Cisco studying

infernox · 13 May 2016 at 14:45

Hello All,

I was looking for some advice. There has been some major changes in my company to the effect that the Desktop support is suspected to be absolved into a third party outsourcing provider.

I do not want to work for this third party, not really. I also believe that what is essentially 4 years in Desktop support is enough for me.

Now to the point. I'm looking at getting into a more networking focused role, Thinking of taking my CCNA again but the plan I want to do is:

CCENT/CCDA/CCNA/CCNA Security

Then follow it on from there once I secure a role.

I estimate I have about a year of work left for my current company.

Would this be a good idea? Should I look at different qualifications? Also what study material is good? Was looking at the official cert guide for ICND1 but at £20 dont want to buy it if it isnt any good lol.

My endgame is to become a Network Designer.

opethdisciple · 14 May 2016 at 14:10

Why are you starting with the CCENT/CCDA out of interest?

Last time I looked for my self, it would have been something more like CCNA/CCNA Security then CCIE etc... once your in a role that is Cisco based.

Throrik · 15 May 2016 at 19:29

CCENT is literally ICDN1 - so unless you're taking the 1x CCNA exam you get the CCENT anyway. You don't generally go from CCNA to CCIE either, and to be honest until you've been in the Cisco game for a while, you're not going to be anywhere near CCIE level, there's a reason they command the salaries they do.

infernox · 16 May 2016 at 13:18

I'm starting with CCENT and CCDA because I'm interested in Network Architecture. I would do the full CCNA but can always just take ICND2 at a later date.

Would the official cert guide be a good way to start? Then CBT Nuggets

jimjamuk · 17 May 2016 at 10:52

Yes go for it - buy the official cert guides and fill in any gaps with CBT's etc but self study is the best way forward. I did all those exams last year after many years of expired certs. The CCENT was trickier than the second CCNA R&S. CCDA was dry reading and pretty boring unless you enjoy that stuff and CCNA Security was again fairly easy. Just cover the blueprints on the Cisco site and you should be OK