CCNA Certification Kit (Boxed Set) Consisting of CCNA 2e SG & CCNA Virtual Lab e–Trainer - Hardcover

Lammle, T

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0782127290 ISBN 13: 9780782127294

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2002

Synopsis

Finally, a low cost alternative to expensive CCNA courses! With the CCNA Certification Kit, you get both the comprehensive and up-to-date information found in the new edition of the best-selling CCNA: Cisco Certified Network Associate Study Guide, and a simulated network environment provided by the CCNA Virtual Lab e-trainer, where you can gain invaluable hands-on experience working with simulated routers and switches!This is a CCNA exam prep combo that's almost too good to be true!

About this title

Review

The combination of Sybex's best-selling CCNA Study Guide and the e-trainer network simulation software mesh wonderfully. In fact, if truth be told they were always intended to be sold as one unit; the book contains a lot of rote exercises that are just jumbles of instructions if you're not sitting at a terminal, and the CD comes with practically no instructions at all. But put together in the CCNA Certification Kit, they create a force to be reckoned with.

But first, let's get what's in this little bundle of joy listed for you. The CCNA Study Guide is a densely written but comprehensive tome; the writing can be intimidating at times, but Lammle is to be commended for trying to show the reader the reasons why certain networking topics work, as opposed to just giving you lists of items to memorise. The concepts become particularly daunting during the chapters involving TCP/IP subnetting and VLAN trunking--but meticulous rereading will reward you not only with an exam-passing knowledge, but a deep understanding that will serve you well in the corporate world. There are only two slight disappointments: one, the chapter on WAN networking is a trifle light compared to the fact-packed density of the rest of the book; and two, this book is not for absolute beginners, as it skips very quickly over essential concepts such as Ethernet networking and cabling types.

A large portion of the guide consists of simple exercises to be run on Cisco routers--which is normally a problem for the CCNA student. Most people don't have access to, and cannot afford, the roughly £15000 in equipment it takes to set up a sample lab. But that's where the CCNA Virtual Lab e-trainer comes in; it's a software package that emulates a network that consists of three Cisco routers, a Catalyst 1900 switch and a couple of WAN links.

For what it does at the price, it does it well. It's not a fully fledged simulation by any means, but it does emulate most of the basic commands well enough for you to pass--and the amount of learning you'll get from the "hands on" experience is exponentially better than any amount of book learning. Tinkering around with your own setup will help you remember the oft-cryptic Cisco commands and password levels better than anything else, and the exercises given to you in the study guide will suddenly become fully fledged workshops that expand your learning.

Now there are those who have criticised the Virtual Lab for many reasons: Not all of the basic commands are adequately supported, the interface is very clunky, there are known bugs and it's useless beyond anything but the CCNA level. But there is a saying in the industry that should be well-taken here: "Close enough for horseshoes and hand grenades." Yes, there are better Cisco simulator programs. Yes, there are cheaper ones. But no other offering has the range of features and depth that you'll find at this price, and most importantly, it's enough to pass. --William Steinmetz, Amazon.com

From the Back Cover

Two bestselling CCNA study tools—one value–priced set

Here′s everything you need to prepare for the CCNA certification exam, including in–depth coverage of all exam objectives, CCNA Virtual Lab, Titanium Edition simulation software that lets you to practice on a virtual network—complete with over 250 hands–on labs—leading–edge testing software, and over an hour of additional video and audio instruction from Cisco expert Todd Lammle, and much more.

Prepare with confidence with the very latest edition of this consistent bestseller from top Cisco networking authority Todd Lammle. The book includes a CD with Sybex′s leading–edge exam–prep software.

• In–depth coverage of all objectives for exam 640–802

• New material on switching, network address translation, IPv6, and more

• Practical hands–on exercises and labs to reinforce critical skills

• Sybex custom test engine

• Real–world scenarios so you learn in the context of actual job roles

• Supplemental video and audio instruction from Todd Lammle

Sharpen your hands–on skills on a virtual network with this unique CCNA lab simulation software. It′s the perfect companion to the CCNA Study Guide.

• Create a virtual network of unlimited devices for unlimited practice

• Practice using 2621 Cisco routers and the 1900, 2950, and 3550 Cisco switches

• Test your knowledge of over 470 commands

• Run problem–solving scenarios and test your troubleshooting skills

• Hone your skills with over 250 hands–on labs from Todd Lammle

• Save time and money with this affordable learning alternative

About this edition

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0782127290
• ISBN 13: 9780782127294
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 842