CCNA - CCNA Test Advice

Author

CCNA Test Advice

ANDRONDA

2002-09-24, 8:25 am

I am not into posting a thread that says “Hey I passed with THIS score” and then wait for people to congratulate me or maybe even cry a river because they suspect I may have used a brain dump somewhere. To me all those discussions and bragging threads are asinine and do not help anyone. Talk about wasting space and time.

I did pas CCNA yesterday afternoon with a really good score. Perhaps by reading this, another candidate can benefit. First of all, to tell what I used to prepare. I used the Sybex 640-607 Study Guide, the Cisco Press 640-607 Study Guide and some software called Sybex CCNA Virtual Lab E-Trainer. That is all I used. I studied for a total of six weeks and never once touched a real router or switch. My only IT background thus far is passing the Net+ exam. So all this BS about you can't use simulators and expect to do well is a bunch of bunk.

Now for what was covered. The test had two simulations. They were fairly basic. I would say if you can configure IP addresses, serial connections, RIP, IGRP and can configure a simple network so that you can ping through any terminal to any other terminal you are most of the way there. Also I would say that you should be able to set all types of passwords, banners and hostnames. It is no big deal. Basic stuff.

As for the rest of the test. You should be able to subnet Ipv4 in your head. There seemed to be a lot of questions about CLI commands also. Your real meat-and-potatoes will be the subnetting and CLI. You better really know those different components of the routers and their registry settings (i.e. NVRAM, ROM, FLASH etc.) There was at least one of those drag and drop type questions and a few where you have to type in the answer. It was a fair mix of all the domains described in the Cisco 640-607 objectives. I believe that it is everything I expected it to be, no real surprises.

Good luck to all and may the force be with you.

Rockin Rod

2002-09-24, 9:07 am

Congrats on your pass! (Sorry, I couldn't resist)

Thanks for the concise advice on the test.

Rod

wildscribe

2002-09-24, 9:37 am

Excellent advice! Thank you for taking the time to tell us how you did it.

- Wild

Sexy Lexy

2002-09-24, 10:44 am

A common sense thread regarding taking and passing an exam.

Congratulations are in order for your pass but for providing insight, help and good advice to those that have yet to take the exam.

Just an observation, the lack of hands on experience may go against you (Just a comment not a flame or criticism)

You have my utmost respect.

ANDRONDA

2002-09-24, 11:58 am

What do you mean "...the lack of hands on experience may go against you."

If there is some insight you may have that is beneficial I am open to hear it.

Sexy Lexy

2002-09-24, 12:28 pm

Most employers look for commercial experience along with the certification.

Just be aware if they ask you how much hands on experience you have had in a working environment as some employers rate on the job experience over certification.

Hope this helps.

ANDRONDA

2002-09-24, 2:11 pm

I see it much differently.

I have been a manager in the area of logistics and distribution for ten years. If I were to seek employment in a firm that employs information technology solutions for warehousing, transportation, distribution, (such as a authorized partner of SAP, Oracle, JDE, Baan, Peoplesoft, Siebel, etc.) the typical candidates would probably either be logistics gurus who probably don’t know jack about IT, or IT geeks who don’t know jack about logistics. The way I see it, I am a logistics guru who will know a heck-of-a lot about IT.

In my humble opinion, this makes me better suited for a career in a company that employees MRP, ERP, fleet management, E-comerce and/or inventory systems than the typical candidate.

See. Think inside the box and you limit your possibilities. Think outside the box, as I have done my entire professional life, and you create them.

I think people limit themselves so much by talking themselves out of things. I am not that way. I do what I want. I always have. It is pretty hard to talk me out of anything once I set my mind to it.

vschristopher

2002-09-24, 2:26 pm

congrats for being a CCNA and thanks a lot for helping me clear my doubts on subnetting too..... i aprreciate it , well i read all the comments in thjis thread and i think in ur case u dont need a job as ur already a manager :-p but like us frshers in this field , we definitley need hands-on the real stuff otherwise its as good as nothing, we hvae 100,000-200,000 CCNA's in India and only like 10% of them get jobs , why ? cos of the experience and the entry level jobs are no good :-p so if we have professional experience with us its a big big plus.

