# Personal Reflections upon the Cisco Certified Network Associate Examination.

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### Hello You

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Norman Peden, and I have recently attained CCNA status. This document is a statement about the methods of research I concerned myself with, the materials and where to find them, and ultimately, my feelings towards the exam itself. I make no apologies for the decisions I made, and the actions I took. I can only hope that these reflections instill a spark of hope in those who have never touched upon the subject before, and encourage those who are capable to make that final unenviable leap towards booking, taking and - yes - passing that exam, because, believe you me, CCNA is the first step on a road to glory, to CCIE status: the way to San Jose. Tony Bennett may have left his heart in San Francisco, but I urge you all now, fellow engineers, to place San Francisco firmly in your hearts, as I have. Thank you for sharing my thoughts.

### Golden Gate?

Bizarre as it may seem to you, as it seems even to me now, when I first became employed with my present company, I had never even heard the word Cisco before. My first introduction to the California-based company came shortly after setting up the office network - our first task as the Manchester Operations team - in the form of a Catalyst 1900 switch. Since then I have seen many types of their equipment - 7500 series routers, Lightstream ATM switches, access servers. Now we have access to a training laboratory, which I will admit having a hand in setting up, consisting of six 2500 series routers spread accross two sites.

It was with the introduction into the mix of a CD-ROM containing the ICRC and ACRC CBT courses that I was initially acquainted with the Cisco IOS. Starting with a rundown of the OSI and DoD reference models (as most introductory networking courses do) felt somewhat like a revisionary exercise for me - I had studied at length the OSI reference model (and to a lesser extent the TCP/IP protocol suite) whilst at the University of Manchester. Once I had reached the sections on configuration basics did I begin to understand the impact Cisco would make on our jobs and my own personal future as a network engineer, and the impact it had already made on the internetworking communities out there (who would shortly be arriving in here).

Without any industrial knowledge or experience, it was hard for me at first to envisage how the pieces of this technological jigsaw fitted together - especially the telecommunications side - but, as the human eye adjusts to the sudden lighting of a darkened room, I began to view the parts to which I had been exposed as a whole: in short, it all started to make sense. This is an important thing to realise - it will all make sense eventually. The next section of these musings will try to explain how I became enlightened - made the transition from clueless to clued up - and hopefully will give you some insight into how you can attain your own state of illumination.

### What to Study

As I mentioned above, the first study material I came across was the interactive CBT Systems ICRC/ACRC course. I concede at this point, that I would have been better prepared for my actual job at this stage, if I had discovered the joyeous experience that is whatis.com, which serves as a very good beginning for anyone who is new to our line of work - and given the unique nature of our company, I believe this applied to all of us when we started. I know, I know: back to the the CBT stuff Peden - and hurry. Let me just say finally that the 'whatis' website provides a fairly gentle overview of many of the important topics that a CCNA-wannabe will come across.

I found the CBT System CD-ROM to be an excellent introduction to the world of Cisco and internetworking in general. It's graphical side helps clarify the informatory side - which could otherwise slip into the realms of meaninglessness - and each section begins simply enough, forming an ideal foundation for the tower of knowledge the advanced portions are attempting to erect. Others may find the advanced sections a trifle 'hairy': let them wash over you - anything you retain from the ACRC setions is purely bonus.

One criticism I could possibly pick out is that the whole CBT course did not really go into certain aspects of router configuration that the CCNA exam requires. However, the router-simulation aspects of the course are ideal for those without access to a training lab. Yes, I know we have one now, but we didn't when I started, ok. And besides, what if you want to study at home? Eh?

The next stage of my training began with a weeklong sojourn in Salford Quays, attending the ICRC course from Horizon Technical Services. This would have been a vastly more enjoyable experience had it not been for the instructor. The problem I had with his methods was that he confused people with insignificant detail, and would not admit a mistake to the extent that if all else failed he would simply be 'testing us'.

However the course did give us the chance to involve ourselves with real routers, and did fill in some of the gaps I had found with the CBT Systems CD-ROM, and despite The instructor, I did find the course to be extremely enjoyable (although my Friday lunchtime pint was cruelly and unnecessarily interupted) and the dinners were boss. However, now that we have the course material and our own routers, i would not consider it necessary to go on the course - not unless you are completely swamped by the material.

When we booked the course, we received a copy of the official Cisco training CD-ROM. I must say that this is an excellent source of knowledge, although it is presently rather plainly and the technical detail is intricate and intense (and more than you require) although again, let it wash over you and retain as much as you can. The CD-ROM complements the course, the course gives you a sense of overview and practical experience and the CD-ROM fills in some of the blanks. Let me warn thee, however, you can get very bored with the CD-ROM's monotonous style and the bored american lady's voice, who keeps mentioning 'Cisco rowters'.

