Studying CCENT/CCNA R&S

M

my90558

Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2015
Messages
21
Reaction score
0
Good evening good people!

I'm interested in studying networking and from what I've read CISCO is a good place to start. I'm pretty much fresh out of matric so I'd really appreciate it if you guys could help me out.

I assume I would have to start with a CCENT and after that work my way towards a CCNA, or is it possible to simply start with a CCNA directly? The reason why I ask this is because if you refer to this website which says:

Participants will be prepared to take the Cisco CCENT exam after completing the first two modules or the CCNA Routing and Switching exam after completing all four modules.
Click to expand...

So if I were to directly start with CCNA I could just write the CCENT after doing the "fundamental" modules?

Also, in terms of places to study. I have taken these 2 into account (I know there are more out there, if you guys have good experience with any other places please let me know!). Both offer pretty much the exact same course content.

Cecs
University of Pretoria

I know that the self study is much cheaper (Cecs is online correct/self study?), but would there be any benefit in attending an actual lecture as it is offered by UP? UP also states that they have "after hours laboratory work". Would this be beneficial in any way or would self study suffice in your opinions?

Also, I don't want to sound arrogant or anything, but do I need a N+ or A+ cert too? I'm not new to computers in any way so I don't really feel it's necessary to learn all the basics I already know.

Thanks
 
Last edited:
It all depends how much you know about networking. If you know nothing at all I would look at doing a N+ first. The CCNA is not the easiest of exams and without practical experience I would not even attempt it. You def need to get some lab experience.

Download GNS3 and start playing. Its router simulation software which helps a lot if you don't have access to all the routers. You need to have a support contract with Cisco to download the IOS images but there are ways around that *cough*
 
Depending on your skill level with Computers (ie: types of cables, network topologies, rj45's, tracert, ping, telnet etc...) you may need the very basic fundamentals (A+ and N+).

I would go the ICND1 then INCD2 route to achieve CCNA.

Labs are great but now days you don't need physical kit, packet tracer and GNS3 are more than sufficient to get your CCNA.

Self study if you are disciplined or pay buckets of cash for a lecturer to read to you from the manual.
 
roligov said:
Depending on your skill level with Computers (ie: types of cables, network topologies, rj45's, tracert, ping, telnet etc...) you may need the very basic fundamentals (A+ and N+).

I would go the ICND1 then INCD2 route to achieve CCNA.

Labs are great but now days you don't need physical kit, packet tracer and GNS3 are more than sufficient to get your CCNA.

Self study if you are disciplined or pay buckets of cash for a lecturer to read to you from the manual.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say I know so little from networking as computers as to have to do the A+ and N+. It's basically stuff you can learn from Google anyway.

Would the course content in the websites I've listed above be sufficient to achieve CCNA? Can they be compared to this or is it all basically the same studying material and the exact same exams? I am a bit confused as to all the different exam types.

I've read a lot online that people would rather self study and use stuff like packet tracer, CBT Nuggets, etc. for some additional help. So I guess that would pretty much rule out physical lectures.
 
my90558 said:
I wouldn't say I know so little from networking as computers as to have to do the A+ and N+. It's basically stuff you can learn from Google anyway.

Would the course content in the websites I've listed above be sufficient to achieve CCNA? Can they be compared to this or is it all basically the same studying material and the exact same exams? I am a bit confused as to all the different exam types.

I've read a lot online that people would rather self study and use stuff like packet tracer, CBT Nuggets, etc. for some additional help. So I guess that would pretty much rule out physical lectures.
Click to expand...

Any kind of torque IT studying is a waste in my opinon. Its brutally expensive, you cant cover everything and you still need to self study anyways. You can create your own virtual lab and there are now so many videos and forums you dont gain by having instructor led classes for ccna
 
syntax said:
Any kind of torque IT studying is a waste in my opinon. Its brutally expensive, you cant cover everything and you still need to self study anyways. You can create your own virtual lab and there are now so many videos and forums you dont gain by having instructor led classes for ccna
Click to expand...

