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| Author |
Thinking about CCNP
|
|
|
| Just did CCNA and didn't think I would want to take it any farther. The
only reason I did it was because my employer asked me too. Now that
I have the CCNA under my belt and a 2500 Router I am seriously thinking
about persuing CCNP. I really enjoyed CCNA and sinking my teeth into
something new and challenging.
Need some advise and suggestions. I know I have 3 years to do it, but
what type of time frame do most people do it in? What other pieces of
equipment would be needed? I already have a 2500, and in-home network,
running several pc's. Which exam is better to start with or does Cisco
have a preferred track?
Thanks
Sharon
| |
| The Real Slim Shady 2003-08-14, 9:24 am |
| This is perfectly achieveable within a couple of months, assuming you
already have some experience.
Slim
"sb" <bennettsd@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news an.2003.08.14.01.44.58.542865@sympatico.ca...
> Just did CCNA and didn't think I would want to take it any farther. The
> only reason I did it was because my employer asked me too. Now that
> I have the CCNA under my belt and a 2500 Router I am seriously thinking
> about persuing CCNP. I really enjoyed CCNA and sinking my teeth into
> something new and challenging.
>
> Need some advise and suggestions. I know I have 3 years to do it, but
> what type of time frame do most people do it in? What other pieces of
> equipment would be needed? I already have a 2500, and in-home network,
> running several pc's. Which exam is better to start with or does Cisco
> have a preferred track?
>
> Thanks
> Sharon
>
>
>
| |
| Law Barstow 2003-08-14, 7:24 pm |
|
"sb" <bennettsd@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
newsan.2003.08.14.01.44.58.542865@sympatico.ca...
> Just did CCNA and didn't think I would want to take it any farther. The
> only reason I did it was because my employer asked me too. Now that
> I have the CCNA under my belt and a 2500 Router I am seriously thinking
> about persuing CCNP. I really enjoyed CCNA and sinking my teeth into
> something new and challenging.
>
> Need some advise and suggestions. I know I have 3 years to do it, but
> what type of time frame do most people do it in? What other pieces of
> equipment would be needed? I already have a 2500, and in-home network,
> running several pc's. Which exam is better to start with or does Cisco
> have a preferred track?
>
> Thanks
> Sharon
>
I completed mine comfortably in a year. As far as track, the order I took
the exams, is: Routing, Switching, Remote Access, Support. Remote Access
was the most problematic for me as it is the area I had the least experience
with. You probably want to save Support for last as it covers areas in each
of the other exams.
Law
| |
| Chris Davies 2003-08-15, 7:24 am |
| I would budget at about 12 months.
There are 4 exams, some will be easier than others depending on your
experiance.
I would have to agree and say that leaving the support one untill the
end would make sense because it covers items from all 3 of the other
exams.
On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 21:44:58 -0400, "sb" <bennettsd@sympatico.ca>
wrote:
>Just did CCNA and didn't think I would want to take it any farther. The
>only reason I did it was because my employer asked me too. Now that
>I have the CCNA under my belt and a 2500 Router I am seriously thinking
>about persuing CCNP. I really enjoyed CCNA and sinking my teeth into
>something new and challenging.
>
>Need some advise and suggestions. I know I have 3 years to do it, but
>what type of time frame do most people do it in? What other pieces of
>equipment would be needed? I already have a 2500, and in-home network,
>running several pc's. Which exam is better to start with or does Cisco
>have a preferred track?
>
>Thanks
>Sharon
>
>
Drop the ZZZ to reply
Cheers ...
| |
|
| Sharon,
If you want to use the BCSI course book by Catherine Paquet and Diane Teare
from the Cisco CCNP Preparation Library (which is now outdated, and it's not
clear when the new one is coming out), then you will need five routers.
