Starting CCNA with Open University on May 1st

Super Tigers

Super Tigers

Super Tigers

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22 Oct 2002
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Location
Hull, UK
I work for the Hull City Council in a decent finance job and I make a decent living but I need a change of career direction. I am approaching 40 in August and I have realised that I have always wanted a career in IT, I spotted an advert for Open University and I found the CCNA course over 6 months that can used towards a Degree. Have been tinkering with computers since 1982 as a hobby but now I want to take it further. I thought that doing the CCNA would open up a career into the Hardware side of IT.
I just need to know how hard is the CCNA to pass? I haven't done a huge amount of studying for a long time (I passed 10 O's and 2 A levels along time).

Anyone else studying for their CCNA? Can they give me some tips or insight into the course?

Cheers
Rob H
 
Easy, when you take the module exams, just have google loaded up in another window. Alt+tab and you're on to a winner.

Seriously, we did CCNA during our HND and thats what everyone did. Although we only did it upto the stage where you do a "voucher" exam, which qualifies you to take the final exam but with money off.

You will find webpages with all the answers on as well.
 
dude, this guy obviously wants to learn this stuff so he can change his career... advising him to sit there cheating on the tests isnt exactly the best advice now is it?! plus, how in the hell are you going to pass the final exam when there is no google there to help you? and your also gonna look pretty dumb at a job interview with practical tests too when google isnt there to be your friend.

im doing the cisco networking academy program part-time in the evening at a local college, ours is four semesters over two academic years though, not crammed into six months like yours.

if your doing it through the ou do you have access to a lab of kit to play with, or just the online content? even if you do, i would still recommend you get yourself kitted out with a couple of routers and switches off the bay.

hands-on experience with the kit is the way forward, especially if you want to do this stuff for a job, and not just to pass a hnd. (don't think im knocking hn's, i did one before i started the cisco stuff)

edit: also, try www.netsimk.com for a really decent free simulator. it's not quite as polished as packet tracer in the looks department but for functionality i quite like it - especially as it has the ability to introduce random faults to your network which you then have to fix. excellent practice for troubleshooting. (no substitute for hands-on with the kit though!)

edit2: also, get ahead now with binary/hex maths and subnetting. try www.learntosubnet.com which is a pretty good website.

edit 3: also, the celtic rover bright sparks internetworking gateway is a pretty sweet website. try http://www.celticrover.com/BSIG/default.aspx
 
Last edited:
Ripper^ said:
Easy, when you take the module exams, just have google loaded up in another window. Alt+tab and you're on to a winner.

Seriously, we did CCNA during our HND and thats what everyone did. Although we only did it upto the stage where you do a "voucher" exam, which qualifies you to take the final exam but with money off.

You will find webpages with all the answers on as well.
Click to expand...

That is not the certification exam.

I found the CCNA quite diffcult, not inasmuch that the material is difficult but due to the high pass mark you have to achieve. it is challenging though but hard work will get you through for sure.
 
newbiejim said:
That is not the certification exam.

I found the CCNA quite diffcult, not inasmuch that the material is difficult but due to the high pass mark you have to achieve. it is challenging though but hard work will get you through for sure.
Click to expand...

The final exam he is talking about is the ccna exam.
 
Its simple really

the voucher exam will enable you to get money off the cert exam, which you have to book your self.
 
newbiejim said:
I found the CCNA quite diffcult, not inasmuch that the material is difficult but due to the high pass mark you have to achieve. it is challenging though but hard work will get you through for sure.
Click to expand...

Yes the CCNA will be challenging if you've not got a decent amount of prior experience. I've been working with networks for a few years now, did the CCNA about a month ago and now studying for my CCSP/CCNP exams.

Even with the experience i found there was a LOT to revise.
 
If you are doing the online revision they have then its fairly straight forward, but a lot to learn due to the amount of modules etc.

I was doing it during my HND but as it was an added module by my last year with a dissertation to write etc I didnt have the time to complete it.

Personally I think the hardest thing is router management if you arent used to console type stuff, as well as subnets etc.

I enjoyed the mini projects such as when you do fictitious quotes for offices/schools etc, work out layouts for kit/cabling etc etc, I think thats more my area rather than router management etc.

If you have the time to learn it properly then go for it, I may in the future go back and complete it when I have the right amount of time to study properly.

As others said, getting access to a few routers is important, luckily we had 3 or 4 CISCO routers setup in the labs to tinker with, although I imagine even on the bay they would cost a bit.
 
teaboy5 said:
Its simple really

the voucher exam will enable you to get money off the cert exam, which you have to book your self.
Click to expand...


ok I inderstand your angle, BUT (lol) IMHO the main thrust of the post in question related to material that isnt the certification exam. :)
 
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