So would you say just buying some books and studying up on ICND1 and ICND2 would be enough? Along with some practical practice using things like packet tracer. And then just book to write the exams when ready?
Books this and like this?
 
I've done all my certs self study. I find it more useful and you end up learning a lot more than instructor led classes.

If you have the time and access to the internet you can easily do it self study.
 
Yo dude, I'm in the same boat as you. I'm going to quickly pickup my A+ and N+ just to get the basics ( even though I took IT and CAT ), then land some sort of low end pc techie job.

After that use the money to setup a mini lab (prefer having the hardware) then study for CCNA.
 
gregmcc said:
I've done all my certs self study. I find it more useful and you end up learning a lot more than instructor led classes.

If you have the time and access to the internet you can easily do it self study.
Click to expand...

By self study do you mean you just bought some books related to your certs (CCNA R&S in my case) and just studied them? Then booked to write the exam after you felt you studied enough?
 
Yes, just bought the books and studied them. Its easier though if you have practical experience working with the products otherwise it just takes longer to study until you are ready.
 
Self studies all my Cisco certs, all these "colleges" charge ridiculous prices. Check for the official course material, and get those books. Plus have a look at the CBT nuggets.

I would say start with the nuggets as it will give you a good understanding, then go through the books. Also check the Cisco forums, the learning network, or find someone that has gone through it and they can guide you better. Also learn the technology and not just the commands.

Last bit of advice, if you hear anyone suggesting dumps, don't do it, you will just rob yourself when you get to an interview and the guy asks you tech questions.
 
Azerael said:
Last bit of advice, if you hear anyone suggesting dumps, don't do it, you will just rob yourself when you get to an interview and the guy asks you tech questions.
Click to expand...

This.

You will really be doing yourself a disservice and don't learn anything from dumps.
 
my90558 said:
I wouldn't say I know so little from networking as computers as to have to do the A+ and N+. It's basically stuff you can learn from Google anyway.

Would the course content in the websites I've listed above be sufficient to achieve CCNA? Can they be compared to this or is it all basically the same studying material and the exact same exams? I am a bit confused as to all the different exam types.

I've read a lot online that people would rather self study and use stuff like packet tracer, CBT Nuggets, etc. for some additional help. So I guess that would pretty much rule out physical lectures.
Click to expand...

Yeah I wouldn't even consider going to College or Uni, extreme waste of money for IT when you have the world at your finger tips.

The exams are all the same. There are 3 different exams. ICND1 + INCD2 which gives you your CCNA. Or you can do a single exam and achieve CCNA (for advanced users as it's a merge of both ICND). The study material differs, the point is to meet all the objectives of the ICND exam (knowing 7 layer OSI Model backwards, manual calculation of subnet masks (the number of host and network bits), routing, troubleshooting etc...). You can get the objectives from Cisco's website: https://goo.gl/TO00Qx

How you get there in the end is up to you. If you prefer reading, then get the physical books or the PDFs. I prefer video based training, doing the labs and practising afterwards. Source as much online training material you can. Chris Briant is excellent, probably the best CCNA trainer I've watched.
- Udemy has a great course by Chris Briant (which you can get for $10 if you find a coupon online). (https://goo.gl/YyvMie)
- CBT Nuggets gives you access to their library for a week for free and they have a CCNA course (https://goo.gl/EOqzXj)
- Pluralsight has a course: https://goo.gl/sj4mNF

I agreed with the above about dumps, don't do it if you actually want to learn something and excel in the future. Even if they don't ask you questions in the interview and you get the position, when it comes time to troubleshoot or bring a production network back online, you will be up **** creak without a paddle.
 
roligov said:
Yeah I wouldn't even consider going to College or Uni, extreme waste of money for IT when you have the world at your finger tips.

