(Part 2) Best products from r/ccna

I've had to learn about the DTA alarms ELAN errors ld 60 ld 96 ld 135 etc retrospectively, and I'm pretty sure 12 years of that should have yielded you some sort of magical powers. Because honestly, compared to that, Cisco command line is cake.

I work at a NOC as a CCNA after a recent career change from a (completely)unrelated field myself, and it seems like most of the devices I work on end up being voice equipment.

After 12 years, Cisco might seem completely foreign and daunting, but keep in mind all the voip thing is, is just trying to converge all the POTS services into the ip network. So if you go the CCNA Voice route, you've already got a head start over a lot of other newbies like myself.

Get your CCNA. It'll get your foot in the door. I believe you can go for the CCNA Voice after just the CCENT, but when you go into things like quality of service(just a fancy term for traffic prioritization), you'll want to be familiar with CCNA content and the command lines anyway.

Also, so many organizations are skeptical about voice over ip and the transition is still a long ways to go, so you won't be too late to the party.

If you'd like to just sort of check out what CCNA Voice is about, I picked up this book used for a few cents + shipping. He's very good at simplifying the concepts and explaining things clearly. You'd be surprised how much of what you've dealt with is part of CCNA Voice.

All in all, good luck in whatever you decide to do. I'm only a newbie myself, but feel free to PM about anything basic and I'll try to help the best I can! ^^^So ^^^I ^^^can ^^^also ^^^ask ^^^you ^^^about ^^^Nortel ^^^stuff.

I would recommend doing packet tracer or gns3/virl at least for the ccent part.

As for a physical lab, it depends on what your budget is really. But do you're homework first, the devil is in the details when it comes to "CCNA cert kits". It may be cheaper to purchase each device one by one via ebay rather than a kit. The 3560 is a great switch and right now ranges from around $50 - $250. So if you're patient you can probably pick them up for closer to $50 each plus whatever shipping costs there are.

Alternatives to the 3560 would be the 3750 or 2960, but the prices for those are similar to the 3560.

For routers, I would recommend either an 1841 or 1811 router. Just make sure it has 15.0 and can support it, meaning it needs at least 256MB of ram and a 64MB flash card (though you can purchase those separately if need be). They also average around $50 on ebay.

Another tip when buying, you only need to get your hands on one switch and one router that has 15.0 code on it because you can copy the IOS image to the other devices. For example, one 3560 switch with 15.0 code is a $105 on ebay, while most of the others run 12.2 but are only around $50. So pick up the one with 15.0 code then the cheaper ones with 12.x and copy the IOS over.

As for anything else you may need, a cisco console cable (but they should come with one) and just some standard network cables and a power strip. If you want to rack mount them cables and kits has a great little 12U rack here for $33 https://www.cablesandkits.com/12u-freestanding-equipment-rack-19-black-p-1119.html

Oh, don't forget your USB-Serial dongle unless you happen to have a computer with a DB9 serial port on it. Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/SIIG-JU-CB1S12-S3-USB-Serial-Adapter/dp/B000FOL6QI
and make sure it works with whatever OS you're using.

Access server, it just makes it easier so you don't have to keep moving your console cable over between each device. But honestly, just setup basic telnet/ssh access to everything and keep a base configuration in flash.

Believe it or not, the 2509 is actually cheaper than the module you're looking for.

The module that would support what you want to do is an HWIC-8A. On eBay, they range anywhere from $250-$1k. Not only that, but you would need a compatible router (basically, an 1841, 1941, or any 2800/2900/3800/3900 series ISR) as well as the appropriate cabling (CAB-HD8-ASYNC, about $20-$40 on eBay).

You might be able to use a smaller module (like an HWIC-4A/S or an HWIC-4T), but the wiring is going to be a pain (meaning, you're going to effectively be making your own cables using serial-to-RJ45 pinout adapters, then using rollover cables to connect to your devices) and the cost isn't much better than going with an HWIC-8A or 8A/S.

