Cisco announces a new entry level certification as a pre-curser to the CCNA exam
This new entry-level certification has been dubbed Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician (CCENT).
Why is this so important? Well, because the CCNA exam—especially the new CCNA announced today—is now extremely hard, that´s why! So basically, it´s CCENT to the rescue. It gives unsuspecting network professionals the opportunity to take a much easier stepping stone-like approach to getting that all-important CCNA certification instead of trying to gulp all the information in a one week class, or by reading a book.
Yes, it´s true—the GlobalNet Training bootcamp approach works really well for most people that have networking experience, but for those people trying to become network professionals with no prior experience whatsoever, diving straight into the sometimes overwhelming and unforgiving depths of the CCNA is a pretty formidable challenge! The CCNA course/exam just isn´t the entry level program of days past, so the new CCENT certification is a terrific introduction—it´s the answer for inexperienced people who want a much more user-friendly, (read, possible), way to break into the internetworking profession!
Okay—here´s what Cisco has to say about this new entry certification:
- Optional step toward CCNA or all other Certification Programs
- Certifies Practical Skills
- Tangible first step to CCNA
- Assesses aptitude & competence for working with Cisco Networking Devices and Software
Oh, and by the way, Cisco has done a bit of research that just so happens to confirm the fact that there´s some serious interest among employers for a certification that covers entry level IT skills that mitigates and reduces the risk inherent when hiring employees with little or no previous networking experience.
Note: This new entry level certification exam is not a prerequisite to obtaining your CCNA.
Hallo Sir,
I am gave exam of ccna and failed because i had completely study of ccna book (todd lammle). soory to saying that i don`t know about new entry level cerfication.
Plese, what ido for next step and guidence for study.
dear sir,
please send wat are the new topics that are updated,this is my humble request
Hello Sir
at first i have studied the Sybex intro ,it was so wonderfull and before 1 month I pass 640-821 with 950 points .please tell me i need to pass 640-811 to achieve 640-801 i need yr book not something else ,give me information
Thanks
My new CCNA book covers both exams, plus I’ll be publishing seperate books on the tests later this year, but the Composite book has all the information you need for now.
Cheers!
Todd Lammle
hi! Todd lammle. This is srikant and it is the 1st time i want to place a view on this site. I am looking forward to your books on icnd 1 2 because i find the composite too intimidating.
i bought your latest ccna study guide after being recommended by a tutor but i will go for the two way approach.
it is a pleasure reading your books and hope you continue to write and in my view the best in the business.best regards.srikant
when will your new simulator be out, or is the one that is out now sufficient?
When should your new book be available?
Thanks
sir,
i want to know what are the new syllabus added recently for ccna exam.
i already hv ur book, but if i want to buy new book i will buy it. but i want to know what are the topics added and if get in pdf format from ur side, so that i pepare for tat also. help me , i dont hv tat much money to buy new book, and for my exam and fot the old buk itself my friends only helped me. pls,
rgds
r.rajkumar
Mr. Todd Lammle,
what can I say ? I’m in Jordan (The country, not the basketball player). I purchased your book (the 5th Edition CCNA Study Guide) for a 30 JDs (27$). I finished reading it, practices, and so on. I hold a B.Sc Computer Engineering.
The least to say about your book is that it’s one of the BEST book I ever read! I have a good theoretical networking background and your book gave me just what I need.
I like your sense of humor
! . Man you’re a legend!
I just came here to thank you!
Cheers!
Todd Lammle
Mr. Todd Lammle,
I wanted to know if you will be publishing a book on the new CCENT cert.
If so, by when will it be out.
Also, how does this new entry level cert compare to the 640-801 cert?
Thanks,
Joe
This is the book on the home page of lammle.com
I wanted to wait until the test came out yesterday to start working on the intro (CCENT) book.
Cheers!
Todd
If you happen to get the 6th edition, I think you’ll like that too.
I fixed any errors and added a lot of stuff, as well as three new chapters!
Thanks again for writing.
Cheers!
Todd Lammle
Cool stuff!
Cheers!
Todd
Hey, i want to thank you!
i did the exam as you suggested. and i got 987 score :p
your book and the update that you did really helped me. thanks!
now am looking for CCNP but i want to ask, i seen CCNP v1 and CCNP v2 in Cisco Tracking System, so as a 640-801 Certified i can take any version right?
CCNP v2 is not just for 640-802 Certified ppl?
Thanks again.
btw: hey Abed, am from Jordan too
Hello Todd,
I have been a good fan of yours, In Nigeria where i reside, it is basically a cash driven Economy and credit cards are not quite as widely used as in the west.
