The CCNA/Cisco Certifications Thread

nimz said:
Looks like I'm almost in the same situation as you. Come from a desktop/server background and looking to switch (no pun intended) into networking.

Work have agreed to put me through the courses. I've gone for ICND1 and 2 as I didn't want to cram everything in a short period of time and also I don't have much experience with Cisco kit.

I've got the books for ICND1 and 2 and the CBT Nugget videos for each too. Not sure which route I will take after CCNA though!

If you have the option I would go for ICND1&2.
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ahaha - exact same position as me bud. Got my ICND1&2 booked for august. Also got my CWNA booked for november too - hopefully should get enough experience by then.

Problem I have is shifting all the mobile/desktop experience I have in my head to make room for this stuff - hopefully it will just drop off the end :D

Its the subnetting bit that I'm dreading in all honesty - I remember doing it as part of the win98, XP, and even Windows 7 courses and never got to grips with it! - need to get my mindset right I guess.
 
Gents a little help please :

I did some cisco modules whilst I was doing my degree but this was some three/four years ago now.

The models I did and have certificates for are as follows :

CCNA Exploration : Accessing the WAN
CCNA Exploration : Network Fundamentals
CCNA Exploration : Lan Switching and Wireless
CCNA Exploration : Routing Protocols and Concepts

Now I never did any final exam so I assume these are useless now? I'd like to start again, and work my way through whatever required to get the CCNA certification. I've opened up some of the networks that I made for my degree in packet tracer and I haven't really got the foggiest what they are anymore!

Any advice would be appreciated, I'm looking to crack cisco first, and then move on to some Microsoft certifications as I'm fed up being paid a pittance where I am working now!

Thanks a lot :)
 
-Mike- said:
Gents a little help please :

I did some cisco modules whilst I was doing my degree but this was some three/four years ago now.

The models I did and have certificates for are as follows :

CCNA Exploration : Accessing the WAN
CCNA Exploration : Network Fundamentals
CCNA Exploration : Lan Switching and Wireless
CCNA Exploration : Routing Protocols and Concepts

Now I never did any final exam so I assume these are useless now? I'd like to start again, and work my way through whatever required to get the CCNA certification. I've opened up some of the networks that I made for my degree in packet tracer and I haven't really got the foggiest what they are anymore!

Any advice would be appreciated, I'm looking to crack cisco first, and then move on to some Microsoft certifications as I'm fed up being paid a pittance where I am working now!

Thanks a lot :)
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Hi,

The modules posted above obviously mean you have a previous knowledge of some of the basic concepts, but in terms of employment - a full CCNA is really the starting benchmark, an employer will mostly not care about all the little modules and courses - they want the valid certification in full.

You should look to pass the CCNA R&S in full in around 6-9 months if you apply yourself, just buy the latest official study guides from Ciscopress or the ones by Todd Lammle (make sure they're the latest ones), dedicate 2-3 nights a week and one half-day at the weekend, book the exam and nail it.

CCNA is quite a difficult first certification compared to most other stuff, but I think the subject content is good and you'll use a great deal of it inside the workplace.

PS: I'd avoid spending money on any courses or bootcamps - they mostly charge a premium simply to regurgitate what appears in the study guides anyway, you will also want some sort of minature lab setup, whether it's GNS3 or a simulator - it'll make learning much easier.
 
Thanks for the reply :)

I don't have any lab kit, have packet tracer still, but I assume I want more than that? Could you suggest some kit to get me started?

I have space where I work now where I could put a lab, and a few of our old computers for some hands on practice?

Thanks again
 
-Mike- said:
Thanks for the reply :)

I don't have any lab kit, have packet tracer still, but I assume I want more than that? Could you suggest some kit to get me started?

I have space where I work now where I could put a lab, and a few of our old computers for some hands on practice?

Thanks again
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For lab kit, it sometimes helps to have the physical equipment - you can get CCNA/CCNP lab bundles of older kit off ebay for around £150-200 you'd ideally need 3 routers (2600s) and 2 switches (2950) that would be more than enough to do the CCNA.

OR you can setup GNS3, but you need plenty of CPU to run it and you can't do switching properly, an actual lab is a decent investment.
 
Got my CCENT exam booked for August 18th, eek.

Feel fairly confident, but will be going through the ICND1 book and CBT videos again before that.
 
V-Spec said:
For lab kit, it sometimes helps to have the physical equipment - you can get CCNA/CCNP lab bundles of older kit off ebay for around £150-200 you'd ideally need 3 routers (2600s) and 2 switches (2950) that would be more than enough to do the CCNA.

OR you can setup GNS3, but you need plenty of CPU to run it and you can't do switching properly, an actual lab is a decent investment.
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Thanks for the reply. Just looked and whilst I still have my four books : they are out of date now :mad:

I found 2600's and 2950's reasonably cheap but I don't really have the room at home so will have to wait until I clear some space at work.
 
