The CCNA/Cisco Certifications Thread

Cool. Cheers guys.

I seen this one from the same seller http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121344915169

Basically the same kit, but with one less router. Not sure if 3 are needed or allow me to do more things in the curriculum? Will spend the extra if needed, but if I can save a bit here and there for stuff that isn't really needed then that would be helpful.
 
I brought my kit from 12 Port Networks as well, a good seller. Kit came well packed and was loaded with the latest IOS supported.

Personally I would buy the kit with 3 routers listed, you will find that you can do more practice labs with it. Having said that you can always add a 3rd router later on.
 
Thanks for the info! Glad to hear they are a decent supplier. Shall look into getting the 3xrouter and 2xswitch kit.

Cheers folks.
 
Guys with no networking experience. What's best way forward into networking ? Any help would be great.
 
What exactly are you looking for. A network focused job, networking skills to compliment other areas of IT or just for interest?

Regardless, doing your CCNA is essentially the core step

- GP
 
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You'll need to book through Pearson Vue, so just "book the exam" and it goes through asking for your location, input that and it will display the closest centres

- GP
 
GhostlyPea said:
You'll need to book through Pearson Vue, so just "book the exam" and it goes through asking for your location, input that and it will display the closest centres

- GP
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Yea found it eventually. Bit cheaper than I thought (about £100 per exam as I would be doing ICND1 and ICND2), but of course would still like to pass first time! In Newry rather than Belfast unfortunately, so a bit of leg work involved in getting there.
 
It's not so bad for me (SE London) but I still had a 2 hours trip when I did my CCSE the other week... they fill up so fast for bookings so I had to go to one miles away :( Closest one is ~40 minutes when it's not jam packed

- GP
 
GhostlyPea said:
What exactly are you looking for. A network focused job, networking skills to compliment other areas of IT or just for interest?

Regardless, doing your CCNA is essentially the core step

- GP
Click to expand...

thanks for the reply bud.

Yeah I would love to get into a network related job as well as IT related.
 
Definitely start with the CCNA, regardless of vendor (Cisco, Juniper, Brocade, HP etc.) it teaches fundamentals of networking that everybody should know. Once you've done that and you still want to get in to Networking (and all the crap that comes along with it) then progress from there looking for a job. Nothing to stop you looking at the same time but definitely easier to get if you show some commitment

- GP
 
GhostlyPea said:
Definitely start with the CCNA, regardless of vendor (Cisco, Juniper, Brocade, HP etc.) it teaches fundamentals of networking that everybody should know. Once you've done that and you still want to get in to Networking (and all the crap that comes along with it) then progress from there looking for a job. Nothing to stop you looking at the same time but definitely easier to get if you show some commitment

- GP
Click to expand...

Thank you bud!
Any idea on where to start? I was looking at a training company called firebrand but they teach the course in 5 days at a stupidly high price, Also think 5 days is a bit to short to take in do much information

Any help would be great
Cheers
 
Have you been on any Cisco kit before? For a CCNA I would really advise against that sort of course. Buy the official course books, read through them and try and get a copy of an IOS and use GNS3 or PacketTracer. A 5 day course wont help understanding the theory which is very important. If you can pick it up in 5 days then you don't need the course and if you can't then it will be a waste. The secret is read the books, read again and lab stuff up

- GP
 
GhostlyPea said:
Have you been on any Cisco kit before? For a CCNA I would really advise against that sort of course. Buy the official course books, read through them and try and get a copy of an IOS and use GNS3 or PacketTracer. A 5 day course wont help understanding the theory which is very important. If you can pick it up in 5 days then you don't need the course and if you can't then it will be a waste. The secret is read the books, read again and lab stuff up

- GP
Click to expand...
Nope, Never been on any Cisco kit before, I have very very little network knowledge at all. I'm looking for the entry level Network Course so I can follow a career path in Networking ect. What books would you recommend ?

cheers Ghostly
 
Furyus said:
Nope, Never been on any Cisco kit before, I have very very little network knowledge at all. I'm looking for the entry level Network Course so I can follow a career path in Networking ect. What books would you recommend ?

cheers Ghostly
Click to expand...