Three of them can be 2501s and the other two 2520s. In other words, you will
need to have three routers with at least two serial interfaces and one
Ethernet, and the other two routers with four serial interfaces and one
Ethernet. These are the minimum requirements, but you will be able to do
all the labs and examples in this book on your hardware. Since there's now
IS-IS on the exam, you will need to load the Enterprise feature set of the
IOS version 12.1 or 12.2. This requires 16 Mb of Flash and 16 Mb of RAM for
25xx series routers. You will be lucky if you can get this lab for $1000 in
today's Ebay prices. Plus, you will need some kind of ABC switch to be able
to switch the rollover connection from your PC's serial port to the routers'
console ports. You will have to switch between the routers a lot, so you
really need to get this switch or you can use a patch panel and wire your
console ports to ports on the patch panel. Then, you can use the same
rollover cable to plug in different patch panel ports to connect to
different routers' console ports. The patch panel and the punch-down tool
along with CAT5 cables, a crimp tool, and RJ-45 connectors will run about
$100. I'm not sure how much an ABC switch costs (you will need one with at
least 5 switched serial ports). Also, the books, practice tests, etc will be
another $200-$300. And, finally, the tests will cost you $500. So,
altogether you will have to cough up about $2000.
The new BSCI version 2 test (642-801) is really tough. The first Ciscopress
book on BCSI version 2 is coming out on November 13, and it's from the
Certification Library (not the Preparation Library). The first ExamCram book
on BSCI version 2 is coming out on September 9. Who knows if either of them
will be any good. There are more topics on the Cisco web site for 642-801
than are covered in the current BCSI version 1 books. I've been studying for
this test for a few months now. The amount of material covered is huge. And
since I've been laid off from my WAN job, I'm studying all day long.
So, if you already have a WAN-related job, I'd suggest you take a year's
break and let them publish all those books. In the meantime, practice your
CCNA skills at work.
The first exam you should take is BSCI. It's by far the most difficult one,
especially, since they added IS-IS, NAT, IP version 6, etc. CIT should be
the last one. The other two can be done in either order. I don't believe
those who claim one can do the whole track in a couple of months with no
CCNP-level experience. If you study 2-3 hours a night, 4-5 days a week, the
whole track will take you between 9 months and a year.
The equipment described above is just for BSCI. To prepare for the other
three tests, you will most likely have to pick up some CIM (Cisco
Interactive Training) simulators or find an existing lab somewhere. It's too
expensive to buy all that equipment.
Grey
"sb" <bennettsd@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
newsan.2003.08.14.01.44.58.542865@sympatico.ca...
> Just did CCNA and didn't think I would want to take it any farther. The
> only reason I did it was because my employer asked me too. Now that
> I have the CCNA under my belt and a 2500 Router I am seriously thinking
> about persuing CCNP. I really enjoyed CCNA and sinking my teeth into
> something new and challenging.
>
> Need some advise and suggestions. I know I have 3 years to do it, but
> what type of time frame do most people do it in? What other pieces of
> equipment would be needed? I already have a 2500, and in-home network,
> running several pc's. Which exam is better to start with or does Cisco
> have a preferred track?
>
> Thanks
> Sharon
>
>
>
| |
|
|
"Grey" <bbb@ccc.com> wrote in message
news FGdnW1g3P3wNKCiU-KYuQ@comcast.com...
> Sharon,
>
> If you want to use the BCSI course book by Catherine Paquet and Diane
Teare
> from the Cisco CCNP Preparation Library (which is now outdated, and it's
not
> clear when the new one is coming out), then you will need five routers.
> Three of them can be 2501s and the other two 2520s. In other words, you
will
> need to have three routers with at least two serial interfaces and one
> Ethernet, and the other two routers with four serial interfaces and one
> Ethernet. These are the minimum requirements, but you will be able to do
> all the labs and examples in this book on your hardware. Since there's now
> IS-IS on the exam, you will need to load the Enterprise feature set of the
> IOS version 12.1 or 12.2. This requires 16 Mb of Flash and 16 Mb of RAM
for
> 25xx series routers. You will be lucky if you can get this lab for $1000
in
> today's Ebay prices. Plus, you will need some kind of ABC switch to be
able
> to switch the rollover connection from your PC's serial port to the
routers'
> console ports. You will have to switch between the routers a lot, so you
> really need to get this switch or you can use a patch panel and wire your
> console ports to ports on the patch panel. Then, you can use the same
> rollover cable to plug in different patch panel ports to connect to
> different routers' console ports. The patch panel and the punch-down tool
> along with CAT5 cables, a crimp tool, and RJ-45 connectors will run about
> $100. I'm not sure how much an ABC switch costs (you will need one with at
> least 5 switched serial ports). Also, the books, practice tests, etc will
be
> another $200-$300. And, finally, the tests will cost you $500. So,
> altogether you will have to cough up about $2000.