Why so expensive, you ask? Well, think of it from a business perspective. You're the netadmin for a medium-sized business, and after a network outage that cost the company $100K+ that was prolonged partially because you needed to drive 45 minutes to the datacenter to console into your core switch/router, you need an out-of-band management solution. The HWIC-8A/S is in pretty high demand because they allow any old ISR to suddenly be used as an access server. Furthermore, I believe it has two ports for a total of 16 connections. Throw four of those babies in your old 3825, and you have 64 individual connections you can console into. That means a single terminal server will allow you to console into the top-of-rack switches across your entire datacenter. Let's assume you want some redundancy, so you get a second terminal server to plug into the Aux ports of your network devices - you've solved a $100K+ problem for less than $1k in equipment costs.

You might be able to come up with a homebrewed solution using a physical Linux server and some USB-to-serial connectors, as described in this blogpost. However, if you need thirteen devices to have console access, and USB-to-serial converters are $10 a pop, and rollover cables are $5 a piece (maybe more, maybe less), you're getting close to access server-levels of cost anyway. So, might as well go for the "proper" solution and save yourself potential hassle in the future.

https://www.amazon.com/Study-Less-Learn-More-Complete-ebook/dp/B00EDXKECY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500947502&sr=8-1&keywords=learn+more+study+less
That book is pretty cool, it's on the topic and if you haven't already taken a free kindle unlimited trial you can read it for free. To directly answer your questions, everyone agrees pictures and diagrams are great, but not if just directly copying everything from the book. Most agree verbatim copying of anything is bad, always reword. I found some sections I just don't want to take many notes for, like subnetting. I know I'm just going to have to drill those until I can do them in super short times, therefore taking detailed notes seems pointless. In the book, the author makes the case that questions make some of the best notes. He also goes into some bits of info about the relationship between hindsight bias and short term memory, and how they can lull you into a false sense of security in not taking enough notes. The TLDR of his method in relation to notes though is: ask questions, and answer them. Include anything you think you might not already know. Avoid using the same language as the book, even though that slows you down. Definitely also write down questions even if you don't immediately know the answer.

Ok. When I started planning for CCENT I had all my ducks in a row except for labs. "Labs!", thought I, "I need more labs!!"

I found free online labs (google free cisco labs), found unprotected netacad labs by googling exact subjects (...not sure if I should... ah, shag it, here's an example) like "CCNA inter-vlan routing lab" and bought a Netacad lab companion book. I also found a bunch of free resources - but I was still stressed that I wasn't doing it structured enough. I bought Bombal's lab course on Udemy (you can also download the labs and get associated PDFs) but I was still stressed.

Then I started studying and I realized I didn't need all that stuff (it's still very helpful, don't get me wrong).

I'm using the OCG heavily, so basically when I come to next concepts, I try to create them in Packet Tracer or my home lab. I don't have 1-2-3 lab layouts to follow, but I'm still labbing each concept as I come to it. I supplement with Bombal and checking youtube for specific concepts.

If you have the OCG and Packet Tracer, I think you'll be fine - it's missing some of the commands real gear has, but it's highly helpful - and free. I haven't used GNS3, but I understand you need images of Routers and Switches in order to simulate the software, which you're not likely to have or perhaps want to deal with.

Good luck!

Oh that is an easy one to get on. My work use to do that and I developed one the best habits I say I have.

Any work that I have to hire a contractor on I watch everything they do. Like make them log into my VM's or sit over the shoulder. Run a screen capture the whole time and take really good notes. It will save you when they screw up or teach you how to do what they did. Which puts you on the road to get their wage or at least learn how to not have to call them. If you don't have a notebook get one. I use a military one (not super cheap but it holds up super well) http://www.amazon.com/Military-Book-Record-Memorandum-7530-00-222-3521/dp/B0064M7X30

Approach your management and layout that you want to learn what the contracting company is doing and that with a few short sessions you can probably resolve the bulk majority of what they are doing. Your wage to your company is what 15-25 an hour, that contracting company is probably making 100+/hr of work with a minimum of an hour charged no matter how basic the task is.

Help Desk as in Tier 1 B.S. is a hard place to get out off and it is hard to market yourself to other companies to take a risk on you and let you be that T2/T3 guy.

Last thing. NETWORK like mad... And I don't mean network as in cisco. Get to know the players around your area. Each area is actually pretty small and the community is well connected. Get your name out there that you want to take the next step and you will get a call instead of applying. I have gotten more big pay jobs off meeting for a lunch than I have applying for a posted position. Which comes this question. What City are you in?

