Got my CCNA...finally

[mtnbkr]

After putting it off for years (long enough for them to drop IPX), I finally got around to taking the CCNA.  It was brutal, but I passed.  I finished with 10 minutes to spare.  What killed my time were the simulators.  I got four of those almost back to back.  What made it hard for me is that I don't work with any Cisco gear on a regular basis.  I haven't even logged into a Cisco router related to work in over 3 years.  Now I'm going to put away the Cisco books and resume preparing for the CISSP...

Chris

[280plus]

Well a big congrats to you! (even though I have no idea what you're talking about)

[BrokenPaw]

Congratulations!

Wow, they dropped IPX?  That was the main reason I wasn't bothering to spend the time on the thing.  Everything else in there is stuff I more or less do on a daily basis.  I might have to go look into certification again.

-BP

[client32]

Congrats.

I posted this on one of the troll threads, but since you are looking into the security stuff, here is a plug for what I did:  http://www.infosec.jmu.edu

You get a couple (maybe 5 by now) different certifications.

How badly did you need the course to get the test passed?

[mtnbkr]

Thanks!

280, it's an IT/Networking related certification.  CCNA=Cisco Certified Network Associate.  

BP, they dropped IPX, but there's more switching than I recall from 7+ years ago.  While I didn't get any ISDN related questions, ISDN is still part of the exam for now.

Either way, this is a much harder test than it was years ago.  Used to be, you could read a couple books and pass the exam without ever touching hardware.  I've heard stories about CCNAs who had never configured a router.  

I'm debating whether or not I want to pursue the CCNP.  I probably will, but not until I get the CISSP out of the way.  That one is more in line with my long term career goals.

Chris

[mtnbkr]

Congrats.
I posted this on one of the troll threads, but since you are looking into the security stuff, here is a plug for what I did:  http://www.infosec.jmu.edu
You get a couple (maybe 5 by now) different certifications.
How badly did you need the course to get the test passed?

I remember that.

The class helped a lot.  Some of that stuff is just hard to grasp straight from a book.  In addition to the class, I spent the last week going back through my course materials AND spend all day Sunday running through exam simulators.  

Chris

[Guest]

Congrats!

PM will be sent thru THR

Steve