>
> The new BSCI version 2 test (642-801) is really tough. The first
Ciscopress
> book on BCSI version 2 is coming out on November 13, and it's from the
> Certification Library (not the Preparation Library). The first ExamCram
book
> on BSCI version 2 is coming out on September 9. Who knows if either of
them
> will be any good. There are more topics on the Cisco web site for 642-801
> than are covered in the current BCSI version 1 books. I've been studying
for
> this test for a few months now. The amount of material covered is huge.
And
> since I've been laid off from my WAN job, I'm studying all day long.
>
> So, if you already have a WAN-related job, I'd suggest you take a year's
> break and let them publish all those books. In the meantime, practice your
> CCNA skills at work.
>
> The first exam you should take is BSCI. It's by far the most difficult
one,
> especially, since they added IS-IS, NAT, IP version 6, etc. CIT should be
> the last one. The other two can be done in either order. I don't believe
> those who claim one can do the whole track in a couple of months with no
> CCNP-level experience. If you study 2-3 hours a night, 4-5 days a week,
the
> whole track will take you between 9 months and a year.
>
> The equipment described above is just for BSCI. To prepare for the other
> three tests, you will most likely have to pick up some CIM (Cisco
> Interactive Training) simulators or find an existing lab somewhere. It's
too
> expensive to buy all that equipment.
>
> Grey
>
> "sb" <bennettsd@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> newsan.2003.08.14.01.44.58.542865@sympatico.ca...
> > Just did CCNA and didn't think I would want to take it any farther. The
> > only reason I did it was because my employer asked me too. Now that
> > I have the CCNA under my belt and a 2500 Router I am seriously thinking
> > about persuing CCNP. I really enjoyed CCNA and sinking my teeth into
> > something new and challenging.
> >
> > Need some advise and suggestions. I know I have 3 years to do it, but
> > what type of time frame do most people do it in? What other pieces of
> > equipment would be needed? I already have a 2500, and in-home network,
> > running several pc's. Which exam is better to start with or does Cisco
> > have a preferred track?
> >
> > Thanks
> > Sharon
> >
> >
> >
>
>
4 2501 and 1 2520 will work for all labs in the book. You only need one
router with four serial interfaces. The other router not in the pod, the
"backbone 2" router, only needs 1 serial interface to connect to the router
they call "p1r3". I just did this test and did the labs from the book :P
| |
| Ariamehr 2003-08-17, 9:25 pm |
| give it about a year, the hardest one is the routing but I enjoyed the
remote access as it is releavant to my present job. troubleshooting was nice
too.Of course everything is being hanged now but upto CCNA was just a prep !
you have to study hard for CCNP. Good luck eh !
Ariamehr another Canuck !
"sb" <bennettsd@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
newsan.2003.08.14.01.44.58.542865@sympatico.ca...
> Just did CCNA and didn't think I would want to take it any farther. The
> only reason I did it was because my employer asked me too. Now that
> I have the CCNA under my belt and a 2500 Router I am seriously thinking
> about persuing CCNP. I really enjoyed CCNA and sinking my teeth into
> something new and challenging.
>
> Need some advise and suggestions. I know I have 3 years to do it, but
> what type of time frame do most people do it in? What other pieces of
> equipment would be needed? I already have a 2500, and in-home network,
> running several pc's. Which exam is better to start with or does Cisco
> have a preferred track?
>
> Thanks
> Sharon
>
>
>
| |
|
| What you suggested is what the book recommends; however, there are a couple
of examples in the book with four routers connected to each other via a
Frame Relay switch. That means that the router simulating a Frame Relay
switch needs 4 serial ports (to connect to 4 routers) plus one of the four
routers will have to be connected to the other three, which means it needs
at least three serial ports. That makes it two 4-serial-port routers and
three 2-serial port routers.