Just wanted to find out if Amazon has an affiliate bank here we could pay to to buy your new book and the associated simulation software. They both cost about $152 which is quite affordable.
Life would be a lot easier if we could pay directly to a bank here to get the books.
Russell
Hi Sir,
I read your book(old ccna) for 4 months and it was outstanding. Passed in first try with 1000/1000. I have used other books as well but your material was easy to understand and apply. The more i read your book, the more inspiration i got to keep on reading. When i read your book first, i clocked 18 hours non stop reading(its true).
I only got 1 question. Since i started pursuing ccnp, i could not get any material by you. When will be new Routing and Switching book published?
Regards,
Sam
Engineer (Electronics & Telecom)
CCNA
Todd,
I attended one of your bootcamps, during which you show us one of the CBT’s you were developing. Have you completed them and is there a list available.
Herb, when you coming back for more clases?
Thanks for posting.
Cheers!
Todd
sir.
i am abdullah burki form pakistan.i did CCNA certification almost one year ago,for that i studied ur book.and now i got a job of IT Network Manager in pakistan. Ur book is one of the best book for ccna,while i was reading ur book i was feeling that u r talking to me face to face,and u have been appreciating through out the book. sir now i am looking toward CCNP, But i dont know which books should i purchase as the ccnp course has changed now,i need a latest books on ccnp.would u plz guide me which books should i purchas and which edition.
Thanks
Abdullah burki
IT Network Manager
Mr Lammle
I have taken ccna classes and studied your book in the past. I have taken the test twice for ccna and came close. Hands on is important. Do you think if I use 3 1720 routers with your new book and the routersim net vis, 5 for hands on switching stuff is ok?
Thanks
Rob
I am attending classes of CCNA and reading through your book.Please advise the latest edition which is available in India.
This is to inform you that your book is excellent.
Thanks for posting
Cheers!
Todd
I just learned that your 6th editin is out. I am studying your 5th ed now. If I pass the exam by 11/7/2007, will 5th edition suffice? Please advise.
Thanks.
Good luck!
Todd Lammle
I passed CCNA2.0 in 2000 thanks to your book. Its expired in 2004 and now work requires me to renew it… Two quick questions for you.
1.> do you deliver any course in the U.K.?(London to be precise)
2.> Which is your latest book for 640-802?
Thanks
I am planning Europe classes in the spring of 2008. UK is on my agenda, but whew…it’s expensive, right?
Keep an eye at globalnettraining.com for my latest up to date schedule.
Cheers!
Todd Lammle
Thanks, Todd.
Hi Todd,
I would like to purchase the CCNA Network Visualizer 5.0, but my operating system is Windows vista home premium. Pls ,how do i go about my purchase?
Samuel Francis
Sir, I have the Platinum edition of the Virtual Lab, but the accompanying text covers exercise for the exam 640-801, how can I get the exercises for exam 640-802?
ccie Todd
thank you again for your exellent jop,i pass the second part off ccna 640-811
and im now ccna,please may you tell me about yr book in ccvp,after i have deal with yr books in 640-821 and 640-811 i will choose yr product for ccvp
Dear Todd Lammle,
I would to thank you about the great book that you wrote the CCNA Study Guide. Today i passed the exam with 961, a great thanks Todd. Keep whit the good work.
PS - Now i want to take another step, but i have a doubt. Which certification is better, CCNP or CCSP?
Another Todd
Cheers
Cyrus
From Portugal, Lisbon
check out amazon or cisco for the latest books on CCNP.
Cheers!
Todd Lammle
OK, I’m confused again. I just bought the new book for the 640-802 exam and it is a fifth edition. The book on Sybex’s site is the 5th edition for the 801 exam. Is there a 6th edition out for the 802 exam. It is copyrighted 2007 If so, please give us the link with Sybex’s site. I can’t believe another edition would have come out in less that 2 months. If so, I feel everyone that got the 5th edition ordered from you/Sybex should get a free upgrade. Has anyone else gotten the same deal?
There are two NEW editions….the Standard 6th Edition, and the Deluxe 5th edition, both are the SAME books, but the Deluxe has lots more quesitons, flash cards, software, and other goodies…you did well.
I was just talking to Sybex last night that I love the Hardbound book much, much better then the standard softback edition because the book is just too damn big to be in softback.
No worried, you’re golden!
Cheers!
Todd Lammle
Todd,
You have me confused now. The 5th Ed Deluxe and 6th Ed softback are the same “text”? Why not call it 6th Ed Del then?
