CCNA certification...
Discussion
Depends on whether you'll get to use it, really.
If you work in a company with a big and complex Cisco-based network, and your job involves making changes to things, adding new switches, diagnosing problems, etc then it'll probably be useful.
If you've only got a handful of switches/routers and little changing day-to-day (or potential for network problems) then you'll probably forget the course content as quickly as you learned it.
If you work in a company with a big and complex Cisco-based network, and your job involves making changes to things, adding new switches, diagnosing problems, etc then it'll probably be useful.
If you've only got a handful of switches/routers and little changing day-to-day (or potential for network problems) then you'll probably forget the course content as quickly as you learned it.
Hmm, just been on the first course of the two required for CCNA, have to say, (for once) quite impressed with the detail needed for the exam, Cisco certifications seem to hold more weight than many others out there.
Will probably do the exam at some point, need to wait till I've done the second course, then will probably give it a couple of months and have a go.
Martin
Will probably do the exam at some point, need to wait till I've done the second course, then will probably give it a couple of months and have a go.
Martin
Its one of those things, like the MCSE, that won't get you anywhere specific, but if you don't have it then it will prevent you. e.g. I have 4 years B.Sc.(Hons) and 10 years experience but am barred from various jobs I can do with my eyes shut because I can't afford to do the MS and Cisco certs.
m12 nathan is completely correct.....
I'm slightly further up the Cisco road, although I'm more involved with Juniper these days..
Basically if you work in any kind of IT it will be useful as it will give you an insight into what is happening on the network which will help you even if you are a developer etc (there are so many problems caused by other areas of IT just not knowing about the network at all...)
If you want to work in networks it's the first step in getting yourself up to scratch.
I would say that if you already know anything about networks then you should be able to get it in 1-2 weeks by reading the book. It has to be said that the exam is very easy....
CCNP is a bit harder, but not very, the design exams are easy, the specialist exams a little harder, ccie written is fairly easy and the lab is the hardest thing you will ever do !
I'm slightly further up the Cisco road, although I'm more involved with Juniper these days..
Basically if you work in any kind of IT it will be useful as it will give you an insight into what is happening on the network which will help you even if you are a developer etc (there are so many problems caused by other areas of IT just not knowing about the network at all...)
If you want to work in networks it's the first step in getting yourself up to scratch.
I would say that if you already know anything about networks then you should be able to get it in 1-2 weeks by reading the book. It has to be said that the exam is very easy....
CCNP is a bit harder, but not very, the design exams are easy, the specialist exams a little harder, ccie written is fairly easy and the lab is the hardest thing you will ever do !
Zad said:
Its one of those things, like the MCSE, that won't get you anywhere specific, but if you don't have it then it will prevent you. e.g. I have 4 years B.Sc.(Hons) and 10 years experience but am barred from various jobs I can do with my eyes shut because I can't afford to do the MS and Cisco certs.
You don't want to work anywhere that requires such nonsense.
I've met some highly certified MS types who couldn't tell you which way was up.
The book you need is the Sybex CCNA book (on Amazon). You can book the exams at a Sylvan Prometric centre, I think they're about £100-£150 ish.
If you a new to networking I'd say some knowledge of Operating systems networking (MCSE, maybe some basic UNIX) would be helpful to start with. Also I'd say that you need to learn about basic TCP/IP, so IP addressing, subnetting, DNS, DHCP etc. If you don't have this talking about layer 2, or routing protocols etc will be meaningless.
I have to say though that CCNA is all about IP networking without reference to windows etc, so MCSE and CCNA are not interchangable. Most reasonable sized companies will require CCNA as a basic before letting you into their network team, and although it is a very good sylabus it is very much beginner level, and will not qualify you to configure routing protocols or anything major in an enterprise environment......
Have fun !
If you a new to networking I'd say some knowledge of Operating systems networking (MCSE, maybe some basic UNIX) would be helpful to start with. Also I'd say that you need to learn about basic TCP/IP, so IP addressing, subnetting, DNS, DHCP etc. If you don't have this talking about layer 2, or routing protocols etc will be meaningless.
I have to say though that CCNA is all about IP networking without reference to windows etc, so MCSE and CCNA are not interchangable. Most reasonable sized companies will require CCNA as a basic before letting you into their network team, and although it is a very good sylabus it is very much beginner level, and will not qualify you to configure routing protocols or anything major in an enterprise environment......
Have fun !
m12_nathan said:
Cisco CCNA = a £20 exam note book, 5 nights studying and £100 for the exam, if you have any experience of networking and IP stacks it is a piece of piss.
Of course if you know anything about it, it will be a piece of piss.. Talk about stating the obvious. I didn't need to know if it was easy, or a peice of piss for the experienced types, merely if it was a worthwhile certificate.
Edited by Andy Mac on Friday 10th November 14:05
Nathan is correct again.
If you are a network proffesional that works with Cisco kit (which is fairly ubiquitous in the enterprise) then CCNA is pretty necessary unless you have good experience that shows you don't need the badge - although in this case you should find CCNA easy. It is an entry level certification but is definately very useful for anyone that works in IT who wants a basic understanding of what is happening in a network (imho very useful whatever your discipline, as every app you write will need to be delivered across a network at some point...)
If you are a network proffesional that works with Cisco kit (which is fairly ubiquitous in the enterprise) then CCNA is pretty necessary unless you have good experience that shows you don't need the badge - although in this case you should find CCNA easy. It is an entry level certification but is definately very useful for anyone that works in IT who wants a basic understanding of what is happening in a network (imho very useful whatever your discipline, as every app you write will need to be delivered across a network at some point...)
It's one of those things I'm supposed to have done already but never get round to. Like has already been said - if you can sit down and study for a couple of weeks (which i can't seem to do) then it should be passable. I know i could do it with a little effort on my part. However the exam itself isn't that easy (all relative though i suppose). One of the guys i work with passed in 2000 and re-certified recently and found it much tougher than previous (the pass mark is 85%, not %70 as before). Also Cisco like to word they're questions in such a way as to catch you out - a CCIE i know got loads of test questions wrong when he looked at some Boson questions i was practising, and he was shit hot.
If i want to change job/company then it's definately something i'll need as i probably wouldn't get looked at if not, even though i do my job perfectly well now (1st/2nd line support for huge enterprise network). So yes, worth having on your CV i suppose..
Cheers, Johnny.
If i want to change job/company then it's definately something i'll need as i probably wouldn't get looked at if not, even though i do my job perfectly well now (1st/2nd line support for huge enterprise network). So yes, worth having on your CV i suppose..
Cheers, Johnny.
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