Grey
"ec" <no@no.com> wrote in message news:qGA%a.4714$S_.4358@fed1read01...
>
> "Grey" <bbb@ccc.com> wrote in message
> newsFGdnW1g3P3wNKCiU-KYuQ@comcast.com...
> > Sharon,
> >
> > If you want to use the BCSI course book by Catherine Paquet and Diane
> Teare
> > from the Cisco CCNP Preparation Library (which is now outdated, and it's
> not
> > clear when the new one is coming out), then you will need five routers.
> > Three of them can be 2501s and the other two 2520s. In other words, you
> will
> > need to have three routers with at least two serial interfaces and one
> > Ethernet, and the other two routers with four serial interfaces and one
> > Ethernet. These are the minimum requirements, but you will be able to
do
> > all the labs and examples in this book on your hardware. Since there's
now
> > IS-IS on the exam, you will need to load the Enterprise feature set of
the
> > IOS version 12.1 or 12.2. This requires 16 Mb of Flash and 16 Mb of RAM
> for
> > 25xx series routers. You will be lucky if you can get this lab for $1000
> in
> > today's Ebay prices. Plus, you will need some kind of ABC switch to be
> able
> > to switch the rollover connection from your PC's serial port to the
> routers'
> > console ports. You will have to switch between the routers a lot, so you
> > really need to get this switch or you can use a patch panel and wire
your
> > console ports to ports on the patch panel. Then, you can use the same
> > rollover cable to plug in different patch panel ports to connect to
> > different routers' console ports. The patch panel and the punch-down
tool
> > along with CAT5 cables, a crimp tool, and RJ-45 connectors will run
about
> > $100. I'm not sure how much an ABC switch costs (you will need one with
at
> > least 5 switched serial ports). Also, the books, practice tests, etc
will
> be
> > another $200-$300. And, finally, the tests will cost you $500. So,
> > altogether you will have to cough up about $2000.
> >
> > The new BSCI version 2 test (642-801) is really tough. The first
> Ciscopress
> > book on BCSI version 2 is coming out on November 13, and it's from the
> > Certification Library (not the Preparation Library). The first ExamCram
> book
> > on BSCI version 2 is coming out on September 9. Who knows if either of
> them
> > will be any good. There are more topics on the Cisco web site for
642-801
> > than are covered in the current BCSI version 1 books. I've been studying
> for
> > this test for a few months now. The amount of material covered is huge.
> And
> > since I've been laid off from my WAN job, I'm studying all day long.
> >
> > So, if you already have a WAN-related job, I'd suggest you take a year's
> > break and let them publish all those books. In the meantime, practice
your
> > CCNA skills at work.
> >
> > The first exam you should take is BSCI. It's by far the most difficult
> one,
> > especially, since they added IS-IS, NAT, IP version 6, etc. CIT should
be
> > the last one. The other two can be done in either order. I don't believe
> > those who claim one can do the whole track in a couple of months with no
> > CCNP-level experience. If you study 2-3 hours a night, 4-5 days a week,
> the
> > whole track will take you between 9 months and a year.
> >
> > The equipment described above is just for BSCI. To prepare for the other
> > three tests, you will most likely have to pick up some CIM (Cisco
> > Interactive Training) simulators or find an existing lab somewhere. It's
> too
> > expensive to buy all that equipment.
> >
> > Grey
> >
> > "sb" <bennettsd@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> > newsan.2003.08.14.01.44.58.542865@sympatico.ca...
> > > Just did CCNA and didn't think I would want to take it any farther.
The[c
olor=darkred]
> > > only reason I did it was because my employer asked me too. Now that
> > > I have the CCNA under my belt and a 2500 Router I am seriously[/color]
thinking
> > > about persuing CCNP. I really enjoyed CCNA and sinking my teeth into
> > > something new and challenging.