The VL:PE isn’t what I’d hoped, lacks the ISR routers, doesn’t have the newest commands (do) or IFS from what I’ve been able to test. I saw it prompt me that I can upgrade it, wondering if that upgrade or the Cisco Lab program I saw at the store for $150 would be the better to experience the newer features of the 12.x IOS’s? I think the Cisco allows simulation of most all their routers, unlike the 1 router in the VL:PE.
Overall, great book, very easy to read,
Thanks,
James
Routersim.com has the latest router simulator that covers the SDM, and ISR routers.
Cheers!
Todd
Oh, and when I find answers to the labs or review questions that are incorrect, who would I talk to?
An example is a RQ in ch1, about SAP. SAP isn’t discussed anywhere in the book, there is only a Glossary entry on SAP. The one paragraph on 802.2 mentions NOTHING that would have made it possible to guess SAP had something to do with 802.2.
And Ch 3 lab 3:1 answer to #3 has the wrong subnet, ip range, br. add. The host is .66, you list .32, .33-62, and .63 in the explanation
James
The reason is that we didn’t put out a deluxe version until my 2nd edition.
the routersim.com 6.0 covers my new book, all the routers and switches, labs, etc. I haven’t seen the Cisco press version. Equipment is always better, but the routersim.com product is best if you have nothing, and is a huge upgrade from the VL.
Where did you find this question about SAP? It does have to do with Ethernet frame types and I do discuss this in chapter 1, but what is “RQ”?
I’ll check chap 3 question first thing in AM. I have been traveling for four days straight…ugh…
Thanks for writing.
Cheers!
Todd Lammle
Thanks for the quick reply Todd. I ordered NV5.0 today as well, had I known, I’d have saved $50 and just bought the softback
btw, i didn’t upgrade because the upgrade is only $30 off and doesn’t include all the benefits, which I have to say is a little cheap since I just plopped $100 for the book and now $189 for the sim since the book one is so limited 
anyway, I don’t have a “real” option being unemployed the past 3 weeks, so the sim is a big deal for me currently, especially the Net Assesment portion, I’m going put that to the test in a week or so
As for SAP, lab 1:2 3rd question, “This layer uses service access points”. if you can find that mentioned in Ch1, please tell me where. I looked for an hour. As to the ch3 lab question, I noticed in the forum you responded to a question on it, and cracked you did it on purpose so you’d know those who inquired really understood the material
haha
Man, you are reading carefully, aren’t you!!
To pass this test, you really must study very hard, and understand every detail in my book.
The answers are all there, you just have to remember everything.
Only hands on experience will provide this. The routersim is a great way to go. After you get your CCNA you’ll be able to invest in equipment.
Cheers!
Todd
yeah, it’s amazing how much of this I already knew but didn’t realize. I worked for UUNet from ‘96 to ‘00 (as an FE and in the NOC) then moved on to a start up ISP, and ended up becoming a dial network specialist as no one else wanted to learn that. Turned out to be an ok thing, many people I know lost jobs in the 2001-2002 period, and I have been good until 3 weeks ago
But now as I started interviewing, I realized I couldn’t recall all I knew, and I might as well spend some time reviewing.
Found your book, made it thru 6 chapters in 6 days, so I expect to be done by next weekend and taking my test the week after if tests are offered that week. Actually, that’s the next thing I need to do is find where the test is administered here in the Wash DC area.
The book has been great, I just would really like some time with NV 6.0 before I test, so GET THAT OUT NEXT WEEK could ya? haha
Just be careful and do not get too confident…
You can take the test at any VUE testing center.
Study hard, practice, practice and then study and practice some more. You cannot be too prepared for this exam.
Good luck.
Cheers!
Todd Lammle
Todd,
I took the CCNA exam today and it is REALLY HARD! TOO HARD! They must have made the new one much harder. I got a 683 and needed 825 to pass. There are TOO MANY QUESTIONS and most of them are TOO LONG AND COMPLICATED for the time allowed! I almost walked out after the first 20 questions! I think they are trying to get you flustered with all the details! At a minimum, you have to be able to quickly follow every packet and frame thru a complicated network diagram. They really need to have a few more basic questions. And I’m not convinced that they aren’t trying to trick us, too!
I am not an experienced Cisco network admin, but I have many years of Novell network experience as a CNE and many years of enterprise IT experience as well (20 years overall technical experience).
Additionally, I went all out for this certification - worked on it full-time for 2 months your excellent study guide, Chris Bryant’s excellent videos, Odom’s Video Mentor (ok), Routersim (very good for the most part, but lacking in some command parameters), Cisco kits workbook (good, but out-dated), and my own rack of 3 Cisco switches and 3 routers, including the SDM and CNA apps. But I used the CLI most of the time.
