Success at LAST!!! - PASSED WITH 88% TODAY

[Ian W]

My tital says it all. Flip, I am so happy that this bugger is behind me. Its been a gruelling ride (500 and somthing hours). I am so happy that this is finally over!!!

Off to do the DA now. Todd, is this the correct code for the DA - 640-863 DESGN (http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/current_exams/640-863.html)?

Kind regards,

Ian.

[lildeezul]

congratulations.. good job.. do you have a breakdown of your story and any advice for future CCNA's

[Big Evil]

Well done, you've worked hard for this.
Be proud.

[djf99]

Hi,

First of all, Merry Christmas everyone.

This post is going to sound like a bit of a bitching session - sorry about that - but I really do want to get a few things off my chest, and I *really* do need some sensible advice.

I've bought a copy of the Sybex CCNA Certification Kit, which includes TL's CCNA study guide (6th edition). I've been using it exclusively as self study preparation for the CCNA 640-802. (I considered going with the book and real hardware - but decided with a sim - especially one designed to go with an appropriate course - it would be possible to set up more elaborate networks than I'd ever have enough hardware to do myself). I've read the book, done all the suggested exercises, worked through all the test questions at the end, the flash cards etc.

Probably somewhere between 50-100/hrs work. I've got a long background in IT, but negligible Cisco experience (I know, this sounds odd, but it's true) so I found the material presented in the book new (sort of), but not especially challenging. With one or two grey areas still, I'm getting 90% plus on bonus exams on the included CD - and where I'm falling down is mostly with the symantics of some questions and the odd picking the wrong answer when I "know". It's very hard for me to look at a 191.X.X.X address and "see" it as a public class B for example, my brain says "private class C" before I've reached the 1. Or in other words, I was at the point I was learning more about TL's writing style than Cisco networking.

I *thought* I was pretty near ready to sit the exams. I was a bit light on for "practical" work on the router sims, but I decided I'd try and assess myself based on the public samples of prep test-questions to see what extra prep work I should do, and to see what I should buy (if anything). Obviously no so good. 50-80% typically.

I haven't tried Transcender yet - I baulked at the price - more than sitting the Cisco exam.

As I'm sure most people here are aware, there are a lot of terrible exam prep products out on the net, and some of the sample questions were just obviously wrong, and certainly had wrong answers. But they also asked questions (typically 20-25%) about things that TL's book either doesn't cover at all, or does so in a purely cursory. I might be wrong, but does the book tell me if 100BaseFX has a max cable run of 400m or 412m?

So, tried the Brain Dump sites. I did a bit better, but was *much* slower as these "real" questions looked complicated - and sometimes were and sometimes weren't - but all took time to read fully and carefully. Plus I sort of did this open book (checked my answers as I went from source materials rather than the suggested answer), especially after reading here that submitting wrong answers suggested by the dump sites is a near guaranteed fail.

From this exercise, it's pretty clear I'm not ready to sit the CCNA exam. I suppose it could be possible that the sample questions provided were more difficult than average to help persuade me of the need to buy their products, but I don't think so. If the dump sites' questions are *real* questions

But ... more disturbingly, I don't think I could *ever* be ready to sit just by reading TL's book (with or without hands on experience). Granted, when I checked, most of the material is in there. Often just in the glossary - or at times there is one definition rigorous enough to meet the exam question requirements - with the same thing repeated several times elsewhere without enough detail to know how to answer a question directly - or worse - enough information to answer the question *incorrectly*.

For example, in my travels I've seen 2 questions along the same theme about OSPF Router IDs. The first had two obviously wrong options, but the last two choices of IP addresses on interfaces, the highest one was administratively down. Hmmm. My first thought was probably that the fact it was just administratively down wouldn't matter. Why force all those DR elections and stuff over the ID - which is hardly going to be any less unique because someone has shut down an interface? (OK, thinking about it more there *are* some very good reasons). BUZZ. The online Question flunked me. I decided that wasn't enough though, so I decided to get some more "hands-on" experience and fired up RouterSim, set up OSPF on a router with two interfaces, one up & one (with highest IP address) ad-down, & sure enough - it allocates the Router ID as the highest IP address of the known interfaces: the one that is shutdown. I quickly read over TL's book - and it seemed to confirm the RouterSim diagnosis: the question's suggested answer was wrong. (Turns out I missed a key word in the book: "active" IP addresses).