> > >
> > > Need some advise and suggestions. I know I have 3 years to do it, but
> > > what type of time frame do most people do it in? What other pieces of
> > > equipment would be needed? I already have a 2500, and in-home network,
> > > running several pc's. Which exam is better to start with or does Cisco
> > > have a preferred track?
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > > Sharon
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
> 4 2501 and 1 2520 will work for all labs in the book. You only need one
> router with four serial interfaces. The other router not in the pod, the
> "backbone 2" router, only needs 1 serial interface to connect to the
router
> they call "p1r3". I just did this test and did the labs from the book :P
>
>
| |
|
| Which version of the test did you take? Did you pass?
Thanks,
Grey
"ec" <no@no.com> wrote in message news:qGA%a.4714$S_.4358@fed1read01...
>
> "Grey" <bbb@ccc.com> wrote in message
> newsFGdnW1g3P3wNKCiU-KYuQ@comcast.com...
> > Sharon,
> >
> > If you want to use the BCSI course book by Catherine Paquet and Diane
> Teare
> > from the Cisco CCNP Preparation Library (which is now outdated, and it's
> not
> > clear when the new one is coming out), then you will need five routers.
> > Three of them can be 2501s and the other two 2520s. In other words, you
> will
> > need to have three routers with at least two serial interfaces and one
> > Ethernet, and the other two routers with four serial interfaces and one
> > Ethernet. These are the minimum requirements, but you will be able to
do
> > all the labs and examples in this book on your hardware. Since there's
now
> > IS-IS on the exam, you will need to load the Enterprise feature set of
the
> > IOS version 12.1 or 12.2. This requires 16 Mb of Flash and 16 Mb of RAM
> for
> > 25xx series routers. You will be lucky if you can get this lab for $1000
> in
> > today's Ebay prices. Plus, you will need some kind of ABC switch to be
> able
> > to switch the rollover connection from your PC's serial port to the
> routers'
> > console ports. You will have to switch between the routers a lot, so you
> > really need to get this switch or you can use a patch panel and wire
your
> > console ports to ports on the patch panel. Then, you can use the same
> > rollover cable to plug in different patch panel ports to connect to
> > different routers' console ports. The patch panel and the punch-down
tool
> > along with CAT5 cables, a crimp tool, and RJ-45 connectors will run
about
> > $100. I'm not sure how much an ABC switch costs (you will need one with
at
> > least 5 switched serial ports). Also, the books, practice tests, etc
will
> be
> > another $200-$300. And, finally, the tests will cost you $500. So,
> > altogether you will have to cough up about $2000.
> >
> > The new BSCI version 2 test (642-801) is really tough. The first
> Ciscopress
> > book on BCSI version 2 is coming out on November 13, and it's from the
> > Certification Library (not the Preparation Library). The first ExamCram
> book
> > on BSCI version 2 is coming out on September 9. Who knows if either of
> them
> > will be any good. There are more topics on the Cisco web site for
642-801
> > than are covered in the current BCSI version 1 books. I've been studying
> for
> > this test for a few months now. The amount of material covered is huge.
> And
> > since I've been laid off from my WAN job, I'm studying all day long.
> >
> > So, if you already have a WAN-related job, I'd suggest you take a year's
> > break and let them publish all those books. In the meantime, practice
your
> > CCNA skills at work.
> >
> > The first exam you should take is BSCI. It's by far the most difficult
> one,
> > especially, since they added IS-IS, NAT, IP version 6, etc. CIT should
be
> > the last one. The other two can be done in either order. I don't believe
> > those who claim one can do the whole track in a couple of months with no
> > CCNP-level experience. If you study 2-3 hours a night, 4-5 days a week,
> the
> > whole track will take you between 9 months and a year.
> >
> > The equipment described above is just for BSCI. To prepare for the other
> > three tests, you will most likely have to pick up some CIM (Cisco
> > Interactive Training) simulators or find an existing lab somewhere. It's
> too
> > expensive to buy all that equipment.
> >
> > Grey
> >
> > "sb" <bennettsd@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> > newsan.2003.08.14.01.44.58.542865@sympatico.ca...
> > > Just did CCNA and didn't think I would want to take it any farther.