Sexy Lexy

2002-09-24, 2:32 pm

I agree with you totally.

I have always been unorthodox when it comes to progression and expanding my experience, not everyone shares the same stand point but eliminate the boundaries and the only constraints are your ability or creative ambition.

Unfortunately, employers think inside the box and in my experience if you are perceived as unorthodox then a narrow minded perspective on the part of others is a hindrance.

Maybe attitudes in America differ to those in the UK.

ANDRONDA

2002-09-24, 4:02 pm

Living in Texas I cannot refer to you as "Sexy Lexy" I think they would run me out of the state (unless I lived in Austin, where they support that kind of thing).

You’re right about one thing: “a narrow minded perspective on the part of others is a hindrance.”

But I see that as temporary. Not in most cases, but in every case. In every case, ingenuity and tenacity pay off. At least here in America.

The way IT people usually tell it, you need boucoup experience plus boucoup certifications to get a job in IT. Well how do people get jobs at all unless they inherit them? I guess if you are willing to let the system control you, then you deserve to be stagnant. If you are willing to take the bull by the horns then chances are you will make something happen. It may not happen fast, but it will eventually.

You just have to be tenacious. The first job I ever got outside of the Military was for a company just outside of New York City. When I applied for a “supervisor job” they told me I needed to have two year's experience in a supervisory role. I told that guy point blank: “What the heck do you think the Army is?” I mean if leading troops is not supervisory, I don’t know what is”. When the guy kept hemming and hawing I told his look, if you are THAT hesitant than put me on a 60-day probation. Pay me whatever a temp makes and if after the 60 days it is not working you can send me on my way. So he did and a few short years later I had climbed into management.

There was another thread somewhere here where a fellow used his personal networking skills to land a trial job as a network tech. He had no experience in the field but I think one or two certifications. He says it is luck, but it sounds to me as though he is selling himself short. He used his resources (in this case a well positioned friend) to make something happen. I admire this kind of ingenuity.

Glad I did not listen to so-called conventional wisdom way back when in ‘92. There is no telling where I would be now- probably selling used cars or life insurance.

I only say all this to give encouragement to those who are starting out, and hear constantly about how they will never find a job without experience, or be able to get experience without many certifications.

I am not trying to brag or boast. I always said if I was going to blow my own horn, let it be a trumpet for God.

Rockin Rod

2002-09-24, 4:05 pm

Oh my gosh, a logistics guy who cares. No slam, just personal experience. After spending 6+ years in WMS hardware support (wireless networks, handheld computers, etc), you are few and far between. Favorite real life story--- a main supplier to Chevy was down, getting FINED $30K for each 15 minutes down using JIT manufacturing methods. They were down well over an hour. It is our equipment failing. I walk in to a torrent of cuss words from the plant GM and the HIGHLY paid IT manager. Fifteen minutes later, I said "You have a bad patch cable". LMAO! I had to make a speedy exit to keep from laughing in their faces.

Keep up the study, I could see it leading into management if thats what you want. After all, a good manager should know a little bit about everything in his control.

I hope you enjoyed my revelling in the past.

Rod

JetGDI

2002-09-24, 9:07 pm

One of the best posts I've seen yet about what's on the test.

vschristopher

2002-09-24, 9:42 pm

if ur talking abt the CCNA exam , its not soo difficult just u need to have ur IP addressing strong and u shud be able to recall all ur CLI commands.get ur knowledge on osi to the latest too. and one thing more, atleast go through the books 2 times before taking an exam , its always revealing every time u read it.

chris

ANDRONDA

2002-09-25, 8:07 am

Enjoyed the discission.

That's it for my 2 cents worth here.

See you over at 70-210 if Providence decrees.

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