Still not convinced, I googled through the Cisco online docs. Most references refer to simply "highest IP address", but I found a pertinent FAQ entry about duplicate Router ID names, where the process (I'll post the link later - it's my edu machine) of Router ID selection explicitly referred to IP addresses on up/up interfaces.

And it was only at this point I realised that loopback addresses take precedence. I re-read TL's book, and yes - this is stated in one of the 3 explanations of this process IIRC - but most of the time TL's book just talked about the "highest IP" address (as do most references to this process on the Cisco docs site I might add). And IIRC in the book's examples, the loopback address always *was* the highest IP address IIRC, which only re-inforced my mis-conception.

My doubts about my understanding of this process have been enhanced by finding another sample exam test question where the choice is between loopback0 and loopback1, where loopback1 has the highest IP address. That test marked me right for selecting loopback1. Everything I've been able to find on the Cisco site suggests this is right too, as does the book. But ... the only place I've ever seen a concise, unambiguous and complete explanation of the precise OSPF Router ID allocation algorithm (there must be one on the Cisco site somewhere - but I haven't been able to find it - unless of course it varies between ISO/router versions) suggested that *only* loopback0 was checked. This might have been the best written explanation and most detailed, but as it was in the explanation to the suggested correct answer to this type of question, I can't really be sure if it's right or not.

But my main point is, the full algorithm to assign OSPF Router ID is clearly something Cisco now expects new CCNAs to know, yet a simple unambiguous expression of this seems to be elusive. I've spent hours on something that should take 3min, and I'm still not sure. I guess if I had dynamips or some real routers I'd be able to find out for sure, but I'd still be concerned about different behaviours with different versions.

Another example, TL's book tells me I'm expected to know the STP port states. I duly learned these for STP, only for one of the brain sump sites asked me "which of the following are valid RSTP port states?", which I'm pretty sure are not covered at all. And I think I'm expected to know the STP algorithm too, not just the port states - which I've yet to learn. It might be in the book and I just haven't recognised it because I don't know it yet, or not.

Clearly, TL's book alone is not enough to pass the CCNA (at least the 640-802). It simply does not cover all - or glosses over too many of - the things that are now expected of CCNAs.

Now, I know there is this disclaimer about "no book can be enough" repeated many times here and somewhere in the book itself. But quite frankly, that argument is a load of total BS. It's like saying: "no written manual can properly explain the workings of our products, you just have to get first hand experience them". If you were talking about hitting golf balls of tuning a car engine you might have a point, but the CCNA is a purely theoretical exam/certification, and the "no book can be enough" argument is simply no excuse for not appropriately presenting the material students are expected to be examined on. And on this subject, there is an all to obvious reason this disclaimer isn't on the front cover which - given the way the product was marketed to me - would have been the most appropriate spot.

Please don't get me wrong here, I thought the book was well written and easy to read, and I appreciate there is a balance between dryness and preciseness. I just suspect it no longer covers enough, in enough detail, to meet the needs to students sitting the current 640-802 exam.

Anyway, I'm at the point where I'm just not sure what to do.

.... to be continued

[djf99]

... more musing ... and advice sought ...

I can still get a bit more out of the book, but not much, and not enough to get a CCNA via the 640-802 exam.

More practical experience with my own physical lab might help a bit. But if the dump sites are any guide, there is still too much I don't know, and it's stuff I'll never come across in a year of tinkering in my garage (or on a production site for that matter). They certainly won't help me read through the monster questions in the 640-802 any faster.

Given some of the other comments about brain-dump sites, I'm reluctant to head down that path. Even if I do it seems like I'll need to spend hours checking every thing I "learn" that way regardless. But at that this point seems like the only viable way to even find out what people who sit the 640-802 are expected to know.

The other approach might be to go the (seemingly worthless) CCENT route. I'm pretty sure I've got enough to do that now "no worries". TL's book came highly recommend to me by people who I subsequently found out went on to get CCENTs. This approach still rather assumes the ICND2 is somehow easier than the 640-802, and if it's not I've all I've done is blown the >USD200 (that's what it costs to sit here in Oz) sitting an exam, plus the travel time etc just to get me right where I am now.

...

So, I would appreciate some feedback on which of my options I should pursue:

1) CCENT -> CCNA (on the basis the exams are "easier" and knowing the material I have now is enough to pass them)
2) Buy some dump exams and try to work out the "right" answers for myself (this seems extremely difficult - as half the battle with these sorts of certs is learning how the vendor wants you to view things - rather than how they really are)
3) .... open to suggestions ....
I'm all for more study - but I need to know what and where. I'm not going to try an memorise the entire content of the internet.