The[c
olor=darkred]
> > > only reason I did it was because my employer asked me too. Now that
> > > I have the CCNA under my belt and a 2500 Router I am seriously[/color]
thinking
> > > about persuing CCNP. I really enjoyed CCNA and sinking my teeth into
> > > something new and challenging.
> > >
> > > Need some advise and suggestions. I know I have 3 years to do it, but
> > > what type of time frame do most people do it in? What other pieces of
> > > equipment would be needed? I already have a 2500, and in-home network,
> > > running several pc's. Which exam is better to start with or does Cisco
> > > have a preferred track?
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > > Sharon
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
> 4 2501 and 1 2520 will work for all labs in the book. You only need one
> router with four serial interfaces. The other router not in the pod, the
> "backbone 2" router, only needs 1 serial interface to connect to the
router
> they call "p1r3". I just did this test and did the labs from the book :P
>
>
| |
|
|
"Grey" <bbb@ccc.com> wrote in message
news:w0qdnbTn3I_-fN2iXTWJjA@comcast.com...
> What you suggested is what the book recommends; however, there are a
couple
> of examples in the book with four routers connected to each other via a
> Frame Relay switch. That means that the router simulating a Frame Relay
> switch needs 4 serial ports (to connect to 4 routers) plus one of the four
> routers will have to be connected to the other three, which means it needs
> at least three serial ports. That makes it two 4-serial-port routers and
> three 2-serial port routers.
>
> Grey
>
> "ec" <no@no.com> wrote in message news:qGA%a.4714$S_.4358@fed1read01...
> >
> > "Grey" <bbb@ccc.com> wrote in message
> > newsFGdnW1g3P3wNKCiU-KYuQ@comcast.com...
> > > Sharon,
> > >
> > > If you want to use the BCSI course book by Catherine Paquet and Diane
> > Teare
> > > from the Cisco CCNP Preparation Library (which is now outdated, and
it's
> > not
> > > clear when the new one is coming out), then you will need five
routers. [colo
r=darkred]
> > > Three of them can be 2501s and the other two 2520s. In other words,[/color]
you
> > will
> > > need to have three routers with at least two serial interfaces and one
> > > Ethernet, and the other two routers with four serial interfaces and
one[c
olor=darkred]
> > > Ethernet. These are the minimum requirements, but you will be able to
> do
> > > all the labs and examples in this book on your hardware. Since there's
> now
> > > IS-IS on the exam, you will need to load the Enterprise feature set of
> the
> > > IOS version 12.1 or 12.2. This requires 16 Mb of Flash and 16 Mb of[/color]
RAM
> > for
> > > 25xx series routers. You will be lucky if you can get this lab for
$1000
> > in
> > > today's Ebay prices. Plus, you will need some kind of ABC switch to be
> > able
> > > to switch the rollover connection from your PC's serial port to the
> > routers'
> > > console ports. You will have to switch between the routers a lot, so
you[c
olor=darkred]
> > > really need to get this switch or you can use a patch panel and wire
> your
> > > console ports to ports on the patch panel. Then, you can use the same
> > > rollover cable to plug in different patch panel ports to connect to
> > > different routers' console ports. The patch panel and the punch-down
> tool
> > > along with CAT5 cables, a crimp tool, and RJ-45 connectors will run
> about
> > > $100. I'm not sure how much an ABC switch costs (you will need one[/color]
with
> at
> > > least 5 switched serial ports). Also, the books, practice tests, etc
> will
> > be
> > > another $200-$300. And, finally, the tests will cost you $500. So,
> > > altogether you will have to cough up about $2000.
> > >
> > > The new BSCI version 2 test (642-801) is really tough. The first
> > Ciscopress
> > > book on BCSI version 2 is coming out on November 13, and it's from the
> > > Certification Library (not the Preparation Library). The first
ExamCram
> > book
> > > on BSCI version 2 is coming out on September 9. Who knows if either of
> > them
> > > will be any good. There are more topics on the Cisco web site for
> 642- 801
> > > than are covered in the current BCSI version 1 books. I've been
studying
> > for
> > > this test for a few months now. The amount of material covered is
huge.
