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Home > Archive > CCDA/CCDP > February 2004 > CCDA topic depth and understanding.
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CCDA topic depth and understanding.
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| I’d like to group-think the CCDA exam study requirements. Sorry this is long, I wanted to explain where I’ve been and am trying to get to. I’ve been self-studying it for about 4 months now and keep getting hung up on various subjects. Right now it’s IPv6.
I started with the 1999 copy of Diane Teare’s “Designing Cisco Networks”, then thru research and monitoring about 5 of these study sites, I find that the book was due to be replaced and really doesn’t cover the “hot subjects of the moment”. Meaning, it seems everyone who’s taken the exam, says: Security (SAFE architecture) , IPv6 and VoIP are key.
So I also bought the Anthony Bruno “CCDA Exam Certification Guide”, but I found this is like an outline of what you need to know. In my humble opinion, it doesn’t teach you, it is a reminder of what you need to know. I got as far as the IPv6 and then get bogged down.
I bought the often recommended “Internetworking Technologies Handbook” in order to have a source for technical topic study. And that puppy is 1000 pages big! I realize I don’t have to study the whole thing, but how can you really tell to what depth you need to understand these subjects?
I downloaded the “ABC’s of IPv6” from Cisco which I think is to the level you need to understand that topic, but that gets pretty technical pretty quick too.
I bought the O’Reilly “IPv6 Essentials” book to try and again get another persons explanation of the topic.
I’m now thinking that possibly the only way to really “get it” is “hands on”. I bought 5 routers for my CCNA (am luck enough to be able to afford it, eBay is a great source) and am wondering about bringing up IPv6 at home with my Linux box and my Windows XP box and setting up some tunnels, look at the network traces etc.(I realize I need 12.2 ) Tonight I was looking at the “Cisco Self-Study: Implementing Cisco IPv6 Networks “ at Border’s, which appears to be a good source in order to help me set up the lab at home and experiment.
I also looked at the new Diane Teare book, primary the IPv6 section to figure out to what depth she covered the topic. Seemed high level. But I still struggle trying to understand all the potential migration methodologies such as 6to4. How much do we need to know?
I’ll shut-up finally and invite your input.
So many subjects, so much material, so little time?
Pete | |
| denis1712 2004-01-12, 3:20 pm |
| Hey Pete,
Don't really know where to start but as far as depth goes I did the CCNA last August, learned the Sybex book inside out and the Boson questions were very useful, I was on work experience at the time so I got some hands-on experience with Cisco routers which helped.
I know some people who did the CCDA, they were using the Sybex book and Boson questions, they best approach I've seen is know the book as well as possible, get some practice questions and then just go do it - you'll really know where you stand, considering money isn't that important! Referring to your post IPv6, VoIP as well as some wireless are helpful. From the feedback I've heard as well routers aren't very important, it's more a theory test where you're bored into failure!
I hope this is of some use, if I can be of any more help let me know, best of luck!
Denis | |
| plunt 2004-01-12, 10:25 pm |
| Thank you Denis! I think you hit the nail on the head, I need to get to the point of taking some of the practice exams to give me some feedback on the level.
Pete | |
| danielg 2004-02-09, 9:23 am |
| Pete,
I can't give you an authoritative answer, since I am (like you) preparing for CCDA, and havn't yet taken the test.
I have also pondered mightily about how much detail I need to learn. For what it's worth, here is how I am preparing:
1) I am studying the Cisco Press "CCDA Self-Study" guide to the level that I can answer all the chapter questions. This means I did not memorize all of technical details, but do memorize all the Cisco methodology ("..from the list of steps for preparing a prototype, what is the fourth letter of the second from last item?")
Then, in order to get more depth and understanding of the "hot topics" (VoIP, SAFE, IPv6) I have studied these links that somebody else previously posted them to this list. I highly recommend them:
SAFE: A Security Blueprint for Enterprise Networks http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/cc...qfr/safe_wp.htm
Cisco has several SAFE whitepapers: for small networks, for VoIP. I read them all.
VoIP Design Guide http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td...mpl/impdesn.htm
IPv6 Fundamentals http://playground.sun.com/pub/ipng/...IPng-Paper.html
IPv6 for Cisco IOS Software http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td...pv6/ftipv6o.htm
3) I am seriously considering (based on advice from this list) investing in the Boson test SW after I finish the above.
best of luck,
Daniel
P.S. I went out and bought (against the advice of many members of this forum) a Test-King preparation sheet. I did not find it a useful study aide, since it provides answers with little explanation or references. I guess it is intended to be memorized, but I actually want to learn something for my effort, so I just put it aside. | |
| s2kfan 2004-02-09, 9:35 am |
| Most of the stuff in CCNA/CCDA is pretty high level and not a lot of detailed knowledge is needed. |
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