But please, don't insult me by telling me to "do a training course". If I wanted to go that way I'd have never shelled out for a self study kit in the first place.

Thanks for bearing with me this far. Sorry if it all sounds a bit churlish, but I'm obviously getting a bit frustrated with things. I think the main point of frustration is that I've reached a point where I'm not learning anything anymore, at least nothing significant about Cisco networking.

Thanks again,
and Merry Christmas !!!
DJF

[lammle]

Wow, I wasn't expecting something llike this on Christmas morning.
I don't think my book is that bad, but I also don't expect anyone to not use real equipment or dynamips, etc, when studying either.
If you had routers and switches, which is more then highly suggested in my book - is it almost demanded, you would be able to answer all those questions.
You're right about the RSTP, I didn't cover the states because they weren't out (the objectives) when I wrote it, but you can clearly and easily look that up. Instead of 5 modes like 802.11d, you have three modes, big deal.
Also, if you went through my hands on lab about RID's at the end of chapter 7, and throughly read chapter 7, you'd have your RID and election answers - clearly I cover that, almost more then anything else.
The highest IP address of any logical interface is your rid when OSPF is started (over rides interfaces addreses, which is the idea).
I understand frustration, but I think you are taking it out on the wrong people, and when I mean people, I mean all the people who work here on the forum to learn and work hard. And we're respectful and nice and helpful.
Merry Christmas.

[lammle]

You gave an example that this isn't like tuning a car, hitting a golf ball, etc...(paraphrased), and you are so wrong. Just ask anyone who has taken the exam.
And when you take the exam, you'll see why I wrote the way I did in the book.
I didn't give you all the answers, I give you lessons that you need to work on for months with real gear or in a real envirnment.
I KNOW THIS IS HARD. Cisco really wants you to know this, more then just theoretical, that is the part you are missing....they want you to work in the field first to validate yourself.
I hope you understand this someday.
Merry Christmas and God Bless you.
Cheers!
Todd Lammle

[Big Evil]

I have no idea what to make of this.
Whats your point here?

Do you like Todd's book?
You ask for advice but reading your posts, it seems like you have made up your own mind.

I think the main point of frustration is that I've reached a point where I'm not learning anything anymore, at least nothing significant about Cisco networking.

Then they exam should be a cake walk for you.
Wht bother with CCNA, head for CCIE or maybe a CEO at Cisco?

[lammle]

I know it is Christmas night there, so I hope you had a great day!
Cheers!
Todd Lammle

[lildeezul]

I am having a great day. and hopefully everyone else is.

But to djf99: Todd book along with Real equipment, hard studying, dediccation, and determination will get there.

Cisco revised all their exams to simulate real world scenarios. This exam is very hard. It takes alot of hard work and commitment.

Hang it there.. Ask any questions your having problem with. the Forum is here to help you.

merry Christmas.. Everyone !

[lammle]

lildeezul, thanks for posting today.

you are right, I built this forum for a place for people to pound out their frustrations and get help. Of course, they take them out on me sometimes, but that goes with the job.

Thanks again, lildeezul.
And as you said, we're here to help!
God bless.
Todd Lammle

[Big Evil]

back at you TL.
Now i am on a diet!

Too much food. LOL



I built this forum for a place for people to pound out their frustrations and get help. Of course, they take them out on me sometimes, but that goes with the job.

I disagree. To question/query what you have written, sure. Those who do question things and not except things, show that they wish to get a deeper understanding, and expand their knowledge.
But i have no time for people who disrespect you Todd, or any other memeber here.

If someone needs help, just ask. Advise is free right?
When you post here, check your ego at the door.
We are all here to learn.

[lammle]

I am glad to have you here. You get the idea.
I am going to try and go through the dynamic updates next week and put in all the new material for the objectives for the last year.
This way, we can point any new people to that area first...
For example, I need to update the RSTP section of my book, and I'll just put it in the dynamic update section for chapter 8.
Cool,
Thanks!
Todd

[djf99]

But i have no time for people who disrespect you Todd, or any other member here.


It was not my intention to disrespect Todd, and I appologise to him, and to anyone else who may have taken offense at my comments.

I still see no reason to withdraw or revise too many of my comments about the work and views I've expressed here, and I do appreciate why they might be taken personally. If that has occurred, well I am truly sorry.

> You ask for advice but reading your posts, it seems like you have made up your own mind.
And BE, at the time I wrote that I really had not decided what to. But I have since, guided in no small part by the responses you guys came up with. So thank you for that. And just in case you are wondering, how2pass.com and their ilk haven't taken any of my money.