When I am hiring NOC and junior admins, I want them to know how to do the following:

1. How to console into a Cisco device.
   
2. How to password recover a Cisco device.
   
3. How to upgrade the flash and DRAM on a Cisco device.
   
4. How to set up a tftp server.
   
5. How to upgrade the IOS on a Cisco device.
   
   I'm also going to keep harping on this - you have to people network to find a great job. It's not just how much experience you have, it's who you know and who knows you.
   
   
6. Get on LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com) and start people networking. I'm not going to explain LinkedIn to you, there is plenty of information out there.
   
   
7. Go to your local Cisco Users Group.
   
   
8. Go to your local chamber of commerce meetings, or if you are lucky, they may also have a technology council that will have meetings.
   
   
9. Make your own business cards and become your own consultant. Be an "IT Consultant" for "<Your Name> Computer Services" or something more ingenious than what I can think of off hand. VistaPrint is your friend, and don't get the free ones, they make you look cheap when you want to look professional. Hand them out at the Cisco Users Group.
   
   
10. Read books on how to find a job and how to sell (yourself.) Read this book - Guerilla Marketing for Job Hunters - http://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Marketing-Job-Hunters-3-0/dp/1118019091/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323786299&sr=1-2
    
    
11. Read this other book - Little Red Book of Sales Answers: 99.5 Real World Answers That Make Sense, Make Sales, and Make Money - http://www.amazon.com/Little-Red-Book-Sales-Answers/dp/0131735365/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323129165&sr=8-1
    
    
12. Check your local chamber of commerce web site and start researching companies in your area. Once you find a few that you would like to work for, contact the CIO / CTO of the company and ask to do an informational interview because you want to know what it's like to work in IT for a company. If you don't know what an informational interview is, Google it.
    
    You do all this and more, chances are you will find an internship or a job. I paid for half of my college via summer internships and when I got out of college I immediately got a net eng position because I had a degree and experience.

Get a couple routers. The 1841s are pretty good for a CCNA lab and should grow enough for the NP with ease. Couple switches as well, I'd splurge for an L3 here so it will grow as well. If you're still under budget pick up a terminal server as it will save you incredible amounts of time hopping from console to console.

Shoot Gary at CCCMN (garyz@cccmn.com) they have excellent prices and service, or Stan at Myriad Supply (steplitz@myriadsupply.com) a huge wholeseller out of NYC with good pricing and service as well an email.

*edited because grammar and bad links

Not trying to come off as a dick, but it is more than remembering commands in a list. There is a Cisco Press book dedicated just to CCNA commands if that is all you want to know.

Knowing what the show commands display (in detail) is just as important, try to focus on not using the "show run" command when building/troubleshooting your labs. Someone once said on here and I am quoting it badly that the exam is about "demonstrating your ability to display the info".

When doing a lab, I place the topology into OneNote along with the configs. From each device's perspective, I tend to paste the appropriate show commands nearby for later reference. It really helps me nail down exactly what I am being shown and identify all the ways to display what I need to know when asked.

Taking that list and moving it to flash cards would also be beneficial. Good luck in your studies.

here is my 2c

it is crucial that you understand subnet masking as it's like 70% of ipv4 networking and unfortunately the first thing you need to wrap your brain around as you will be working with VLSM in most networking labs/scenarios. download this pdf and just start plugging along..

Sormcontrol.net is a nice online tool to help with learning subnets.


once you finish that workbook and feel comfortable with variable length subnets, start working on these problems in your spare time and at your own pace. your goal should be to solve any single subnetting problem within 30 seconds.


now that you understand a bit of subnetting, you need to begin learning the OSI-model, focus mainly on the layers 1 (sending bits across a medium), 2 (mac address switching) ,3 (ip routing), and 4 (tcp, udp, and icmp ports). here are two of my favorite beginners books to networking.
Microsoft Windows Networking Essentials, &
Cisco Introduction to Networks V6


Once you've read those books you should be ready to learn routing and switching. Focus your attention here to static routing, dhcp, nat, basic ACLs, and to understanding switchports and vlan related things like trunking and routing on a stick.

