The CCNA/Cisco Certifications Thread

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Hey guys.

I thought I'd make a thread specifically for Cisco certifications, so that we have somewhere central to discuss them.

Hopefully this will turn into an FAQ/discussion type thread, for now I've compiled a list of links to sites that I have
found helpful. As and when I get more time I will try to add more to the thread to make it more useful. Please feel
free to contribute to the thread and help me improve it in any way that you can. :)

Some of the links are CCNA specific since it's the most popular cert, and some are just general to Cisco certs.

A little bit about myself: currently I'm just a CCNA and I'm working my way towards the CCNP/CCIE. I'll try to grab a
pic of my lab at some point. Feel free to do the same. :)


Cisco Certifications:

Overview of current exams with links to each exam, listing the topics for every exam:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/certifications/index.html

More overviews of current exams, with practice quizzes and some free resources:
https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications

Slightly outdated introduction to Cisco certifications:
http://www.techexams.net/forums/ccna-ccent/74321-introduction-cisco-certifications.html



Different CCNA exam approaches:

There are two different approaches to becoming CCNA certified. The two exam approach, ICND1 and ICND2, and the one exam approach:

ICND1 is focused around small branch offices, more info here:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/exams/list/icnd1b.html

ICND2 is focused around small to medium size enterprise networks, more info here:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/exams/list/icnd2b.html

The 200-120 CCNA exam is focused on the content covered in both ICND1 and ICND2, more info here:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/exams/list/ccna_composite2.html



Free learning materials:

Videos
http://www.ine.com/self-paced/ccna/bootcamps.htm
http://www.ine.com/self-paced/ccna-voice/bootcamps.htm
http://www.youtube.com/user/Cisco
http://www.youtube.com/user/cbtnuggets
http://www.youtube.com/user/Keith6783
http://www.youtube.com/user/TrainSignalInc
http://www.youtube.com/user/FreeCCNAWorkbook
http://www.youtube.com/user/GNS3Talk

Blogs/reading
http://www.cisco.com/cisco/web/psa/default.html
http://blog.internetworkexpert.com/
http://blog.ipexpert.com/
http://gns3vault.com/Blog/
http://docwiki.cisco.com/wiki/Internetworking_Technology_Handbook
http://www.freeccnaworkbook.com/

Lab recommendations/resources

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-CP6w6TAIc
http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/24916
http://www.certskills.com/LabGear/CCNA/BuildLists.aspx
http://networklessons.com/cisco/recommended-lab-equipment-for-cisco-ccna/
http://www.gns3.net/
http://7200emu.hacki.at/
http://www.youtube.com/user/GNS3Vault
http://www.youtube.com/user/GNS3Talk
https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/thread/4933

Forums

http://www.techexams.net/forums/
https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/index.jspa
http://www.certforums.com/
http://www.networking-forum.com/



Paid learning materials:

http://www.ciscopress.com/
https://learningnetworkstore.cisco.com/market/prod/homeWork.se.work
http://www.ine.com/
http://www.cbtnuggets.com/it-training-videos/cisco
 
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Soldato
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Nice idea! Just going to put a short post here, if anybody has any queries about material (CCNA or otherwise), let me know. I'm always happy to help and if there's enough interest I could write an article on it or provide a "lab" in Packet Tracer or GNS3 (See sig for blog //pimp)

-GP
 
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Thanks GostlyPea.

I'd like to expand the OP to include some proper content rather than just links to other sites, that won't happen today though.
So any help to make the thread more complete is very much appreciated. :)

I would also like to extend the offer of creating articles/lab scenarios for CCNA/CCNP R&S topics.

At some point in the near future I may offer access to my lab for those who wish to access it (although I can't provide 24/7
access because of the electricity cost). E.g. lots of people use 3550s for their labs instead of 3560 or above switches, and
miss out on Private VLANs etc. I have a couple of 6509s which can do this, as well as SSO/NSF etc.
 

DRZ

DRZ

Soldato
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In the top 1%
CCIE candidate here!

Got a much bigger than blueprint lab plus GNS3 and the complete reading list plus more besides so as above if anyone wants help with any particular aspects then I'm happy to help although I won't be providing access to my labs.
 
Associate
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I attended a CCNA bootcamp a 2 years ago, but then life got in the way and I never got round to following it up with more study so I could do the exams. Also my job didn't give me much useful hands on experience to help either.

I am now, back studying for the CCNA (which I see they updated for 2013), hopefully it'll lead to getting a job in networking but it appears there isn't really any jobs for junior network technicians/admins.

It's slow going so far but I'm determined not to let things get it the way of it this time. Just received some kit for my home lab as well, as nothing beats the experience of hands on with real kit sometimes.
 
Soldato
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Ahh.... studied for the first time in months last week - need to get my CCNP route done.

Been a few months since I did CCNP switch and only did a little revision since.. its so hard to find time after work. Unfortunately even though I work in a lab full of Cisco equipment, routing protocols isn't something I have to use personally.

Using GNS3 for my studying, could use real routers (100s available) but its far easier to just use GNS3 for the most part..
 
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Not bad.

You may find an extra switch or two useful for STP/VTP/Etherchannels though I suppose that depends on how familiar you
are with those technologies already. If you need more routers than you currently have then look into GNS3 for a free option. :)

As above, if you find yourself wanting more switches for those technologies but don't want to fork out the extra dough for
them, you're welcome to remotely access my switches when they're available. Just got to ask! I think that the
freeCCNAworkbook site offers some sort of free lab access too, probably a better lab than mine. It's worth checking out
for those who don't have access to all of the kit that they need.

Occasionally you may find INE and similar companies offering free access to their kit too, I've got 50 tokens left with INE
that they gave for free :D
 
Associate
Joined
12 Nov 2008
Posts
1,220
Not bad.

You may find an extra switch or two useful for STP/VTP/Etherchannels though I suppose that depends on how familiar you
are with those technologies already. If you need more routers than you currently have then look into GNS3 for a free option. :)

As above, if you find yourself wanting more switches for those technologies but don't want to fork out the extra dough for
them, you're welcome to remotely access my switches when they're available. Just got to ask! I think that the
freeCCNAworkbook site offers some sort of free lab access too, probably a better lab than mine. It's worth checking out
for those who don't have access to all of the kit that they need.

Occasionally you may find INE and similar companies offering free access to their kit too, I've got 50 tokens left with INE
that they gave for free :D

I was thinking of maybe getting one or two 3550's to complete the lab, especially for things like STP, and trunking (not sure if that's the right term in the cisco world).
 

Xez

Xez

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Mrbell1984 check your MM thread :)

I'm on the ICND1 course next week, haven't really done much in terms of Cisco switches only routing gear 877/887 and 1921 devices so hoping things aren't hugely different!
 
Soldato
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Nice to hear from you oli! How's work going?
Going well, damn busy as usual. Currently testing part of a network for a large ISP, IOS-XR ASR9K based.

This weekend we are changing over our SAN in the lab, we accidentally bought a few too many hard drives... meant to order 80 TB, we now have 160 TB lol, in reality we only use a few. ;)
 
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Xez

Xez

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Well had my first day on the ICND1 course and I can't say I've really learnt anything new that I don't already really know. Looks like the ICND1 has changed quite a bit this year with a lot more content than previous years. Enjoying the course so far though!
 
Soldato
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kalvindeane - good luck :) exactly, just get in there at least and progress from there.

Xez - yeah the changes seem to be massive! Glad I got the CCNA when I did :) Enjoy the course
 
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