Cheers,
DJF

[Big Evil]

That was not pointed at you DJF.

Todd will never say a bad word about a person on here, no matter how rude and ignorant they are to him. There are two resons for this. First as you will find out Todd is a class guy. Second he will not rise to these people who look to taunt him, trying to get him down to their level. So that they can go tell the whole world Todd Lammle said this to me on his website, blah blah blah.

[lildeezul]

i got on you becuase of your choice to use braindumps... As long as your study hard, and devote yourself to studying, and asking questions that your have, then you wont need to braindump your way to a cert. It a hard exam, but it shows everyone that your on your way to the top once you get this. (if you didnt braindump it)

other than that. your a regular guy.

just study hard dude.. you will get it.

[Fuzz]

You know the CCENT -> CCNA route isn't such a bad one, it's the way I'm going about it, and that suits me just fine. It's not an easier route, there's just less to learn all in one go. Still, to pass the ICND2 you need to know the topics of ICND1, even though you won't be directly tested on them. This makes the ICND2 exam just as hard, really, as the single exam, there's just less 'brand new' topics to learn all at once.

I used Todd's 802 book to prepare, with some PT and GNS3 simulations, and some help from the Cisco website. I passed the CCENT exam first time, even though I was a little unsure of some questions on the exam.

So now I'm studying for the ICND2. I was a bit lost at first really trying to figure out what topics I needed to focus on, so I bought the CiscoPress ICND2 cert guide. I'm glad I have both books to refer to, as it's been a major help understanding complex topics from two angles. Much of what the Cisco book has in it is in Todd's book, it's just set out a little differently. I would not say though that it has everything you need to pass the ICND2. Sure, it (supposedly) covers all the exam objectives, but there are no labs at all, and the writing is often confusing when explaining how certain functions work. If I had not read Todd's book first, I think my brain would have melted by now.

What I'm trying to say is that no single resource will prepare you 100% for the exam. You have to put the effort in yourself to learn everything you can that's on the exam objectives. Exam objectives can also change without warning, but you'll be expected to know it for the exam. You can hardly blame the author of a book for that.

[lammle]

Yes, I agree, you should study from multiple sources. And I wanted to mention one other great source of information. The Cisco web site! They have a ton of great white papers, albeit boring, they have great info.
Thanks, Fuzz!
Todd

[djf99]

Hi,

It seems I owe TL something of an apology.

I sat my CCNA exam today and passed. I only got three q's wrong - and even then I have some quibbles about those questions (I'm pretty sure I know 2 of the 3 - the other was a blunder somewhere I was sure I was right ).

[Note to Moderators: I hope I'm not giving anything away here - I *think* I'm within the rules here about common/Cisco published knowledge of what's in the exam, and general exam sitting technique - so mods - please can this post if I'm out of line]

It was still a pretty near run thing though. I got a SIM question early, and flumoxed it badly. It was on a topic I hadn't practiced at all, thinking it was too easy. I quickly checked the most obvious thing - and it wasn't that. There was a command I just couldn't remember and I got fixated on the idea that the answer must be in this command I couldn't remember.

After nearly 10 min I'm thinking WTF do I do?
I wouldn't have enough time to finish the test, and I'd probably need to get *everything* else right. I gave myself a few minutes more, took a deep breath, and started again. And yes, in my nervous anxiety, I had missed a typo in the most obvious thing. I wasn't seriously expecting it to be that, and my brain had "corrected" what my eyes were seeing to what it thought should have been there. Fixed that. End to end test (cool you can do that in those sims) - problem not fixed :-(. So, another 5 minutes of paniced head scratching. I *should* have realised where the problem was by the tools provided to find the answer, but I didn't attack the problem in that way. I took a more "realistic" approach. In the end, enough of the address structure had sunk in for me to notice something that should have been pretty obvious (and I thought I'd already checked)
, and I fixed that too. But I'd spent 20 min on 1 question, and was spewing that I'd not have enough time.

So, took my time on the next few questions until I calmed down and got a grip, then started taking a few risks on some of the easier single multiple choice questions. ie, not reading the whole question - just first and last sentences - and the other stuff only if required - not reading all the answers, just looking for the right answer when I knew it (which was most of the time) in the more likely spots first. I was still slow on the D&D questions - not because they asked anything technically tricky - more because I thought I was going to need epilepsy medication afterwards. If there is a next time, I might try sunglasses :-).

