CCNP - Let's share our thoughts and ideas

Author

Let's share our thoughts and ideas

tomy601k

2003-11-15, 8:32 am

Hi guys. I just cleared my CCNA 640-607 last week. I got 962 on the exam.

It took me 5 months of preparation. Using all the materials and tests and simulators I could get my hands on.

Now I've been thinking about taking the CCNP exam first and then move to CCSP. I'm going to state my plan here and I want to see your thoughts about it.

1- The order of exams to be taken should be as follows according to what I read in the forum :

642-801 BSCI Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks v2.0

642-811 BCMSN Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks v2.0

642-821 BCRAN Building Cisco Remote Access Networks v2.0

642-831 CIT Cisco Internetwork Troubleshooting Support v5.0

Routing --- > Switching --- > Remote Access --- > Troubleshooting

2- Books : I'm wondering about the books for those exams are they available yet or not. I live outside US. I'll go for Cisco Press books ofcourse. They cover everything unlike other books which can be used an introductory to the subject, but I read in the forum before that there might be 2 books on the same exam from Cisco Press, but one of them is better than the other. Can someone give an advice in this matter.

3- Tests : I'll go for Boson definitly. Since they were great help on my CCNA exam. And they have many positive feedback here, but I want to know about other tests if someone tried them and what they can say about them for example :

Transcender
Examforce
Quizware
PrepLogic
TechSkills
Whizlabs
Measureup

4- Simulator : I've got Boson NetSim. I think that RouterSim will update their simulator for CCNP exams soon. Is it enough to practice with NetSim or do I need something else. Anyone tried the Boson Simulators or the RouterSim to pass their exams. By the way I noticed that the Sims in NetSim only covers the first two exams. I guess there are no Sims for the other two. Can someone confirm this.

5- Lab Configuration : well, I can't say that I don't want to have a lab to practice on it. I think it will be much better than the sims. But I have 2 points to consider here. How much it's gonna cost me to build the lab and how I can benefit from it for my future certifications like CCSP and CCIP or even CCIE. I don't want to buy a router or a switch and through it in a qouple of months because they've changed the exam objectives and this router or switch no longer fit for practicing. I want to know what routers and switches I should get for my CCNP exam, but in the same time I can use them for my future certifications. I would like to know the reasoning for choosing each router or switch if possible.

I hope to hear your thoughts and ideas about those points. Thanks in advance.

Best Regards,
Tomy.

devlan

2003-11-17, 12:23 am

The order of exams sounds good. I think switching was easier than routing in the past but it looks a lot harder this time around with several new topics.

If you only get one book, pick the Exam Cert Guide. If you get two, add the practical studies. Supplement with free Cisco docs from their site. I agree it's safer to go with Cisco Press.

I don't know about the sims, but I've heard that NetSim is good and I think I saw it mentioned in a Cisco Press book in fact.

peterd

2003-11-17, 3:29 am

Hello,

from what I've seen of the Cisco Press Exam Guides they hold the bare essentials that you need to pass the exams.

The Study Guides have much more background information and they can be used as referrence books once you've passed your exam and have a full time job.

Regards
Peter

bloodshotx

2003-11-17, 4:12 pm

the ccnp exams are a way harder than CCNA. Don't expect to just memerize questions and read the book. There is so much knowledge and information you need to know to use it sucesfully you most likely need a lab.

Don't use boson, I've heard people say they are braindumps. It won't get you anywhere.

dumfart

2003-11-17, 10:07 pm

No way dude, Boson are definately not braindumps-. It's been awhile since I have written a Cisco test but I will have to re-take my CCIE written soon as well as the Composite in order to recertify my CCNP and CCDP. I have always used Boson and I can assure you that they are not braindumps-. CCXX productions are also very good.

Johnno

2003-11-18, 3:48 am

Your order of exams sounds logical and in fact that is the order that I am taking them in. I have already completed the BSCI and am moving onto the BCMSN in Dec 18th.

I can't help you much with books I am afraid. I am fortunate in that my company pays for all the training that I need and so I attend the Cisco training courses at a training centre. I use the reference materials that they give to me which are the official Cisco ones for that particular topic.

Likewise I can't help you out with practice tests either. I don't use them. The exam questions I have received though are covered in some amount of detail on the courses so there are no real surprises, as long as you cover the required topics thoroughly.

As for simulators, I have tried a few such as Routersim and Boson Netsim and I think that they are arse. You can normally do the most basic of labs in them but try anything freaky and they won't do anything. To me that sort of takes the fun out of doing the labs. I tend to veer off on a tangent now and then and learn a lot doing so.

Again fortunately for me, my company organises whatever equipment I need for training as well. In my mind there is no alternative to real equipment. If you can present a good business case to your employer then I am sure something can be arranged. But I suppose only you know your situation there.

The hardest equipment that you will find getting are Distribution and Core Layer 3 switches which you will need for BCMSN. eg I will be using the Cat3550 and the Cat4000 switches respectively, along with Cat 2950's for the Access layer.

For CIT you'll need IOS than can take IP/ADSL/VOICE/FW/IDS PLUS IPSEC 3DES. For BCRAN you'll need a router that you can configure as a frame relay switch. I'll be using the 2621XM.

Now I realise that not everyone lives in a perfect world and may have difficulty sourcing equipment to make decent labs, especially if their companies don't foot the bill, but that is my 5 cents.

Hope you, and others, can use some of this information.

Dive Safe.

Demijohn

2003-11-18, 10:05 am

I took my exams in the suggested order, but primarily because of my experience base.

When I started prepping for the exams I had a lot of experience with configuring routers and routing protocols, some experience with switches, and no experience with Remote Access, although I had begun studying RA for an upcoming project. If my experience had been different, I may have taken a different route.

tomy601k

2003-11-24, 9:36 am

I've got the books recommanded in groupstudy.com forum :

Cisco Certification: Bridges, Routers and Switches for CCIE's by Andrew Bruce Caslow.

AllInOne Cisco CCIE Lab Study Guide for Stephen Hutnik & Michael Satterlee.

Cisco Cookbook by Kevin Dooley, Ian J. Brown.

and they are magnificent

One more thing, I'm thinking in getting :

CCNP Lab Workbook Version 2.0 from hello computers

it has 52 labs, but I don't know the equipments required for the labs.

Which bring me to another point. I need to know where I can get the routers and switches to prepare for my CCNP exams.

I looked in ebay and found some interesting deals, but I need your advice guys. Besides most of the deals are for new equipments. I'm wondering where to get used stuff. I need to know if the routers and switches mentioned on those deals are enough for my lab and if not what else do I need. Here are the links :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...&category=11185

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...&category=11185

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...&category=11185

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...&category=11185

I need a feedback about those deals, and if they are good enough for CCNP lab. One more important thing if anyone going to suggest something else to get the lab equipment from, please note that I live outside US so It must ship internationaly.

Best Regards.

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