Will Gill said:
Thanks for the invaluable input, I like the virtual plan so will happily wait :cool:
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-Mike- said:
Thanks for the reply. Just looked and whilst I still have my four books : they are out of date now :mad:

I found 2600's and 2950's reasonably cheap but I don't really have the room at home so will have to wait until I clear some space at work.
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Cisco VIRL.... looks to be just the ticket and from what I've read will be available later this year. Would it be a good move to wait for that? I'm happily getting into my windows server stuff at the moment anyway.
 
-Mike- said:
Cisco VIRL.... looks to be just the ticket and from what I've read will be available later this year. Would it be a good move to wait for that? I'm happily getting into my windows server stuff at the moment anyway.
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We're an EFT (early field trial) customer with Cisco, we have a load of them working on site with us, I've already used the corportate version of VIRL (CML - Cisco modeling labs) and it is pretty awesome, but it costs tens of thousands, and many features are still broken.

They are planning to release a community supported version of CML which will be called VIRL in the next few months, *apparently* it's going to cost $99 for a yearly license for up to 15 devices, (IOS, IOS-XRv, IOS-XE and NX-OS) but even the Cisco guys I work with say this changes every week, so fingers crossed.
 
So buy some switch gear anyway? Just got two 2950s with the two gigabit ports on each for £30 the pair... Hope they will be ok?

Thanks for your help
 
Hi guys, coming to the end of CBT nuggets icnd1 series, can anyone give me useful links to use, areas i need practise on deffo subnetting, nat if possible as thats harder to lab, ospf and routing links would be good although iv built my own ospf scenario and used one from cbt.

I have gns3 scenarios for most of the sections where possible

Any useful links that would be good for icnd 1 to start testing what I know and correcting what I dont know

I am going to try subnetting.com for random subnet questions

Ta :)

Also, how much ipv6 stuff is in the exam?
 
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Nymins said:
I've done some of the Ranet labs. They may be a bit out of date as they include some ICND2 stuff in them. The English on the instructions can be a bit odd too.

Will see if I can find a link. Although I used them in packet tracer rather than GNS3.

Subnetting.org is also good.

Edit: https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/s...ad/12808-1-42776/Ranet_Labs_and_Solutions.zip
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Cool yeah will go through ranet ones I had them from a while ago as I used gns3, but for practise its not bad
 
-Mike- said:
Would I need one with enhanced IOS? The ones I have coming have two gigabit ports, but no enhanced software?
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I wouldn't worry too much, the enhanced image (EI) supports extra stuff which you won't need for the CCNA too much, the enhanced image supports some additional QoS features, some different modes of spanning-tree (MST/RSPT) and a few other things,

In the event you do come across a feature you want, you should be able to easily upgrade to the Enhanced image - it should be knocking about on google somewhere, or from Cisco if you have CCO account.

It's been a long time since I did the CCNA (2001) but I'd be surprised if you need more than the standard image,
 
Also, for anybody who's more interested in virtual routers and VMware, I tried out the IOSv router yesterday, I was using the CSR1000v however it needs 3GB of memory per router, however IOSv only needs 384MB of memory - has 10x 10Gb virtual-interfaces and supports a whole load of features:

CPE1#sh ver
Cisco IOS Software, IOSv Software (VIOS-ADVENTERPRISEK9-M), Version 15.4(1.24)T0.9, MAINTENANCE INTERIM SOFTWARE
Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
Copyright (c) 1986-2014 by Cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Fri 21-Mar-14 00:59 by prod_rel_team

*** IOSv: UNSUPPORTED DEMO VERSION ONLY ***

ROM: Bootstrap program is IOSv

CPE1 uptime is 20 hours, 42 minutes
System returned to ROM by reload
System image file is "flash0:/vios-adventerprisek9-m"
Last reload reason: Unknown reason



This product contains cryptographic features and is subject to United
States and local country laws governing import, export, transfer and
use. Delivery of Cisco cryptographic products does not imply
third-party authority to import, export, distribute or use encryption.
Importers, exporters, distributors and users are responsible for
compliance with U.S. and local country laws. By using this product you
agree to comply with applicable laws and regulations. If you are unable
to comply with U.S. and local laws, return this product immediately.

A summary of U.S. laws governing Cisco cryptographic products may be found at:
http://www.cisco.com/wwl/export/crypto/tool/stqrg.html

If you require further assistance please contact us by sending email to
[email protected].

Cisco IOSv (revision 1.0) with with 254274K/136192K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID 9OZHTE73ZSYRV55GHKFFN
10 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces
DRAM configuration is 72 bits wide with parity disabled.
256K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory.
2097144K bytes of ATA System CompactFlash 0 (Read/Write)
0K bytes of ATA CompactFlash 1 (Read/Write)
0K bytes of ATA CompactFlash 2 (Read/Write)
0K bytes of ATA CompactFlash 3 (Read/Write)



Configuration register is 0x0
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Works like a charm so far, no licencing, no messing around - just connect stuff together with the VMware V-switch manually,

You need to get hold of the following files from the onePK pack (floating around the internets):

vios-adventerprisek9-m-disk1.vmdk
vios-adventerprisek9-m.ovf

Just deploy it like a regular virtual machine, add a console port to the VM - then telnet directly to the console.
 
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