I caught up, and got a bit ahead, but I was still expecting more SIMs. The 2nd last Q turned out to be lengthy, but I still had plenty of time for that last long SIM and - it was the easiest multiple choice Q on the test.

[/potentially dodgy stuff]
But, - and this is the most important bit - I don't think I was asked any question that required knowledge not correctly published in TL's book, or at least enough information to answer the question correctly.

I don't think I was ready to sit the exam at Christmas when I had my rant, and I benefited greatly from the substantial extra reading I did subsequently. This did fix some mis-impressions I'd got from Todd's book. But - *none* of those were asked of me in the exam I sat. So I think with another good reading of Todd's book, I'd have been ready to pass the test I sat today. I might not have been as well prepared as I was today, but it would have been enough. And in the end, you can't ask more than that.

So, (at last) here is the apology. I had come to the view that Todd's book was not a sufficient reference to adequately prepare people (OK, me) to sit the CCNA exam, and expressed my disappointment of such in my Christmas rant. Based on the evidence presented to me today
, this view was very unfair, and I'm truly sorry for any offense or distress this may have caused.

Cheers,
DJF

[Fuzz]

Congratulations on achieving CCNA!

What was your passing score?

[lammle]

It is hard to express to a person what to expect when a person is to sit down for the CCNA the first time.
It is the hardest written exam that Cisco has, and it is mind blowing.
My job is to get people tuned to the exam, and it is hard to express this in words, but I try my best. Most people don't understand what and why I am writing what I am until they take the exam.
Many people have written me email saying that they read the Cisco press book, took the exam and failed, were dissillusioned by the fact that Cisco markets their book as the one-in-all exam passing book/product line.
After people fail the exam, they buy my book, understand exactly what I am trying to say (because they have seen the exam), and can gleen the fundamentals needed to pass the exam.
So, although your posts were rather lenghy, no appology needed as you are not alone in your quest for the CCNA....this is why I put this forum up...to help people understand what they are getting into.
Hopefully the pain you went through will help others to understand now as well.
And your post was just fine.
I appreciate you writing, and congratualtions on your CCNA in 2009!
After taking a breather, what's your next goal? :)
Cheers!
Todd Lammle

[djf99]

> Congratulations on achieving CCNA!
Thanks Fuzz. Much appreciated.

I passed with 91?/1000. Based on the report they gave me I got Qs 3 wrong. Two of them high scoring ones - multiple answer ones. And I'm sure I know which two.

One I was 50/50 on, because I thought both answers had a degree of wrongness about them. It hinged on a fact I picked up (can't remember where now) that was not covered at all in one of reference texts. It's either not true, or "outside the scope of the CCNA". If it is true, it completely invalidates the answer they were looking for. But the answer I went with had a degree of wrongness about it too.

The other, I was 95% certain what Cisco were looking for, but the phrase they were using has a particular meaning in some circles - and it definitely does *not* apply to the answer they were looking for - and it just stuck in my craw. The answer I went with was sort of right - kinda -, but in Cisco speak it was all wrong, even though it sort of did describe how I thought (I don't know it that well, so it could have been completely wrong) the thing in question worked. But basically, I made a decision with my heart and not my head - and couldn't bring myself to give the answer I was pretty sure they were looking for.

Another thing though, given it's the new year, Cisco have probably rejigged their exams. It was shorter (time and questions) than I was expecting, and the required pass mark lower. I don't know if it was that I over-prepared, but - after a rocky start - I thought the exam was easier than I was expecting too.

Plus - I found a genuine mistake in a question! It was one of those with a list of IP addresses & MAC addresses & what goes where - I'm sure I'm giving nothing away here - and a whole list of lists of addresses to pick from. My method for dealing with that is to start with the first 4 digits of the one MAC address (usually the most unique and easiest to spot - IP addresses it's too easy to make a transcription error) I know is right, and find it in the answers, then check the rest of the address, then the rest of the answer.

So I get to the first answer: wrong. 2nd answer: wrong, but only by one digit. I didn't want to waste time trying to find the answer's address in the exhibit - went onto the next answer. Wrong by one digit. 4th answer: wrong by one digit. 5th answer (if there was one): wrong by 1 digit. 6th answer - no 6th answer WTF?

So I checked, and yes, there was a simple typo on the exhibit. I could have used another MAC addresses for my search, or I could have used the least sig figures (usually better in the field were the most sig figures are often the same because all the devices are from the same vendor), or I could have used IP address. Had I done any of these I wouldn't have even noticed the typo. But as it was, I wasted 2 min searching for an address which didn't exist (as well as leaving a brief terse comment - also a cool feature - but a great way to waste time).