The exams are all the same. There are 3 different exams. ICND1 + INCD2 which gives you your CCNA. Or you can do a single exam and achieve CCNA (for advanced users as it's a merge of both ICND). The study material differs, the point is to meet all the objectives of the ICND exam (knowing 7 layer OSI Model backwards, manual calculation of subnet masks (the number of host and network bits), routing, troubleshooting etc...). You can get the objectives from Cisco's website: https://goo.gl/TO00Qx

How you get there in the end is up to you. If you prefer reading, then get the physical books or the PDFs. I prefer video based training, doing the labs and practising afterwards. Source as much online training material you can. Chris Briant is excellent, probably the best CCNA trainer I've watched.
- Udemy has a great course by Chris Briant (which you can get for $10 if you find a coupon online). (https://goo.gl/YyvMie)
- CBT Nuggets gives you access to their library for a week for free and they have a CCNA course (https://goo.gl/EOqzXj)
- Pluralsight has a course: https://goo.gl/sj4mNF

I agreed with the above about dumps, don't do it if you actually want to learn something and excel in the future. Even if they don't ask you questions in the interview and you get the position, when it comes time to troubleshoot or bring a production network back online, you will be up **** creak without a paddle.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot for this. I feel I'm a book and video person and I like to make the most of any materials I can get so I'll probably be using both. I have found loads of books on Loot.co.za regarding CCNA, but I'm very unsure which one to pick. I've read on a few places online that strongly recommend this book:
http://www.loot.co.za/product/wendell-odom-ccna-routing-and-switching-200-120-officia/gcnn-2578-g580

So I'll probably go for that!

Thanks to everyone for their inputs!
 
my90558 said:
So would you say just buying some books and studying up on ICND1 and ICND2 would be enough? Along with some practical practice using things like packet tracer. And then just book to write the exams when ready?
Books this and like this?
Click to expand...

pretty much

static_sa said:
Yo dude, I'm in the same boat as you. I'm going to quickly pickup my A+ and N+ just to get the basics ( even though I took IT and CAT ), then land some sort of low end pc techie job.

After that use the money to setup a mini lab (prefer having the hardware) then study for CCNA.
Click to expand...

why? its expensive, its not flexible, you have to power them, they make your room ridiculously hot,


roligov said:
Yeah I wouldn't even consider going to College or Uni, extreme waste of money for IT when you have the world at your finger tips.


I agreed with the above about dumps, don't do it if you actually want to learn something and excel in the future. Even if they don't ask you questions in the interview and you get the position, when it comes time to troubleshoot or bring a production network back online, you will be up **** creak without a paddle.
Click to expand...

Be careful on this, a uni degree makes next to no difference for the first 10 or so years, later on when you want to move to management or higher positions, you need it.

Any company that doesnt do proper tech interviews is probably not somewhere you want to work for anyways (IMO)
 
my90558 said:
Thanks a lot for this. I feel I'm a book and video person and I like to make the most of any materials I can get so I'll probably be using both. I have found loads of books on Loot.co.za regarding CCNA, but I'm very unsure which one to pick. I've read on a few places online that strongly recommend this book:
http://www.loot.co.za/product/wendell-odom-ccna-routing-and-switching-200-120-officia/gcnn-2578-g580

So I'll probably go for that!

Thanks to everyone for their inputs!
Click to expand...

I bought that off Loot.

Quality is good and its 2x hard cover books (ICND1 + 2) and some DVD's.

Also half the cost of Amazon (if you factored in shipping). I really think its under priced tbh.
 
syntax said:
Be careful on this, a uni degree makes next to no difference for the first 10 or so years, later on when you want to move to management or higher positions, you need it.

Any company that doesnt do proper tech interviews is probably not somewhere you want to work for anyways (IMO)
Click to expand...

Exactly the issue I have at this point.

10 years of exp, multiple certs behind my name (from various vendors) but no degree. It's definitely hindering my progress.
 
syntax said:
Be careful on this, a uni degree makes next to no difference for the first 10 or so years, later on when you want to move to management or higher positions, you need it.
Click to expand...
That depends on the company entirely. Where I work, it's about skill/talent OR if you kissing the right ass :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X