Reddit mentions of CCENT / CCNA ICND1 640-822 Official Cert Guide

If you really want in-depth knowledge, I would go with TCP/IP Illustrated. It has recently been updated and pretty much covers the gamut of all things networking.

If that looks a little too daunting, you can go with a CCENT book (Lammle and Odom tend to be the best writers, IMO). It does cover Cisco products, but the concepts in it are primarily vendor neutral. Hope that helps.

Depends what you want to do.

A CCNA is a networking certification which will involve building a solid understanding of all fundamentals (and even some trickier areas) of networking only. Computer science is the study of how computers are used in the world around you, and networking is really just one small piece of that.

If you'd like to start a career in systems administration and networking, go get yourself the CCNA and then a Microsoft cert that interests you. Buy the CCNA books here: http://www.amazon.com/CCENT-ICND1-640-822-Official-Edition/dp/1587204258/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1XTT3GRD3TCRMTQQTV3N

DO THE LABS AND TESTS!

You can also sign up for CCNA classes at any on-line class from any community college. This shouldn't take you more than a few months. If you're going super slow, maybe 6 months.

After you've got that down, look into the Microsoft side of things here:
https://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/certification-overview.aspx
The new MCSE will get you far and I highly recommend digging into ANYTHING you can that's cloud and virtualization related, because 10 years from now everything helpdesk level is going to be handled my machines.

If you want to do actual computer science, there are great careers to be had but you should consider what you want to do with a computer science degree before you jump down that path. Check out the curriculums at local colleges to see what interests you. Here's the spring semester at U-Mass Amherst for example:
https://www.cs.umass.edu/ugrad-education/spring-15-course-schedule

Good luck!

The first half of Wendell Odom's CCENT/CCNA ICND1 640-822 guide book will give you all the information you'll ever need. It's pitched towards aspiring network engineers rather than AV guys, but I think it's all the better for that.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1587204258/ref=pd_aw_sim_14_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=8FSC1SJ4M2R6NNEXZFPS&dpPl=1&dpID=51l9hFm8Y1L

Which book did you use? I'm using:

CCENT/CCNA ICND1 640-822

ME/EE background. The problem solving is the most important part. My strongest advice to you, which would be very echoed by this subreddit if you look at previous posts of people trying to get into networking, is to study for the CCENT. It's the fundamentals of networking (beyond the fundamentals really, it's gets into the nitty gritty on a few things)

book

HOWEVER, Be aware that the CCNA test is changing in September. This CCENT book will be out of date by that time. If you have no interest in getting certified, this book is still fantastic for the fundamentals of networking.

Alright. I grabbed this book (Link) and it seems to come with a network simulator on the training DVD. As for experience with networking I don't have too much professional experience but I have lots of experience working with ISPs and telecomms as tech support and sales so I know more than average about most networking equipment and troubleshooting as is, and a gentleman I spoke to up at the test center says that the experience from those positions is definitely an advantage. I was going to go for an A+ certification but then I learned that they make next to nothing and that networking sounds a whole lot more fun. I know I love to troubleshoot and fix my own network connectivity issues and have been able to tell my ISP where the problem was occurring on their network when calling in. Hopefully our city will be hiring soon and I can get a position there. There's a motion on the table right now to have the whole downtown area networked with wifi by 2015 so hopefully that's good.

A lot of people:
-Buy the Wendell Odom book CCENT/CCNA(http://www.amazon.com/CCENT-ICND1-640-822-Official-Edition/dp/1587204258)
-Use CBNuggets on youtube for help and explanations
-Use the program called packet tracer to work on labs

or
-Go through a two-week bootcamp that's crazy cramming


Best choice is the first option