Next book you want to read is going to be on dynamic routing and scaling networks for large environments.This is where you delve into dynamic routing protocols (RIP, EIGRP, OSPF) and redundancy/failover protocols such as spanning-tree, etherchannel, and HSRP.


This is a nice book to read along the way and to sort of tie all of the knowledge you've learned so far together into short succinct chapters.

Download GNS3 or Packet Tracer if you want to simulate networks and labs at your desktop. You can learn a lot about the concepts and protocols presented in the books by searching on youtube things like "GNS3 dhcp" or "Packet Tracer dhcp".

I don't know about CBT nuggets, but just focus on what I've linked you and if you are going to follow anything online, the topic of routing and switching is the way to go as it is fundamental. Study like you are trying to pass the CCENT exam and then study for the CCNA exam.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1587144808/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1506654593&sr=8-1-fkmr0&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=ccna+security+ngfw

this one? it looks really good and focuses on ftd.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1587144468/ref=pd_aw_fbt_14_img_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=62KF8BSHKM330M6HWRJB

this one is the one i have been thinking of getting to compliment the original santos OCG 210-260 book for ccnas, based on the reviews that it helps with ccnas exam.

For note, OCG = Official Certification Guide from Cisco. (Links below are just Amazon links, no affiliate or whatever)

The Odom and Lammle books are the best

Wendell Odom - Cisco CCENT/CCNA Official Cert Guide


Tod Lammle - ICND1/ICND2/CCNA Study Guides (Lighthouse on the cover)


Can;t go wrong with those. Also, Udemy routinely has some solid CCENT/CCNA courses on sale for $11 or so, plus plenty of free cybrary.it and youtube info, not to mention Cisco provided free info from their NetAcad and other Cisco learning services.

As Epic has already stated the best book is Lammle, but I also like Odom's ICND1 & Odom's ICND2 as well. I would also suggest doing ITProTV or Chris Bryant for training videos.

Bryant lacks any lab documents, but you can download packet tracer and just pause the video and screenshot anything you need to do the labs.
If you spring for the high plan from ITPro you get access to labs and practice tests. I would skip the practice tests and spend the money on Boson ICND1/Boson ICND1&2

Have you tried a screenreader with an ebook? I've had students where it has helped, but others where it didn't. I'm just spitballing here.

It looks like there's an ebook version available for Kindle with text-to-speech enabled. I don't know how helpful it would be, but if it helps you follow along then it may be worth it.

First take this as a learning experience. I failed it with that same score last month and past it this month. I would skip the dummies book because it is not really full of good information and get the this book Todd CCENT

Give yourself another month and have at it.

Happy birthday good sir.

Thank you for the detailed advice. I believe I've found the book that you mentioned on Amazon, though it was published in 2008. Should this suffice or would something more recent be better?

This is the book that I recommend to everyone. Its better than the cert guides IMO because it focuses on the foundations to teach you rather just teach you to pass the cert.

http://www.amazon.com/Routing-Switching-Foundation-Learning-Official/dp/158714378X

This book and a Windows computer I could play around with. Took me.... well, about a month to start doing it proficiently!

Just throwing in that I've found the CCNA portable command guide book extremely helpful for learning the CLI.

The new ones haven't released yet.

https://www.amazon.com/Routing-Switching-Complete-Deluxe-Study/dp/1119288312/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1473464703&sr=8-2&keywords=lammle+ccna+200-125

But I most definitely will once it comes out, especially since my job reimburses me for all study materials.

Honestly, I would get your hands on the CCNA Routing and Switching portable command guide, if you need a physical reference, most of the commands and stuff you can do are public knowledge even without that.

If you have not already, look into GNS3 and setup some virtual routers there, if you want to play around with routing protocols, they have not yet released their virtual switching, but there is only so much you can do with one router. There is a laundry list of labs you can do from: Free CCNA Lab Workbook to get the basics down.

https://www.boson.com/netsim-cisco-network-simulator

The All-In-One: https://www.amazon.com/Routing-Switching-200-125-Official-Library/dp/1587205815

Or

Separate: https://www.amazon.com/CCENT-ICND1-100-105-Official-Guide/dp/1587205807

https://www.amazon.com/Routing-Switching-ICND2-200-105-Official/dp/1587205793

31 Days Before (Refresher): https://www.amazon.com/Days-Before-Your-Routing-Switching/dp/1587205904

Udemy - Chris Bryant: https://www.udemy.com/ccna-on-demand-video-boot-camp/

I heard Stormwind Studios has a nice course. I haven’t looked up the price.