If you want to look at doing a course try doing ICND1 via someone like QA (I found this vary useful), although money may be an issue if you aren't doing it via an employer.

As for training material, take a look at signing up to the Cisco Learning Network (https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/index.jspa) you will find a lot of like minded people there also just starting out on their CCENT/CCNA.

For reading material take a look at the Official Cisco books written by Wendell Odom as they go through everything you need in great detail.

I also picked up the training simulators as well which gives you various scenarios to work through to get you used to looking at switch configs and using the various "show" commands to get information.

Once you've decided if Cisco is for you, you can also pick up Cisco kit on the bay which you can use to setup your own labs. Or on the Cisco Learning Network you can buy time to use their kit for a lab. I think it's currently $79.00 for 35 hours over 90 days and they give you exercises based around ICDN1/2 depending on what you purchase.

Hopefully this helps you get started. Good luck :)
 
Right guys - some advice pretty please!

Work has agreed to move me into networking, so I need to skill up. They said I can pick the courses I want to go on (within reason of course - i.e. relevant to the business). I want to go down the basics, through routing and switching and end up with some generic wireless training.

For CCNA I was going to go for either CCNAX or CCNAB boot camp training (I was initially under the impression this included the exams to gain CCNA qualification - but it doesnt :( ) - so I have the option to sit the longer but easier paced ICND1 and ICND2 (5 days each) courses. Which would you recommend and why please?

For wireless I was thinking of going for a more generic course (as we don't use cisco kit for wireless) - something like this: http://www.cwnp.com/certifications/cwts/

I wouldn't say I'm a complete noob to networking - came from a desktop background and recently been skilling up on vm and server side, but the move to networking is something I've wanted for a while.

What do you reckon - ICND1, ICND2, then wireless? thanks in advance.
 
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Does anyone have a link which contains GNS3 lab guides specifically for ICND1 (latest)? Preferably something CBT nuggets have drawn up,

I have a master lab, and chapter scenario labs that I have built myself but I want to try and cut the time down a bit of documenting new lab guides what with the note taking im doinb through normal learning.and actually have some ready made scenarios.

Thanks for anyone who can provide a decent link :)
 
zoomee said:
Right guys - some advice pretty please!

Work has agreed to move me into networking, so I need to skill up. They said I can pick the courses I want to go on (within reason of course - i.e. relevant to the business). I want to go down the basics, through routing and switching and end up with some generic wireless training.

For CCNA I was going to go for either CCNAX or CCNAB boot camp training (I was initially under the impression this included the exams to gain CCNA qualification - but it doesnt :( ) - so I have the option to sit the longer but easier paced ICND1 and ICND2 (5 days each) courses. Which would you recommend and why please?

For wireless I was thinking of going for a more generic course (as we don't use cisco kit for wireless) - something like this: http://www.cwnp.com/certifications/cwts/

I wouldn't say I'm a complete noob to networking - came from a desktop background and recently been skilling up on vm and server side, but the move to networking is something I've wanted for a while.

What do you reckon - ICND1, ICND2, then wireless? thanks in advance.
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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.
 
Currently at OSPF in the ICND1 book. Pretty tricky to get my head around in parts. Understand the logic, just need to reason with it a bit better. The CBT videos don't go into it until a bit later on, and I'm watching them in order is there is a bit of catching up to do there.

VLANs I found tricky as well, but the videos did help and configuring VTP, trunking and Layer 3 switching using Packet Tracer have helped.

Aim to do the exam possibly in August sometime, go back to Uni for final year and then do CCNA studying in the background with the hope of doing ICND2 next summer or sooner depending on how I pick it up.

The new format does seem more difficult, and I can understand why. Didn't think VLANs or many routing protocols would appear, but they seem to want to make it more challenging.
 
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