsxr]

I've always treated CCNA as someone who's just starting in Networking and working on switches and routers in a company setting, medium to large.

A CCNP is someone who's the lead at a company or working for a company that installs Cisco equipment.

A CCIE is the master troubleshooter and installer. He (or she) designs the systems with the customer and specs things out. He's also the guy that comes out to find out why BGP4 isn't working or something's broken in the ISDN connections.

I requested a class so I could get my CCNA only to expand my knowledge of networking and provide some assistance to the network guys where I worked. The company decided to send me to a CCNP six week school. I said sure. It took me about 6 months after class ended to finally get my last test passed and get the CCNP certification.

In general though I'm a Unix geek and programmer. The CCNA training helped me understand how the network works and I can troubleshoot problems a lot easier. I might get my CCNA again but really it was just to augment my Unix knowledge.

Same as when I paid to go to the Veritas Storage Foundation class. The cost came out of my pocket but it was a good class and it got me over a few humps at work where I work with Veritas systems on a daily basis. I always, always like understanding the background. It makes getting things working so much easier :)

Carl

[rforsythe]

I suggest a cisco 2610 (around 300 on ebay).

Actually, I have one at home, someone taking the CCNA can use it if they like (but I want it back).

CCNP is not passable by pure memorization. I've had exteeeeensive experience with cisco stuff at work, high end stuff.. and i failed the first time.

Right, CCNA is really the only "read a book and pass the test" Cisco exam you can take. Even the first Juniper exam (JNCIA) is much easier having at least messed with their equipment, though I did pass it with only minimal Juniper hands-on time and got a 92.

CCIE should not be attempted by a mortal.

Agreed, you have to know your shit inside and out and practically be able to build a GSR from paperclips and duct tape, to pass that one.

Also unix background helps tremendously... Dont know why, but i see unixy geeks reading the manual better.

Well, think about it - network and security engineering (not architecture, but actual equipment operations) is really just system administration at its core. Learning how to operate a router is therefore pretty easy for someone with a sysadmin background. What trips them up usually are the protocols and network fundamentals.