Quake3World

I've graduated from uni and while I've been gettign travelling money together I've pretty much felt like I'm stagnating a bit because I've done no programming for months or anything else that I learned on my course, including the (albeit minor) networking side of things... except for setting up printing sharing in ym house, hardly a massive undertaking.

Aaaaaanyway, I was wondering if anyone currently posting here's taken the CCNA exam (or the CCNP or above) and how they found it, I'm not looking for predeictions on how I'll do because that'd be a stupid thing to ask, rather I'm looking for people's experiences of the thing. It seems pretty low level for the most part and I was thinking of going through the self-study guides ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... 02-4389213 ).

Sooo, anyone done it? I think I remember Mancubus did a Cisco exam of some sort, maybe the CCNP, but I don't know of anyone else.

*Watches the topic slide down the list*

During sixth form I was sponsered to take it, so i couldn't really say no to that lol.

The CCNA course from what I can remember is split into 4 sections. I done most of the first section and couldn't finish the rest as I moved to uni. From what I done that far in the course I enjoyed it. Sometimes it felt like just remembering key facts from the textbook will get you through the exams, but then again I alrady knew about networking and the first unit is just the fundementals.

Safe to say I'm planning on finishing the course later on. I enjoyed it, and would reccomend it if you consider a career in networking. Cisco qualifications look good on your CV. I've seen network jobs requiring a Cisco qualification offer a handsome salary...

I'm thinking of taking it purely with my CV in mind, it seems like like a small but decent addition to my BSc and then it wouldn't look like I'd done sod all in the 12 months+ since graduating. With the 3 year validity of it though I'd probably go for the CCNP if I enjoyed it.

It looks straightforward enough, I've briefly covered the OSI and such as well as basic networking stuff so I'm expecting it to be straightforward for the most part.

From my own beleif, i'd say the CCNA shouldn't be considered as a light refresher course into networking, some of the aspects of it get into quite a lot of depth and quite specialised rather than a general outview of networking. Im curerntly doing a degree in computing and networks and I remember some of the Cisco stuff being harder.

I wasn't implying that I wouldn't be learning anything new, my course briefly touched on networking so I was saying that'd probably help me on my way in. Nah, if I was looking for a redundant exam that didn't teach me anything I'd take the ECDL :P

I bloody hope in 1300+ pages of material I'll learn something anyway

Lol yeah its good stuff, I learned a lot from the material ive learnt during my Cisco days. It probably influenced me into taking a networking degree.

Go for it

Well ive studied for it but got side tracked on MS certs before finishing it.

Straight up man, its all book work. The CCNA isnt hard per say, its just a large volume of data to crame on your head and test on. Im not sure i would bother with CCNA if i was a programer, considering the time and effort involved in passing it.

Basicly its like dave said, it goes deep into networking, its not a light refresher course and i really doubt itll be something you look back on and " enjoy".

Frankly if i was you i would breeze through the MCP or MCSA. If you pull the MCSA which isnt that hard, itll look more impressive on a resume i would think. 4 certs vs 1 cert, unless you wanna be a cisco tech which sounds like you dont.


Anyway, Sybex + home lab + testking = pass.

Yeah I'm thinking I'll order the library (2 books :P ) and crack on in the next couple of weeks, £33 is a bloody bargain I think. No way am I paying nearly £800+ (at the bottom end) to learn in a classroom when I can do this and sit the exam for £80. I think taking up the sponsorship was a wise choice

Iccy wrote:Well ive studied for it but got side tracked on MS certs before finishing it.

Straight up man, its all book work. The CCNA isnt hard per say, its just a large volume of data to crame on your head and test on. Im not sure i would bother with CCNA if i was a programer, considering the time and effort involved in passing it.

Basicly its like dave said, it goes deep into networking, its not a light refresher course and i really doubt itll be something you look back on and " enjoy".

Frankly if i was you i would breeze through the MCP or MCSA. If you pull the MCSA which isnt that hard, itll look more impressive on a resume i would think. 4 certs vs 1 cert, unless you wanna be a cisco tech which sounds like you dont.


Anyway, Sybex + home lab + testking = pass.

I'm basically looking for the cheapest way to add something to my CV. I've heard the exam is considered rather bookish but that suits me nicely in cost terms. I'm aware I'm probably sounding pretty naive btw

That said, any links on the details of the MS certs? (I know they'll be on the site somewhere but you'll probably find it quicker if you've done that stuff ) It defintely sounds like something to look into, I'm not committed to any exams yet so there's always time to change direction.

MS certs don't look nearly as good on a resume as Cisco certs, simply because so many people have them now.

not to mention most of these certs are time limited to the current OS in question, and if an employer so wishes , he/she can dismiss a 3 year old cert.

Got the books, now for the more difficult part

make sure you have actual experience with the routers... back when I did the CCNA stuff (~ 4 years ago now) there were a couple really good simulators out there for the IOS. Make sure you know the material inside and out, because they'll throw questions at you that you aren't expecting. I hear the new test is a lot harder than it used to be. good luck man, hope it works out for ya.

the CCNP is a completely different story. You need real life experience for it.

PS. stick with it and you'll learn a lot.
Oh and you could try to find a friend whos a netacad alum.. as alum you get access to all the new material they use.