> > And
> > > since I've been laid off from my WAN job, I'm studying all day long.
> > >
> > > So, if you already have a WAN-related job, I'd suggest you take a
year's
> > > break and let them publish all those books. In the meantime, practice
> your
> > > CCNA skills at work.
> > >
> > > The first exam you should take is BSCI. It's by far the most difficult
> > one,
> > > especially, since they added IS-IS, NAT, IP version 6, etc. CIT should
> be
> > > the last one. The other two can be done in either order. I don't
believe
> > > those who claim one can do the whole track in a couple of months with
no[co
lor=darkred]
> > > CCNP-level experience. If you study 2-3 hours a night, 4-5 days a[/color]
week,
> > the
> > > whole track will take you between 9 months and a year.
> > >
> > > The equipment described above is just for BSCI. To prepare for the
other
> > > three tests, you will most likely have to pick up some CIM (Cisco
> > > Interactive Training) simulators or find an existing lab somewhere.
It's
> > too
> > > expensive to buy all that equipment.
> > >
> > > Grey
> > >
> > > "sb" <bennettsd@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> > > newsan.2003.08.14.01.44.58.542865@sympatico.ca...
> > > > Just did CCNA and didn't think I would want to take it any farther.
> The
> > > > only reason I did it was because my employer asked me too. Now that
> > > > I have the CCNA under my belt and a 2500 Router I am seriously
> thinking
> > > > about persuing CCNP. I really enjoyed CCNA and sinking my teeth
into[
color=darkred]
> > > > something new and challenging.
> > > >
> > > > Need some advise and suggestions. I know I have 3 years to do it,[/color]
but[c
olor=darkred]
> > > > what type of time frame do most people do it in? What other pieces[/color]
of[co
lor=darkred]
> > > > equipment would be needed? I already have a 2500, and in-home[/color]
network,
> > > > running several pc's. Which exam is better to start with or does
Cisco
> > > > have a preferred track?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks
> > > > Sharon
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > 4 2501 and 1 2520 will work for all labs in the book. You only need one
> > router with four serial interfaces. The other router not in the pod, the
> > "backbone 2" router, only needs 1 serial interface to connect to the
> router
> > they call "p1r3". I just did this test and did the labs from the book :P
> >
> >
>
>
Those examples are just examples during the reading. There is no practice
lab in the book using that configuration. I can scan the "Recommended
equipment" page that I am staring at right now if you want which clearly
states you need 4 2501's and 1 2520 to do the PRACTICE LABS in the book :P
Sure, if you want to mimic every example or diagram, you may need 40 routers
in some cases. The emphasis is the practice labs.
| |
|
|
"Grey" <bbb@ccc.com> wrote in message
news:4LWdnT8W1LEFfN2iXTWJhg@co
mcast.com...
> Which version of the test did you take? Did you pass?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Grey
>
> "ec" <no@no.com> wrote in message news:qGA%a.4714$S_.4358@fed1read01...
> >
> > "Grey" <bbb@ccc.com> wrote in message
> > newsFGdnW1g3P3wNKCiU-KYuQ@comcast.com...
