OK, so I'm starting to feel a little weird putting up all these pass posts, but hopefully you guys are picking up some useful feedback.

This one took exactly 2 weeks (please read previous posts, it's all about free time baby!). Haven't needed more than 2.5 weeks so far, and CIT shouldn't be too bad since there really isn't any new material there.

The Sybex book for this test was dramatically better than the outdated BSMSN book. And of course, the Cisco Press book was good as usual. If you love ISDN and frame relay (and who doesn't), then you'll feel right at home with this test. I remember talking about getting hamered on the passive-interface command with the BSCI test, and the same thing happened to me on this test. This time it was on the backup interface topic. Not just one command of course, but take a look at that area and all related commands VERY seriously. I'm thinking it was at least 5 questions on that area. Also take a look at the "dialer watch group" commands. I'm too lazy to go back and look, but I don't remember seeing that at all in Sybex or Cisco. NAT was very light if any, AAA was definitely there, and queuing techniques.

I need to talk about Boson's Netsim 6 beta3 since it's built in labs turned out to be very good (and actually worked) this time. Very helpful for understanding the gazillions of ISDN and FRAME related commands. I had the exact opposite experience with BSCI, and of course they're still working on the BCMSN and CIT sections.

Happy studies everyone!

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I decided to go with routersim BSCi net visualizer, so I guess I'l be moving to boson for the next exams.. have to pass bsci first though... good info keep it coming and well done.

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what r your plans post ccnp?? i think Ill get the cisco wireless specialist, and then ccda, ccdp, in time of course.. what about yourself?

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and P.S. you're a good inspiration

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Thanks zxmjkxz. God has certainly blessed me by giving me the time and motivation to cook through the CCNP track. I'm also usually hanging out with my little tyke (in my avatar) and he provides me with much needed breaks from the boring---'er I mean exciting studies.

I do hear about a lot of people going for the CCDx track after completing CCNP. In terms of wireless, I think Cisco has enough competition in that area where getting the generic CWNA/P might prove to be more useful. Voip would be another hot area along with wireless. Most new networking implimentations are including VOIP, and ISP's are also growing their business greatly with VOIP to the home. As for what I'll go for next, I'm going to wait for a specific need to pop up before attacking anything else. If I get really bored, I might turn my MCSA-2k into an MCSE-2k. I'm suprised that MS is still offering the 2000 tests so I might look at finishing them before they die.

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Forgot to ask (and too lazy to look it up), what's the NCM degree that you'll be completing soon?

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Network and communications management, just one of the majors offered at devry university... thats how i got addicted to cisco =D after changing my major from programming after taking the secong programmin course.. (coulndt take it anymore)

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haha, yes programing. I can program in BASIC and it's almost fun. Beyond BASIC though, I can't stand dealing with Java and Perl and anything else used these days. Hardware guys (and gals) definitely have much more fun.

I was turned on to Cisco from getting a Network Admin AS degree through a tech school that was also a Cisco Acad here in South Dakota (no I don't have cows in my back yard, although I did work for Gateway previously). Otherwise I would have never gone down the Cisco road and really missed out.

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hey johnaspen,

i am also working on cisco certifications
(2/4 CCNP , 3/5 CCSP), but my question is off of that subject. i was just wondering what is the difficulty of the MCSA track, because i am thinking of going for that to broaden my skills a little bit. any advice would be great, thanks.

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JDog0254

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Hey jdog, believe me if you are that far with ccnp and ccsa, the mcsa will be a walk in the park.

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