Exam Cram Ccna - Softcover

Whitaker, Andrew; Valentine, Michael

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0789735024 ISBN 13: 9780789735027

Publisher: Que Pub, 2005

Synopsis

The CCNA Exam Cram 2, Second Edition is a concise, comprehensive study aid that is perfect for anyone preparing for the CCNA exam. Some changes to the exam are expected in late 2005, and this updated edition to the popular Exam Cram will keep you up to date. This newest edition continues to provide you with specific, targeted explanations of the concepts and commands that you will find on the actual CCNA exam.

 

You will be able to focus on exam objectives, without having to first wade through lots of extra information that you don't need for the test. You will also be able to gain specific skills to improve your testing ability, not only in CCNA knowledge, but with proven test-taking strategies designed to improve your score. The CCNA Exam Cram 2, Second Edition's focus on objectives, exam alerts, and strategies will give you some of the best study preparation material available. It truly is "The Smartest Way to Get Certified!"

About this title

About the Author

Mike Valentine and Andrew Whitaker both have CCNA and CCNP certifications, plus other certifications from Cisco and Microsoft. They are both trainers at The Training Camp, a large, well-known boot camp for IT certification training. Mike is a network consultant and contractor with The Training Camp responsible for the development and delivery of accelerated training for CCNA, CCDA, and CCNP courses. Andrew teaches CCNA/DA/NP, CEH, and A+/Net+ boot camps and develops curriculum for Cisco and Comptia courses.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

Introduction

Welcome to CCNA Exam Cram! Whether this is your first or your fifteenth Exam Cram series book, you'll find information here that will help ensure your success as you pursue knowledge, experience, and certification. This introduction explains Cisco's certification programs in general and talks about how the Exam Cram series can help you prepare for Cisco's CCNA Exams, whether you choose the dual- or single-exam path. The materials in this book have been prepared with a very clear focus on testable concepts, configurations, and skills. As much extraneous material as possible, beyond what is needed for background comprehension, has been eliminated so that the book is a distillation of the necessary knowledge to take—and pass—the Cisco CCNA exam(s). The two sample tests with answer keys (Chapters 13–16) at the end of the book should give you a reasonably accurate assessment of your knowledge. We have also included challenge labs to give you the critical hands-on practice you will need to master the simulator questions on the CCNA exam(s). Read the book, understand the material, practice the labs, and you'll stand a very good chance of passing the test.

Exam Cram books help you understand and appreciate the subjects and materials you need to pass Cisco certification exams. Exam Cram 2 books are aimed strictly at test preparation and review. They do not teach you everything you need to know about a topic. Instead, we present and dissect the topics and key points we've found that you're likely to encounter on a test. We've worked to bring together as much accurate information as possible about the latest CCNA exams.

Nevertheless, to completely prepare yourself for any Cisco test, we recommend that you begin by taking the Self-Assessment that is included in this book, immediately following this introduction. The Self-Assessment tool will help you evaluate your knowledge base against the requirements for a CCNA under both ideal and real circumstances.

Based on what you learn from the Self-Assessment, you might decide to begin your studies with some classroom training, some practice with the Cisco IOS, or some background reading. On the other hand, you might decide to pick up and read one of the many study guides available from Cisco or third-party vendors on certain topics, including the CCNA Exam Prep from Que Publishing. We also recommend that you supplement your study program with visits to http://www.examcram2.com to receive additional practice questions, get advice, and track the CCNA program.

We also strongly recommend that you practice configuring the Cisco devices that you'll be tested on because nothing beats hands-on experience and familiarity when it comes to understanding the questions you're likely to encounter on a certification test. Book learning is essential, but without a doubt, hands-on experience is the best teacher of all! This book includes a CD with a router and switch simulator and lab challenges that you can use to practice your skills.

Taking a Certification Exam

After you've prepared for your exam, you need to register with a testing center. The CCNA exam can be taken in either one or two steps: The single-exam option is the 640-801 exam, and costs $125. The two-exam option requires you to take both the 640-821 INTRO and 640-811 ICND exams, at a cost of $100 each. In the United States and Canada, tests are administered by Prometric and by VUE. Here's how you can contact them:

• Prometric—You can sign up for a test through the company's website, at http://www.prometric.com. Within the United States and Canada, you can register by phone at 800-755-3926. If you live outside this region, you should check the Prometric website for the appropriate phone number.

• VUE—You can sign up for a test or get the phone numbers for local testing centers through the Web at http://www.vue.com/ms.

To sign up for a test, you must possess a valid credit card or contact either Prometric or VUE for mailing instructions to send a check (in the United States). Only when payment is verified or your check has cleared can you actually register for the test.

To schedule an exam, you need to call the number or visit either of the web pages at least one day in advance. To cancel or reschedule an exam, you must call before 7 p.m. Pacific standard time the day before the scheduled test time (or you might be charged, even if you don't show up to take the test). When you want to schedule a test, you should have the following information ready:

• Your name, organization, and mailing address

• Your Cisco test ID

• The name and number of the exam you want to take

• A method of payment (As mentioned previously, a credit card is the most convenient method, but alternative means can be arranged in advance, if necessary.)

After you sign up for a test, you are told when and where the test is scheduled. You should try to arrive at least 15 minutes early. You must supply two forms of identification—one of which must be a photo ID—and sign a nondisclosure agreement to be admitted into the testing room.

All Cisco exams are completely closed book. In fact, you are not permitted to take anything with you into the testing area, but you are given a blank sheet of paper and a pen (or in some cases, an erasable plastic sheet and an erasable pen). We suggest that you immediately write down on that sheet of paper all the information you've memorized for the test. In Exam Cram 2 books, this information appears on a tear-out sheet inside the front cover of each book. You are given some time to compose yourself, record this information, and take a sample orientation exam before you begin the real thing. We suggest that you take the orientation test before taking your first exam, but because all the certification exams are more or less identical in layout, behavior, and controls, you probably don't need to do this more than once.

When you complete a Cisco certification exam, the software tells you immediately whether you've passed or failed. If you need to retake an exam, you have to schedule a new test with Prometric or VUE and pay another $100 or $125.

Note - If you fail a Cisco test, you must wait five full days before you can take it again. For example, if you failed on Tuesday, you would have to wait until Monday to take it again.

Tracking Your Certification Status

As soon as you pass the Cisco CCNA single exam, or both the INTRO and ICND CCNA test, you are a CCNA. Cisco generates transcripts that indicate which exams you have passed. You can view a copy of your transcript at any time by going to the Cisco website and going to the certifications tracking tool. This tool enables you to print a copy of your current transcript and confirm your certification status.

After you pass the necessary set of exams, you are certified. Official certification is normally granted after three to six weeks, so you shouldn't expect to get your credentials overnight. The package for official certification that arrives includes

• A certificate that is suitable for framing, along with a wallet card.

• A license to use the applicable logo, which means that you can use the logo in advertisements, promotions, and documents, as well as on letterhead, business cards, and so on. Along with the license comes information on how to legally and appropriately use the logos.

Many people believe that the benefits of Cisco certification are among the most powerful in the industry. We're starting to see more job listings that request or require applicants to have CCNA, CCDA, CCNP, and other certifications, and many individuals who complete Cisco certification programs can qualify for increases in pay and/or responsibility. As an official ...

Edition details

• Publisher: Que Pub
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0789735024
• ISBN 13: 9780789735027
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 396