I didn’t sleep well last night which hurt me some, but that test is a real son of a bxxch! I passed seven Novell CNE tests in one month, five in one day! If this had been a college exam, it would have been rounded and I would have easily passed. 825 out of 1000? You got to be kidding me! I think Novell’s was 70%.
I need to find a test simulator more like the actual test. I purchased MeasureUp’s test simulator (which was just like a super hard Microsoft exam I took a few months ago), but they are mostly nothing like the actual test and too easy. I have seen no complicated network graphics or CLI configs like on the exam. However, now that I have seen the actual test, I know more of what to look for. I am going to checkout Trancender’s even though they didn’t simulate the Microsoft test I took very well.
Any suggestions?
well Ch 6 slowed me down for sure
biggest problem now is, I’m trying to build a jerry-rigged version of the network you are talking about in ch 6, and there doesn’t seem to be a way to do it fully. NV 5 just doesn’t have enough eqiupment options. I tried use 2 routers to do the work of Corp, and used an FE to interconnect them, but it seems I can not turn on directed-broadcast, so I can’t get routes to propogate over it. I’m getting the feeling I’m going to be hampered until v6 is out since I can’t actually do the labs you are showing.
I know I’m pushing myself a bit, and if I don’t pass the first time, that’s ok, it gives me a sense of what I need to work on. The bigger issue is the simulator since that will be my only source of “hands-on” for now. Any chance of getting a release candidate to work with while I’m studying? I really want to do the lab in the text of CH 6 as i get into dynamic routing, and right now, I’m limited greatly. I’d happily use a beta and give you as much feedback as I could while you prepare v6 for release
HI!
I ws preparin for d CCNA 640-801 but I cudn`t find date to ans d exam so i had to book for 640-802 n i`l b answering it pretty soon… but i`m kinda jumbled up wid d old n d new syllabus. I`v workd hard ( lik never b4 )! gone through ur 640-802 bk 2wice so nw if I delay d exam i`m scared my hard work shudn`t go in vain.. right nw i`m studyin d new topics dat hav been added!!
all i wanna knw is dat is it better to answer CCNT o go ahead wid CCNA 640-802 by d studyin d xtra topics?
Raees
well, figured out I was missing some routes on my “2nd half” of corp. so that’s working finally at least. realized the no ip directed-broadcast was on all the interfaces so that couldn’t be the issue
just adding in routes to all the others now, so maybe I’ll make it thru this section yet
Todd, with regards to your book, is there any way that you can give a syllabus as to what the 816 and 822 exams cover. I want get the ccent and then the ccna. I believe in the KISS principle and breaking it up into two segments seems easier for me.
Thanks
I found the ICND1 and ICND2 breakdown on the routersim website. That is what I was looking for. I just didn’t look in the right place. When will NV6 be ready….will we be able to get a downloadable version. I swear, I have been getting so much Cisco stuff mailed to me that I’m on a first name basis with my mailman.
The outline on their web site was provided by me to help with someone like yourself that wanted to take the two test version using my 6th edition book.
However, I have just finished my CCENT book and it should be on the shelf around the first of the year.
In the meantime, that rough outline will work for you.
Good luck with your studies.
Cheers!
Todd Lammle
Hi !
Excellent Wok Todd ! BTW Is ISDN being removed from the syllabi of CCNA ? I dont see any reference to this or notes in your 6 th Edition ?
Thanks
KN
Wan protocols are HDLC, PPP, Frame Relay and VPN.
Cheers!
Todd
Urgent, Todd, please check my post in the forum at the below link:
http://www.lammle.com/discussion/showthread.php?p=493#post493
I’m not sure if the book has an error in it or not. Please confirm ASAP. Thanks!
Todd
hi can u tell me what pattern will be changed and tell me also what new topic to add…………………
Hello Sir,
I have studied 5th edition and passed CCNA on 5th Nov 07. But I don’t have any professional experience to get into the CISCO field bcz every one ask about experience. Could you advise me how can I join this field please?
Thank you very much.
sir i want to be appear in exams..so which book would u recommend to me..coz certification has been update. kindly reply me..
thank you.
Amazon has a nice selection of cisco certification books.
Cheers!
Todd Lammle
ebchris 4rm NNEWI,ANAMBRA STATE,NIGERIA
Cheers!
Todd
In the first chapter, there is a instance to explain how two users(Bob and Sally) communication with each other.But I have a question. How does Bob know the 192.168.0.3 IP address is Sally’s and get it before the name is resolved? Can you give me a explanation,Todd? Thanks!
I know this is for Todd, but clarification is in order.
