Study This ** Not That **

[cisco_kid]

Hello To All,

I am aware the CCNA exam can cover a multitude of topics, however can anyone narrow down the best study format regarding which areas to focus on.
I am sure we have all read endless suggestions, granted the 6th edition is an excellent study guide. But there must be a core sections to cover.

Thanks.

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If it wasn't for bad luck i'd have no luck at all

[crissa]

I am aware the CCNA exam can cover a multitude of topics, however can anyone narrow down the best study fromat regarding which areas to focus on.
I am sure we have all read endless suggestions, granted the 6th edition is an excellent study guide. But there must be a core sections to cover.

Hello,
if you don't want to read the book cover to cover stop your learning now before wasting more time ...

I read most parts of the fifth edition (for 640-801) and the complete sixth edition (for 640-802), not to mention the labs I did with real Cisco gear and dynamips/dynagen.

Sorry, but if you don't want to become a CCNA paper tiger you have to walk the hard way as most, if not all, people in this forum did.
Bye, Tore

[lammle]

What I can tell you is this:

You must study your routing and switch and networking fundementals, which is chapter 1-9, and KNOW this material very, very well. You have to get some routers and switches, or use the Packet Tracer free router simulator which is good enough for the CCNA.

You can lightly study on SDM and IPv6, even though I cover it in depth, they are light objectives.

But, you cannot skip NAT, Access-lists or WANs! They are objectives and you must know them.

Study hard, do hundreds of hours of hands-on and you'll be fine.
Cheers!
Todd

[Andrew]

Personally I started to get a bit sick of studying for the CCNA test. I felt like I knew the material in Todd's 6th edition pretty well. Probably not well enough to reel off every command in there without liberal use of the ? though ;)

I was interested in reading about things other than just *exam objectives* so that really helped me in my final push to get the test out the way. Without the pressure I'm loving reading and practicing whatever takes my fancy.

I don't have a job in the field, that's what I did the CCNA to achieve, so my practical experience was limited to the labs in Todd's book with Packet Tracer, some activities that come with Packet Tracer and setting up my home network (router and switch).

Questions to ask yourself:

Do I understand everything in Todd's book?
Do I remember the majority of Todd's book?
Have I practiced the labs from Todd's book enough?

If the answer to all 3 is "Yes" then you're on your way.

[lildeezul]

another good free resource material is the Cisco docs, and white paper.. they are a big help to my CCNP studies.. (major help to my CCNP studies)

you'll know when your ready.

i knew i was ready, becuase i just felt it, i had a bunch of lab equipment to work on.. 7 routers ( 3-2501, 3-2621 1-3620, 2-2950 switches, 1-2924 switch)

i was well prepared... I mocked up alot of labs and scenarios..
This lab also helped me with my BGP studies, and is going to help me with my MPLS and VPN studies.. ( just got to upgrade the memory, Which is a B****)