CCNA Cert questions.

[Jodwahh]

Hi guys, looking for some advice on getting my CCNA. I'm sure that I could keep up with the course to pass, however there's a few questions I have regarding the costs involved.

1) How much would it cost to get a basic lab to have at home to use? I don't want to sign up to an overpriced tech college for a year and I feel I would learn a lot better at home.

2) How much base level understanding of networking does one need to have to embark on the cert. I work every day in a network support job and currently have no issues staying up with the multitude of new things that seem to get flung my way on a weekly basis.

3) Employment opportunities. Will this cert really improve my career prospects? I'm thinking yes but I'd like a second opinion on it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Opinions on alternative certs with a similar weight would also be fantastic.

Help me BG, you're my only hope!

[Ratatapa]

1) for about 100-200 im sure you can get 2-3 routers 1-2 switches and some cables
2) Ccna is in 2 parts if you do it that way

First exam is ccent where you learn basic abut what is a lan and all that stuff
2nd is to get ccna ( you can do it in 1 exam too)
3rd im sure that yes but depends on the employer

[Jodwahh]

Cheers Ratatapa. Anyone know of any particualrly good study guides & books relating to this?

[xerodok]

1) How much would it cost to get a basic lab to have at home to use? I don't want to sign up to an overpriced tech college for a year and I feel I would learn a lot better at home.

You can honestly build an entire lab at home for ~$100. Go online, buy older Cisco routers/switches/cables, lay it on your desk, and use a laptop.

2) How much base level understanding of networking does one need to have to embark on the cert. I work every day in a network support job and currently have no issues staying up with the multitude of new things that seem to get flung my way on a weekly basis.

CCNA is a very difficult certification to just walk into. If you haven't taken any preparation classes with the new content (Cisco updates it's curriculum every five years, this year (2011) being the update year). The CCNA testing centers must update their test to Cisco's liking, meaning, adding or removing certain parts of the test. Simply working network support isn't enough knowledge to get you through the test.

3) Employment opportunities. Will this cert really improve my career prospects? I'm thinking yes but I'd like a second opinion on it.

Yes it will greatly improve your prospects. Once you obtain a CCNA or CCNP your chances of getting a job, or better job, go up double. Having a CCNA certification next to your resume shows you took the time to prepare/take the test and shows you are more than qualified for the job you are applying to.

[Jodwahh]

Thanks for the input Xero. I will certainly have a look around ebay for some second hand bits to get cracking with. In regards to point 2, I am intending on hitting the books hard to get this cert not just derping my way to the test center. As this is an update year I take it I would need to get the most up to date books direct from Cisco?

[xerodok]

Thanks for the input Xero. I will certainly have a look around ebay for some second hand bits to get cracking with. In regards to point 2, I am intending on hitting the books hard to get this cert not just derping my way to the test center. As this is an update year I take it I would need to get the most up to date books direct from Cisco?

I would recommend getting the digital copies (illegally or legally) and printing out the pages you need to work on. And, I always assume people are derping their way into certs, don't take any hard feelings haha.

[Kurokikaze]

I've been using Packet Tracer (Cisco's simulation software) to study for the exam. Eventually I'll get a few routers and give the real thing a shot since I haven't had to set up any Cisco routers for my current job (just SonicWalls firewall/routers).

[xerodok]

Packet Tracer is a great tool but definitely not enough to simulate the real thing.

Buy a couple of these, it's $25. They used to be $3,000 when they first released.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Cisco-Catalyst-2...item4841304db8
http://cgi.ebay.com/Cisco-Catalyst-2...item35b235299b

I'm sure you have cables somewhere, buy some used/refurbished shit, some flash cards, and a power strip and you have a working lab.

[Jodwahh]

Would a virtual lab be enough to learn from? I'm thinking of getting this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/CCNA-Certifi...0585747&sr=1-3. Think it would be worth it or just bite the bullet and grab some physical machines?

[Bockage]

Would a virtual lab be enough to learn from?

Virtual lab software like packet tracer helps a lot, but it's no substitute for the real thing. The IOS built into packet tracer isn't a real IOS and lacks some of the features of the real thing.

I'm preparing to take the CCNA myself at the end of the year by taking the Cisco Network Academy classes offered through my school. It's a cisco developed program that's supposed to prepare you for the test. I also get credits towards my BS so it's a win-win. The first class was pretty easy, but it's getting more and more challenging as we go on. If you aren't at a school that offers it, a lot of community colleges out there offer the classes pretty damn cheap. I really recommend looking at cisco's site to see if there's a class near you. http://cisco.netacad.net/cnams/locators/LocatorMain.jsp

[Caiyuo]

Are your classes broken up into 4 parts? Just curious because mine were, but whatever the case, absolutely stay serious all the way until the end because I let up on my last class and even though I was able to pass the set of courses, I felt like I'd need to train that entire last set of topics again before I'm able to actually handle the virtual scenarios they have you solve, and the actual certification test is not easy nor are you given a lot of time for each question so dicking around trying to recall stuff from the first week can really mess you up.

[Bockage]

Are your classes broken up into 4 parts? Just curious because mine were, but whatever the case, absolutely stay serious all the way until the end because I let up on my last class and even though I was able to pass the set of courses, I felt like I'd need to train that entire last set of topics again before I'm able to actually handle the virtual scenarios they have you solve, and the actual certification test is not easy nor are you given a lot of time for each question so dicking around trying to recall stuff from the first week can really mess you up.

I'm taking the CCNA Exploration set of classes which are broken up into four parts. I have my schedule set up so I take the next class as soon as the previous one ends. Once I finish the final class, I plan to take the CCNA exam so all the material is still fresh in my head.

It sounds like you've taken the test before. How did you do? How hard do you think it was overall?

[Caiyuo]

I'm taking the CCNA Exploration set of classes which are broken up into four parts. I have my schedule set up so I take the next class as soon as the previous one ends. Once I finish the final class, I plan to take the CCNA exam so all the material is still fresh in my head.

It sounds like you've taken the test before. How did you do? How hard do you think it was overall?

Mine was the same, 4 parts back-to-back-to-back, 1 per semester. Definitely stick with that plan to take it afterward because I had the same plan, but took more time to try and re-learn the stuff I knew I was fuzzy on and never did so and still haven't taken the test. What I said about the test was just second-hand stuff I both heard from the instructor who took it himself multiple times and the other students who had done so after the class ended.

[Nitsuki]

I took the same 4 back to back classes for my CCNA, I need to review everything however since I haven't taken my CCNA exam due to financial reasons. In my class we worked with both packet tracer and the real hardware, and the difference is there. Packet tracer will only help you to an extent, but working with those cisco routers will help you immensely in taking the actual cert. exam.

[Arcana]

There are a few good books out there and depending on what you know depends on what sort of entry you are looking to go for, there is your CCENT which covers networking basics and then your more advanced CCNA and CCNP. You say your familiar with networking basics so you'd probably be best looking at the associate course, however i strongly recommend joining a college course which covers the program, they have trained and qualified people to help you with things you might not be able to fully grasp (subnetting, configuring within the IOS etc) and they have access to the genuine equipment and will give you plenty of prep before your exam, and also a half price voucher for when you take the exam.

i bought This Book a few years ago, did me well enough, its a bit outdated but if you were to take the course at a college you get the up to date version of the cisco material without having to buy the books.