I am forced to point out from the start that I never did purchase a copy of this book. I must there for thank Mr. Kevin Richardson, whose copy I half-arsedly read on night-shifts and a couple of weekends, and Mr. Gary Watson, whose copy I studied arduously in the (dis)comfort of my own home (and of course on night-shifts and a couply of weekends). I found this book very useful in putting together the final pieces leading up to the exam. It systematically covers the essential material necessary and without it I do not think I would have passed the exam. However, the same could be said about the rest of my learning experience. Perhaps even going to university taught me something.

The main advantage the book has, is that the 'Test Yourself' program on the CD goes through (albeit on a chapter-by-chapter basis) questions that are very similar in nature to the questions that I did face in the exam. However, I have never had I problem with IP addressing, so I made no use of any of the other programs supplied with the CD-ROM. Maybe they are useful, I just can not say.

Get to the point Peden, I hear you cry. Tell us about the exam. I shall quickly round up the good side and corresponding bad side to all of the study material covered here.

### Advantages | ### Disadvantages

### CBT Systems ICRC/ACRC Course

Everything uniformly illustrated making it a simple process to visualise the information you are being given Well structured, introduces topics simply then builds complexity upon that basis Router simulation very useful to someone who posesses no routers Structures end of unit tests allow you to pinpoint knowledge gaps and to go back and fill them up | Does not cover all of the CCNA exam objectives Can overload certain topics with very advanced configuration techniques

### Horizon Technical Services ICRC Course

Gentle introduction to the topic of Cisco router configuration Allows practical experience of real Cisco routers Introduces concepts, explains them and then allows you to implement them | Does not cover all of the CCNA exam objectives Does not explain some of the things it does cover in enough detail

### Cisco Training CD

Contains vast amount of information Used in combination with either of the above, is very good for filling in knowledge gaps | Gets very technical very quickly Boring

### Sybex CCNA Study Guide

Covers all of the CCNA exam objectives Comes with excellent examples of CCNA-exam-type questions You can probably borrow a copy off one of your mates | Very, very, poor analogies (although I make no apologies for mine own) May not explain things well enough(?)

Well, I hope I have made clear enough the way I transformed from cybervillage-idiot to Cisco kid. Let me state, however that my path is not the One True Path. I hope that in some way, these musings have helped you to think about your own route (no pun intended) though the Golden Gate of the Prometric test. But I am no Accreditted Messiah. If following me serves you well, then I am glad that you choose to do so. The important thing is to make this thing your own, to isolate the streams of knowledge which flow most bountiful into your own mental lakes. You know better than anyone else the best way for you to imbibe, store, process and regurgitate the Cisco truth - it is imperitive to find your own path. Your destiny is yours to master. Would you like to hear about the exam now.

### A Big Day in the North

Friday 23rd April, and in a bout of unreasonable idiocy I have scheduled the exam for the day after my birthday. But I won't go out and get tramped off me mash will I? I mean, only the insanely confident (or confidently insane) would attempt to pull that sort of stunt, innit?

This is the score, right. You send about £100 to Sylvan Prometric and when they get it, you can schedule a time and a place. I can honestly advise against scheduling it the day after your birthday - no matter how good your intentions are, that swift pint you go for unleashes the spirit of the birthday-monkey who will leave you distraught and pissed-up on booze. Anyway, if you pass the exam, they tell Cisco all about it, and they send you your certificate and whatever.

I am providing here a selection of advice-nuggets for you to consume. You can take them or leave them, live by them or ignore them, do what thou wilt. This is what I found. It may or may not be what anyone else finds or has found. These then, are they:

- Know your OSI Reference Model, all layers, inside and out.
- Know your IOS Commands - thoroughly. With many of the questions, it's more like a spelling test than an industry-standard exam.
- You must understand IP addressing. It's a mean mother of a subject, but it simply must be known.
- Do not satchel off IPX simply because 'everyone uses IP'.
- Remember, above all, that Cisco is always right.

### Aftermath

After I attained CCNA status, I celebrated by seeing the recently reunited Happy Mondays in concert. Afterwards, I had time to reflect - with all memory of the exam banished for the moment - upon the rewards which being recognised by Cisco Systems as at least competent to handle their technology. The whole thing is a first step for me on my Stairway to CCIE Heaven, and a step for the company in having a whole team of Cisco Certified Network Engineers. I slept easily that night, not because I had succeeded in becoming the first CCNA at my company, but because I knew I would be the first of many.

So thankyou to whoever has been listening. I hope that this collection of irreverant ramblings has at least made some sense, and perhaps even helped you to think about some of the related issues. The key things that I cannot emphasise enough are: start simple and build complexity, make sure you are thoroughly prepared, but above all, find your own path. Mine worked for me - though it may not work for you.

For now dear friend I must bid you farewell. Good luck in finding your own path - and I hope to see you on the other side of that Golden Gate. Any comments or criticisms can be sent via fax, phone, email, post or pidgeon - or physically mouthed towards my face.