I'm not sure what the other Q I got wrong was, but I got 93% on the topic in question, so it couldn't had too many marks attached to it. Probably something I missed rushing through the "easy" multiple choice Qs.

Anyway, thanks again.

[Big Evil]

What a great score! 2-3 wrong!

I can appreciate how hard the exam is. I am sure many many people feel they are just not ready for the exam. As TL said, it is a very hard exam (as you now know, LOL)
I think you were being more hard on yourself rather than TL's book.

I have said this many times, that Todds' book is the CCNA iron manifesto.
Cisco books are good, don't get me wrong. But for the exam Todd's book is the best.

I am pleased you have passed your exam. Good job.

[djf99]

> I appreciate you writing, and congratulations on your CCNA in 2009!
Thank you for the kind words Todd. It is much appreciated.

I must also thank you for the fact I can now perform subnetting calcs in my sleep, and (unfortunately) frequently do :-).

> After taking a breather, what's your next goal? :)
1 day off. Then the 2008 MCSE equivalent. After that, try to earn back some of the money I lost last year (I *was* retired :-().

I agree with you entirely with those comments comparing your book with the Cisco books (now :-)). Your book is much easier to read - and certainly requires less caffeine per page.

I still have a few quibbles, but I also realise that to add detail you have to sacrifice clarity and readability. I think the biggest flaw with the product I bought (other than all the bugs/limitations in RouterSim) were the sample exam questions on the CD. They were too easy - and often just a question about a sentence lifted straight from the text rather than really examining the reader's knowledge of a concept or topic. They left me with the impression I was ready to pass when I wasn't.

But *please*, for the next edition, tighten up the definition of the Designated Port in the STP stuff. I didn't understand it when I first read it. I couldn't see how the definition was any different from the root port. And the Cisco book's treatment was even worse - but - they added an important qualifier which (eventually) allowed me to understand what both texts were trying to say. But judging from the convoluted grammar, that qualifier was a revision in editing! I'd simply say:
Root Port: The "Best" port to the root bridge on a switch
Designate Port: The "Best" port to the root bridge on a LAN segment.

Cheers,DJF

[djf99]

> I am pleased you have passed your exam. Good job.
Thank you very much BE. I really do appreciate this.

I gotta say though, this comment:
> Wht bother with CCNA, head for CCIE or maybe a CEO at Cisco?
got me thinking.

If it's 500hrs work to get a CCNA, and as much again to get a CCNP, it couldn't be that much more to get an MBA, and I really could be CISCO's CEO .

Thanks again BE. It means a lot to me that all you guys have taken the time to congratulated me.

Cheers,
DJF

[Big Evil]

If it's 500hrs work to get a CCNA, and as much again to get a CCNP, it couldn't be that much more to get an MBA, and I really could be CISCO's CEO .

Thanks again BE. It means a lot to me that all you guys have taken the time to congratulated me.

Cheers,
DJF


I see your point.
You can become a Oracle DBA or OCM in half the time it takes to become a CCIE and earn twice the money of a CCIE.
I was going to pursue a Masters Degree in IT, (still may in time) that would take me three years, they quoted me that i would need to do 12 hours a week, and that was not 52 weeks a year maybe 40-45, i could have breaks as well! That seem like a holiday compared to the work i had to put into getting my CCNA. (4-6 hours a night after working 13 hour days, seven days a week)

If you do decide to run for Cisco CEO, let me know. I could do with a top job at Cisco. LOL...

[emunjoma]

Cogradulations on your achievement.

I am currently studying CCNA and I would like to know if I have to use CISCO real equipment that is routers and switches (CCNA Lab) or if a sim will be sufficient.

[Big Evil]

I am currently studying CCNA and I would like to know if I have to use CISCO real equipment that is routers and switches (CCNA Lab) or if a sim will be sufficient.

You can use a sim, GN3S is great.
We have a link HERE (http://www.lammle.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=900)

It is great for routers, not so good for switches.

[kirk]

I passed the 802 exam with 988 this morning. Thanks Todd for the great books (I used both the regular book and the fast pass as study material).

[lammle]

Thanks for posting. I didn't want you to think we forgot about you way down here at the bottom of this long post.
Congratulations again, and thanks for letting us know.
Cheers!
Todd Lammle

[Big Evil]

Good job Kirk.
Congrats on your pass.

WElcome to the forum.