> > > Sharon,
> > >
> > > If you want to use the BCSI course book by Catherine Paquet and Diane
> > Teare
> > > from the Cisco CCNP Preparation Library (which is now outdated, and
it's
> > not
> > > clear when the new one is coming out), then you will need five
routers. [colo
r=darkred]
> > > Three of them can be 2501s and the other two 2520s. In other words,[/color]
you
> > will
> > > need to have three routers with at least two serial interfaces and one
> > > Ethernet, and the other two routers with four serial interfaces and
one[c
olor=darkred]
> > > Ethernet. These are the minimum requirements, but you will be able to
> do
> > > all the labs and examples in this book on your hardware. Since there's
> now
> > > IS-IS on the exam, you will need to load the Enterprise feature set of
> the
> > > IOS version 12.1 or 12.2. This requires 16 Mb of Flash and 16 Mb of[/color]
RAM
> > for
> > > 25xx series routers. You will be lucky if you can get this lab for
$1000
> > in
> > > today's Ebay prices. Plus, you will need some kind of ABC switch to be
> > able
> > > to switch the rollover connection from your PC's serial port to the
> > routers'
> > > console ports. You will have to switch between the routers a lot, so
you[c
olor=darkred]
> > > really need to get this switch or you can use a patch panel and wire
> your
> > > console ports to ports on the patch panel. Then, you can use the same
> > > rollover cable to plug in different patch panel ports to connect to
> > > different routers' console ports. The patch panel and the punch-down
> tool
> > > along with CAT5 cables, a crimp tool, and RJ-45 connectors will run
> about
> > > $100. I'm not sure how much an ABC switch costs (you will need one[/color]
with
> at
> > > least 5 switched serial ports). Also, the books, practice tests, etc
> will
> > be
> > > another $200-$300. And, finally, the tests will cost you $500. So,
> > > altogether you will have to cough up about $2000.
> > >
> > > The new BSCI version 2 test (642-801) is really tough. The first
> > Ciscopress
> > > book on BCSI version 2 is coming out on November 13, and it's from the
> > > Certification Library (not the Preparation Library). The first
ExamCram
> > book
> > > on BSCI version 2 is coming out on September 9. Who knows if either of
> > them
> > > will be any good. There are more topics on the Cisco web site for
> 642- 801
> > > than are covered in the current BCSI version 1 books. I've been
studying
> > for
> > > this test for a few months now. The amount of material covered is
huge.
> > And
> > > since I've been laid off from my WAN job, I'm studying all day long.
> > >
> > > So, if you already have a WAN-related job, I'd suggest you take a
year's
> > > break and let them publish all those books. In the meantime, practice
> your
> > > CCNA skills at work.
> > >
> > > The first exam you should take is BSCI. It's by far the most difficult
> > one,
> > > especially, since they added IS-IS, NAT, IP version 6, etc. CIT should
> be
> > > the last one. The other two can be done in either order. I don't
believe
> > > those who claim one can do the whole track in a couple of months with
no[co
lor=darkred]
> > > CCNP-level experience. If you study 2-3 hours a night, 4-5 days a[/color]
week,
> > the
> > > whole track will take you between 9 months and a year.
> > >
> > > The equipment described above is just for BSCI. To prepare for the
other
> > > three tests, you will most likely have to pick up some CIM (Cisco
> > > Interactive Training) simulators or find an existing lab somewhere.
It's
> > too
> > > expensive to buy all that equipment.
> > >
> > > Grey
> > >
> > > "sb" <bennettsd@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> > > newsan.2003.08.14.01.44.58.542865@sympatico.ca...
> > > > Just did CCNA and didn't think I would want to take it any farther.
> The
> > > > only reason I did it was because my employer asked me too. Now that
> > > > I have the CCNA under my belt and a 2500 Router I am seriously
> thinking
> > > > about persuing CCNP. I really enjoyed CCNA and sinking my teeth
into[
color=darkred]
> > > > something new and challenging.
> > > >
> > > > Need some advise and suggestions. I know I have 3 years to do it,[/color]
but[c
olor=darkred]
> > > > what type of time frame do most people do it in? What other pieces[/color]
of[co
lor=darkred]
> > > > equipment would be needed? I already have a 2500, and in-home[/color]
network,
> > > > running several pc's. Which exam is better to start with or does
Cisco
> > > > have a preferred track?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks
> > > > Sharon
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > 4 2501 and 1 2520 will work for all labs in the book. You only need one
> > router with four serial interfaces. The other router not in the pod, the
> > "backbone 2" router, only needs 1 serial interface to connect to the
> router
> > they call "p1r3". I just did this test and did the labs from the book :P
> >
> >
>
>
I passed 640-901.
| |
| walwor 2004-06-26, 10:59 am |
| You can save yourself some money for the BCSI if you get a little creative with the labs- only 3 routers are really needed. Configure one router for another pod and 2 for the pod you're working in- you'll be able to do all the configuring and see all the debug info this way, and save about $400. |
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