June 30, 2008
More CCNA Voice Information
Cisco has just launched a new learning site that has great info about all the new certifications. Click here to check it out.
One of the documents they posted to the site is excellent. It's the CCNA Voice prep session from the Networker's conference. If you want to get a good idea of the question types, topics, etc, download this document.
Posted by JC at 3:02 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
June 25, 2008
New CCNA Certifications: The Cat is Out of the Bag!
Finally, on Tuesday afternoon, Cisco announced the new CCNA-level certifications...and they are (drum roll please):
CCNA Security
CCNA Voice
CCNA Wireless
I'm actually creating the CCNA Voice Official Exam Certification Guide for Cisco Press as we speak. I've got to tell you - this certification is awesome. It completely fills a much needed gap of knowledge that's needed before you get into the CCVP program. I can't speak for the Security & Wireless certs, but in the CCNA Voice, you'll be learning:
VoIP & Legacy System Integration
CallManager Express setup
Unity Express setup
Basic QoS, Dial-Peers, and other technical nuances
Having this foundation before someone gets into a CCVP will be awesome. Yesterday afternoon, Cisco Press conducted a "podcast video interview" with me about the cert. I'll post the link as soon as it's available. I was actually interviewed by none other than Jeff Doyle (the TCP/IP routing genus) - I'm honored! Anyhow, I'm finally free to talk about this stuff, which is relieving. I'm sure I'll talk plenty about it in my 4:00pm session today at Networkers.
UPDATE: It looks like the Routing and Switching CCNA (the original) will be the prerequisite for all the other CCNA specialties.
UPDATEx2: CCVP and CCSP will now require CCNA Voice and CCNA Security as official prerequisites as of June 2009.
Here's more information, if you're interested:
Official Cisco Press Announcement
Cisco's CCNA Voice Preparation Course
Posted by JC at 5:14 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
May 5, 2008
It's CCNA Month at Network World!
I mentioned a couple posts ago that I've been drafted to blog at Network World's Cisco Subnet for the month of May. Since Network World is promoting my new CCNA Practice Questions (Third Edition) book, I figured I would make my Network World blog dedicated to strategies to pass the CCNA exam. If you're interested, come on over.
PS - my CiscoBlog postings may be a little light in May. Talk about being spread as thin as butter...
PPS - The CiscoBlog Forum is rockin'! Thanks so much for those who have already started posting and replying!!! Killer.
Posted by JC at 2:52 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
October 30, 2007
ICND1, ICND2, and CCNA Exam Review
Alright test-takers...The November 6th date is approaching quickly and the old INTRO/ICND exam path is due to expire. I've been working on three new books for Exam Cram for the new CCENT/CCNA certification path and have taken the new ICND1, ICND2, and CCNA exams. While I hate "brain dumps" of tests (I think it completely devalues the certification and the intelligence of the person taking the exam), I do like having general study guidelines before walking into an exam blindly. So, for those of you preparing to attack these new exams, here's what I have found...
ICND1 (90 Minutes, 50-60 Questions)
- Subnetting, Subnetting, Subnetting: You've got to be a subnetting superstar to pull off may of the questions.
- Sim City: Many simulations / testlets that really test the full scope of your knowledge on a topic. They also have a new simulation style that has not been on Cisco exams previously where you have many self-containing windows that you can resize and place around the screen to your liking. Network Diagrams, multiple switch/router connections. I was impressed!
- General feel: I personally thought this exam was more difficult than ICND2. It's one of those tests where I walked away thinking, "if you REALLY don't know how networks work, you won't pass that exam." Good job on this one Cisco!
ICND2 (75 Minutes, 45-55 Questions)
- Troubleshooting Central: Many of the questions were focused on fixing broken networks. Understanding what information your show commands display is extremely helpful.
- NAT Rules the World: With NAT becoming a critical piece of nearly any network, Cisco has added more and more NAT syntax to the CCNA-realm. You must master NAT command-line implementations and troubleshooting before taking on this exam.
- General feel: This test definitely went faster than ICND1 and required a deeper understanding of the topics (thus the plethora of troubleshooting questions).
The New CCNA All-in-One (90 Minutes, 50-60 Questions)
- SPEED Central: This exam had many of the same questions I encountered in ICND1/ICND2, but they were the more difficult, time-consuming questions. You've got to know your stuff and be able to do it quickly.
