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Network Engineers Unite!
Krikee
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
After working at a data center for a couple years I have finally made the move to a network provider that resells bandwidth on their Tier 1 circuits to corporations to make private network interconnect between their offices around the globe. I have been toying with the idea of getting my CCNA for a while and have finally decided to go for it. Anyone have suggestions for final preparation purchases such as practice exams or something else that will help with review? I am keenly aware that Cisco is not the end-all-be-all of networking but, considering my lack of experience in the job market I see this certification as a statement of a certain level of conceptual knowledge.
Additionally, has anyone found posters or "cheat sheets" for network protocols? I have looked for a TCP/IP & PPP poster to no avail.
Slightly off topic but,
Additionally, has anyone found posters or "cheat sheets" for network protocols? I have looked for a TCP/IP & PPP poster to no avail.
Slightly off topic but,
Does that make us a Tier 1 provider? We buy dedicated pipes to connect all of our POPs so our customers traverse our network only when doing site-to-site communication.
Krikee on
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What helped me the most was getting 2-3 routers with 2-3 switches and practice configuring them via CLI. Basically i would get an idea for a 'network', white board it out with all the needed information (IPs, scopes, etc) and then implement it. Rise and repeat changing it up a little, different routing protocol, different logical layout, etc. Maybe add a new requirement, like make switch X accessible via telnet or having to add an ACL between to routers. Backup the config file via telnet and TFTP.
I'd also come up with 'broken' network design, implement it, and then troubleshoot it.
Just try to do real world stuff. There will be sim questions on the test. They are very in-depth and not just a simple "Turn on this interface." The more comfortable you are working and understanding the Cisco CLI, the better you can handle the sims (and in less time).
Oh, and know how to reset an enabled password.
Any good blogs or forums with updated new-technology information that would better my ability to find work upon completion of this exam?
Is the CCNA certification and a year or two of computer hardware repair, simple network setup and troubleshooting enough to land me a good entry-level network associate possition?
I'm afraid I don't have enough money to pay my bills and pay for school so this is all with the assumption that I don't have a bachelors degree.
Edit: Valuable information here, sorry
Where would I go about getting 2-3 routers and 2-3 switches fairly cheap. I believe I have an older cisco 12 port switch, other than that just my home network wireless router and modem.
Do you have suggestions for specific models with relevance in todays market?
XBL - Clarke Ch40s
I had started studying for my CCNA but put it on hold until I can get some hardware and room to play with it, I am looking to start studying again in 2-3 months (after I can move into an apartment). I tried doing some things with a simulator but it wasn't the same. I think sims would be more useful after I get some hands-on experience.
The only help I can give you is this- study the books hard. You need to know what the F' you are doing. You need to know why you do what you do.
You should be able to subnet in your sleep. If you can't the simlets testlets and sims will kill you. In general multi answer questions start with subnetting so if you cant do step one you are wrecked. There's 8000 methods (i draw a chart
Working on hardware is nice but you can virtualize/emulate any hardware you need. There are free and commercial ones. You should work only in command line - evey sim is command line only, but there may be some gui questions. Working command line is important and will help you understand commands better anyways.
Be prepaired for the wording that cisco will ask. Cisco press's own study guides even kinda of skirt the wording and the "how they ask" of the test questions. I can't stress enough that they have a method of asking in the 'testlets' and general questions; its designed to make you question your answers. Also drill sims. Over and over. There is no time during the second test to not know what you need to do in a sim; you will need to be like a robot on them.
I nailed both first shot. And you can too.
Wow, some serious good advice, and quick. Thanks a lot guys. I'm sure I'll ask some more questions though =]
XBL - Clarke Ch40s
While some IT certification organizations do not specifically ban braindumps, many do, including Microsoft.
But since its hard to go after the individual, it boils down to, do you want to pass the test or learn actually learn the material?
Working with people who have used braindumps is easy to identify so don't think you'll easily be able to fool an employer.
"Was cursing, in broken english at his team, and at our team. made fun of dead family members and mentioned he had sex with a dog."
"Hope he dies tbh but a ban would do."
The only help I can give you is this- study the books hard. You need to know what the F' you are doing. You need to know why you do what you do.
You need to know what the hell you are doing, but examples of questions asked are a good way to test ones knowledge.
This is what I meant.
I have test stuff from Global Knowledge, Cisco press and the site listed. The language, the "how they ask," of the Q's was not even close in the prior two.
So I pulled the site from my post if its a grey area. I had no idea at the time.
It's only a piece of paper, you have to have the knowledge to back it up.
XBL - Clarke Ch40s
No where have you mentioned what exactly you do. Ok, you worked in a data center and now a network provider. Doing what? Mopping floors? What experience do you have, what other certs do you have, what are your duties now? This is important because it frames your goals and expectations at this job and provides insight on how to proceed. Just taking a cert exam may not be the best course of action at this point in time.
Lastly, Tier 1, check the wiki for a better explanation, but basically Tier 1 are the really big boys that handle internet backbone type stuff. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tier_1_network
My home lab consists of the following:
2x 3524 w/ 1000baseT GBIC
2x 1760
1x 2501
To give you an idea, the 2501 is somewhere around 15 years old and it still supports all the routing protocols needed for the test. It's by no means something you can use outside of a lab because it's 10Mbps/half-duplex but, they just about give them away on ebay.
Sweet deal, sounds like I got some work to do.
XBL - Clarke Ch40s
XBL - Clarke Ch40s
This. Subnetting is the most basic and most vital skill you can learn. You need to be able to calculate CIDR blocks without thinking.
Also, someone mentioned a lack of a degree...don't let that bother you. I've been doing this for almost 15 years and I'm a college dropout. Experience and skill counts for WAY more than degrees or even certifications. Certs are very useful for getting a foot in the door, though, and providing the basic training for experience to build upon.
For your own Steam Signature visit https://alabasterslim.com/steam-signatures/
Guild Wars 2: Kendrik.5984
Frankly, you might be better served by buying time in an online lab. That way you have access to all the hardware you need that might be otherwise out of your price range.
Here's one I found with a quick google search:
http://www.cconlinelabs.com/index.shtml
For your own Steam Signature visit https://alabasterslim.com/steam-signatures/
Guild Wars 2: Kendrik.5984
I suggest emulation on a half decent pc rather than buy stuff though.
Otherwise, don't sweat the test. The CCNA isn't all that extensive or difficult if you take your time and don't push yourself through it, its more just knowing the Cisco way of doing basic networking.