Yup, get yourself packet tracer. I also recommend the CCNA command guide for studying. SO MANY LABS!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Routing-Switching-Portable-Command-100-105/dp/1587205882/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475319461&sr=8-1keywords=CCNA+Routing+and+Switching+Portable+Command+Guide+%28ICND1+100-105%2C+ICND2+200-105%2C+and+CCNA+200-125%29

Also if you buy the OCG (Official Cert Guide), there are companion books that you can get also, the companion guides reference workbooks. The workbooks have labs and such written out that you can do in Packet Tracer / GNS3 / VIRL / Physical.

Here are Amazon links to all of the official Cisco books for CCENT (ICND-1):

• OCG 100-105
  
• Introduction to Networks v6
  
• Introduction to Networks v5.1 Lab Manual
  
• Routing and Switching Essentials v6
  
• Routing and Switching Essentials - Labs & Study Guide
  

Weird, I just bought those books from amazon. They also had an ebook as well.

https://www.amazon.com/CCENT-ICND1-100-105-Official-Guide-ebook/dp/B01FXXZE3G/ref=mt_kindle?_encoding=UTF8&me=

TRENDnet TU-S9 USB to Serial Converter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007T27H8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_s5wuxb8XTQ24G

I have a couple of these that work just fine.

I've test with 2 USB to serial adapters This and This. OP of the article uses This 4 to 1 cable but I personally thought it was a bit expensive.

I have the rasp pi 2. It should work with all versions though.

I haven't tested with a usb hub just yet. But I can and will. I don't see why you would need a powered one though.


wifi adapter

How are the practice exams that are included with his books? Ive taken the prep classes for ICND1 through my community college and was planning on picking up this book to run through as a refresher before i take the exam.

I bought the below book during my studies.

CCNA Routing and Switching Portable Command Guide (ICND1 100-105, ICND2 200-105, and CCNA 200-125) (4th Edition) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1587205882/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_kxiHAb5ZDVK8F

As far as books go, they don’t cost $750 I think you were looking at a kit or a combination of things that has books maybe and simulators. The books cost if I remember correctly $24 to $30 each.

CCENT/CCNA ICND1 100-105 Official Cert Guide https://www.amazon.com/dp/1587205807/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_MRv7Ab1WQ22CS

CCNA Routing and Switching ICND2 200-105 Official Cert Guide https://www.amazon.com/dp/1587205793/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_8Rv7AbZF8A1A5

These two books for the ICND 1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CCENT-CCNA-100-105-Official-Guide-x/dp/1587205807/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483461592&sr=8-1&keywords=icnd+1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CCENT-ICND1-Study-Guide-100-105-ebook/dp/B01I5WZ6L2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1483461592&sr=8-2&keywords=icnd+1

These two books for the ICND 2:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Routing-Switching-ICND2-200-105-Official-x/dp/1587205793/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483461669&sr=8-1&keywords=icnd+2

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CCNA-ICND2-Study-Guide-200-105/dp/1119290988/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching 200-120 Official Cert Guide Library AND CCNA Routing and Switching Portable Command Guide (3rd Edition)



NOTE I do not have a CCNA yet, however this is what I am going to be using to study for it.

http://www.amazon.com/Routing-Switching-Portable-Command-Edition/dp/1587204304/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407010778&sr=8-1&keywords=ccna+portable+command+guide

CCNA Routing and Switching COMPLETE DELUXE STUDY GUIDE Second Edition

Todd Lammle

ISBN: 978-1-119-28831-2

This is from 2016.

http://www.amazon.com/Routing-Switching-Complete-Deluxe-Study/dp/1119288312/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463673195&sr=1-3&keywords=todd+lammle+ccna+2016 found it , but says it's unavailable

The Official Cert Guide from Cisco is written by Odom. That's the dry one.

This is the Lammle book : CCNA Routing and Switching