Bob’s computer must know Sally’s hostname before it can resolve her IP address. Let’s her hostname was given to Bob’s system as part the web link he clicked on in this web page. After he clicks the link, before his web browser can load Sally’s page from her computer it must resolve her IP address.
There are many services that let you lookup the IP address of a system if you have its hostname.
Domain name services (DNS)
Netbios name service broadcasts (NBNS)
Windows internet name services (WINS)
Hosts file lookups
lmhosts file lookup
I think you only need to understand the top 2 methods for the CCNA.
Hi Todd. You’ve heard it probably a milion times but many thanks for your hard work you put into your artefact! If you don’t mind, just a quick question, on the page 149 of your 6th edition where you talk about summarisation, you say “The IP addresses that will be forwarded are 192.168.144.1 through 192.168.159.255. (Yes, the broadcast address is forwarded.)”. I don’t quite get why the broadcast address x.x.159.255 will be advertised in summarisation since the address x.x.144.0 will not be. And of course routers do not forward broadcast. Thanks for your help.
Btw, dear rover18… Todd could not be more clearer with explaining this problem you ask about in the first chapter of his book. There are 3 steps before Bob can communicate with Sally. First Bob’s NBNS packets will send broadcast IP to x.x.x.255 with Sally name request by means of NBNS protocol (or DNS if you Bob queries FQDN and not NetBIOS name), then Sally responds to Bob directly with her IP address. Next step is for ARP to find out Sally’s MAC address, and then the show begins. Use any packet monitor (there are plenty of freeware) and use it on your LAN for example with ICMP ping, you will see everything excatly as Todd described in his book. Hope it helps.
Hi Todd. You’ve heard it probably a milion times but many thanks for your hard work you put into your artefact! If you don’t mind, just a quick question, on the page 149 of your 6th edition where you talk about summarisation, you say “The IP addresses that will be forwarded are 192.168.144.1 through 192.168.159.255. (Yes, the broadcast address is forwarded.)”. I don’t quite get why the broadcast address x.x.159.255 will be advertised in summarisation since the address x.x.144.0 will not be. And of course routers do not forward broadcast. Thanks for your help.
Btw, dear rover18… Todd could not be more clearer with explaining this problem you ask about in the first chapter of his book. There are following steps before Bob can communicate with Sally. First Bob’s will IP broadcast to x.x.x.255 with Sally name request by means of NBNS protocol (or DNS if you Bob queries FQDN), then Sally responds to Bob directly with her IP address. Next step is for ARP to find out Sally’s MAC address, and then the show begins. Use any packet monitor (there are plenty of freeware) and use it on your LAN for example with ICMP ping, you will see everything excatly as Todd described in his book. Hope it helps.
Hie Tod
Can you help me. I’m a bit confused. I have been studying the CCNA 640-801 and had almost finished. Does that mean I cannot write that exam anymore and I have to buy new material for CCNA 604-802 instead or is there a book with just the extra additional Info . Thanks
Dear lammle , I want to ask a question about a ios command .It is configure memory .
Today ,when I look at some questions ,I find this one ,it says configure memory that can config
the RAM of a router ,I think it is true ,because the memory present RAM. I know that the config t and config start run command can configure the RAM
.However ,one another question says that configure memory command can change items in the startup configuration files .
When I issued configure memory on a router(the router is a simulator) in privileged mode ,it still in privileged mode ,did not enter to global mode ,Why ? What does configure from NV memory mean ? Please help me . Thank you very much !
NV memory or NVRAM is where the router stores the startup-config. This is the configuration file the router uses when it boots/restarts/initializes itself. Provided the config-register is set to 0×2102, it copys the startup-config to running-config in RAM.
When you configure memory your telling the router to load the startup-config and execute all of its commands. Essentially this just appends the startup-config statements to the existing running-config in RAM whatever that may be.
If you want to enter global config mode ‘router(config)#’ and have it accept input from the terminal, you should use the configure terminal command. ‘config t’
dear TL :
ive been studying your CCNA’s 5th edition study guide but i ddnt submit to the certification exam and now that the material has changed i want to ask you if i should continue on the new chapters in the sixth edition or start all over again.
chad
dear TL :
ive been studying ur CCNA’s 5th edition study guide but couldnt submit to the certification exam , now that the material has changed , should i continue to the new chapters in the 6th edition or start all over again.
chad
What are some things that are not on the latest CCNA exam there were on the old one? ISDN & Frame Relay, are they still included in the latest test?
Hi Mr Todd Lammle,
I am preparing for CCNA Exam, also will plan to take CCNP if can pass CCNA.
Since I am new to the exams, may i know what/how many routers and switches do i need to purchase for my hands on?
Hope you can give me an advice.
Thanks.
Jack