CCNP - Introduction and dilema

Author

Introduction and dilema

Captain_Miller

2002-01-16, 6:33 am

G'day folks.

I just wanted to introduce myself and get aquainted with these forum's and the members. I briefly used this site when I was studying for my CCNA and found it quite useful and the community both friendly and knowledgable. Now, my employer has approved a CCNP workshop for all four tests for me and I believe this site will prove helpful again. This time however I have registered for the forums and hope to give back a bit.

I am an "academic" CCNA which basically means that I got my CCNA by reading a book and taking practice exams. This was how I broke into the Tech field as the economy turned at the beginning of last year. Although I only occasionally deal with IP in my current postion, it is always at either the switching (always GUI), or host level. I have had no practical experience with routing.

This is where my dilema comes in. The two workshops I am taking are each a week long, four days of class and tinkering with routers and then TWO tests on the fifth day. This would be great were I using routers and switches everyday, but alas I am an acedemic CCNA who has forgoten much of what I have learned. These classes start in seven weeks so I must work fast. I don't believe that reading a book and taking practice tests will be quite enough for these tests so any advice is quite welcome

Don't misinterpit me though. I am in no way panicing and fully intend and expect to pass all four tests on the first attempt.

Anyways, it is nice to meet you folks and I look forward to our future technical banter

Best regards,
Miller

PS
Sorry about the spelling, this has been my bain since kindergarden.

peterd

2002-01-16, 7:01 am

Hello,

well done on your CCNA pass.

As for CCNP, it's a whole new game! If I was starting from scratch I'd search on Cisco's site, and I suppose on a search engine like www.google.com, for routing topics in the approx order:

RIP, IPX, EIGRP, OSPF, BGP

You'll probably find lots of 'basic' papers around the internet and more in-depth stuff on Cisco's site. Each one of these topics will have many tutorials but you only need one or two on each subject.

They average 30 - 50 pages each and will give you a great background into routing.

Then you do the same for Switching, looking at:

Vlans, Multicasting, erm, my mind's gone blank! Also take a look at Cisco's training section, it'll tell you there what topics are covered by each course/exam.

Hope that helps in some way.

Regards
Peter

The Reamer

2002-01-16, 11:37 am

As an add-on to what peterd says, I would also goto someplace like r1r2.com to get access to some routers. Combine router access with some labs (www.fatkid.com) you should be able to get some good practice in before going to your class.

HTH,

Reamer

Mat P

2002-01-16, 5:53 pm

I looked into courses like this in the UK, is it a kind of bootcamp course??

The ones I saw gave you all the course work in advance and wouldn't let you go on the course until you'd reached a certain level (probably a selling tactic).

R1R2 is good, theres also router sims available.

I guess if your employer is giving CCNP you have access to some kit?? If so take full advantage of it.

Good luck and welcome to the forum - post lots of questions, it's been distinctly lacking constructive technical questions recently!

huntert

2002-01-16, 8:00 pm

Use the router website as mentioned in the earlier post and just be calm. It is hard for person like yourself to be in this position, but your employer wants you to learn more advance technology and wants implementations. If you do pass the ccnp exams as soon as you finish each class, great.
But do not stress yourself and think that its has to be passed right after each course, that will lead to a fail, rushing a cisco exam especially the ccna track does not work well.

Goodluck

Captain_Miller

2002-01-22, 9:34 am

I appreciate the feedback and I will make definite use of it. I can already tell that this forum will be a great asset in passing all four tests.

Mat, you may wanna expect a reasonably steady stream of questions over the next six weeks, most being of a very specific sort.

Hunter, I'm not sure if I accurately presented the situation. My employer did not "nominate me" or anything, this is a course I applied for and my manager approved. As for staying calm, for me that has never been a problem and surely will not be for this test

I fully intend on passing, and something very unexpected would have to happen to alter this. As for stress, I feel some. However, I function much better under stress so this will simply play to my advantage.

Thanks guys!

Best Regards,
Miller

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