- General feel: Tough all-in-one exam. Not as many simulations, but the few I did get were very difficult. They took an "almost CCIE-like" feel of restricting how you can do things. For example, you might be required to gather information about a device, but the simulation disables the "show run" command so you have to be more intuitive to the information displayed by other show commands.
Hopefully this gives you a good idea of what you're getting into when pursuing the CCENT and CCNA certifications! Good luck!
Posted by JC at 5:46 AM | Comments (9) | TrackBack
August 1, 2007
CCNA Update
Well, it looks as though Cisco has finally done a MAJOR update to their famous CCNA program. This update will indeed make it more difficult to attain a CCNA...and for good reason! Many people are just getting their CCNA certification and stopping (not moving on to the CCNP, CCSP, or whatever). So...Cisco decided, if that's all your going to do, then we'll make it so you really have an idea of what you're doing!
I've been contracted to write the new CCNA Exam Cram / Exam Prep series and to record the new CBTNuggets CCNA series, so I've been researching what is new for quite some time...Here's the scoop:
The CCNA certification has been split into two exams: ICND1 and ICND2. Because they have added so much information, Cisco has released a lower-level cert to the CCNA: the Cisco Certified Entry Level Tech (CCENT). If you pass the ICND1 exam, you get this new certification. Passing ICND1 and ICND2 gives you the CCNA certification.
ICND1 really focuses on the smaller network environment. You'll need to know the basics of routing, switching, and wireless technology. Also new to the scene is the Cisco Security Device Manager (SDM) graphic interface for managing your routers. Most of what the CCENT-certified person is able to do is done in the GUI. Command-line is typically used for verification.
ICND2 is where the rubber meets the road. Much of what used to be only in the CCNP track has moved into this exam - it is primarily focused around things like Access-lists, VLANs, Rapid STP, and NAT. Not to mention some advanced routing protocol config (OSPF / EIGRP).
So, my suggestion? If you haven't gotten your CCNA, get it soon! The current exams expire on November 6th. After that, it will be much more difficult to get your CCNA.
You can get more info about any of these tests from Cisco's CCNA Certification website: http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/le2/le0/le9/learning_certification_type_home.html
Posted by JC at 11:20 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
August 9, 2006
Ideal CCNA Lab Setup
Many of my CCNA-desiring friends have asked me if I could create a post that shows the ideal budget-conscious "study-lab" to prepare for the CCNA exam. Here's my suggestion:
The minimal equipment that I would purchase for the lab is as follows:
Here's the breakdown (prices updated 5.2008):
-Cisco 2514 router (two serial / two ethernet) with 16Mb Flash and 16Mb Ram ($20.00 - $45.00 Ebay price)
-Cisco 2900XL switch ($20.00 - $40.00 Ebay price); 1912 if your really budgetting ($5.00 - $15.00 Ebay price)
-Cisco 2501 router (two serial / one ethernet) with 16Mb Flash and 16Mb Ram ($15.00 - $35.00 Ebay price)
-Crossover serial cable ($5.00 - $20.00 Ebay price)
While this configuration is not the ideal, it will allow you to practice just about any CCNA-level concept you'd like. I'd recommend configuring it just as shown in the diagram (route your Cable/DSL home connection through the 2514) so you can practice NAT. The price differences for the equipment depends on your Ebay savvy-ness.
My recommended setup is just *slightly* more expensive (okay, maybe a little more than slightly), but will allow you to have 100Mbps connectivity to test inter-vlan routing configurations:
-Cisco 2621 router (two fast ethernet ports) with 16Mb Flash and 32Mb Ram ($150.00 - $250.00 Ebay price)
-Cisco 2900XL switch ($20.00 - $40.00 Ebay price)
-Cisco 1721 router (one fast ethernet) with 16Mb Flash and 32Mb Ram ($55.00 - $75.00 Ebay price)
-Crossover serial cable ($5.00 - $20.00 Ebay price)
-Two WIC-1T Serial modules for the routers ($25.00 - $75.00 Ebay Price)
This setup will allow you to move into the CCNP track with ease. Hope this helps!!!
Posted by JC at 4:31 PM | Comments (18) | TrackBack