Starting to take the Cisco Exam

[siberiansteel11]

So I'm an IT graduate I am planning on taking the cisco exam because I sooo want to be a network administrator. 

So any passers here or trying to take it Know what should I review or something? I been looking at google but their's just a lot of choices on what to review. 

I also have networking background been working as a techsupport for a specific router brand. 

 

so what should I study? 

 

[SlayerOfHellWyrm]

Do not take Cisco, unless you take their CCNA courses. There are 4 modules to it, and it focuses on doing things via the CLI for Cisco IOS, and of course, a lot of their proprietary stuff. Not something that can easily be done on your own, in my opinion. Generally though, the 1st module focuses on the OSI model, and cabling, as well as standards, and the types of network, and how to design, address, and subnet  network.. Module 2, focuses on routing, and go overs IPv4, and 6 with RIPv1, RIPv2, EIGRP, and OSPF. Module 3 is switching, and centres around VLAN's, trunking, SVI's, and remote management. Lastly, Module 4, is WAN technologies. DHCP on switches, ACL's, NAT, and WAN/ISP things like Frame Relay, and X.25, and then putting everything together.

EDIT: I've yet to go through and actually cert, however, I did all of the CCNA 4.0 modules 2 years ago, and am now going through the CCNA 5.0 modules (which has been focusing a lot more on IPv6), so I know what the modules teach. That being said, I have classmates who have their CCNA, and a few with their CCNP both for route and switch.

If you really want to start learning Cisco, start with the CCENT and go from their with their course material. Since it's vendor specific a lot of the time to them, as opposed to vendor neutral, it really pays to have hands on experience with the CIsco IOS.

[hoggydoggy]

I have just passed my CCNA discovery in June if you are new to things like slayer said such as subnetting and IPv6 and basic router and switch configuration go dor it.  I am starting CCNA switching and routing essentials which is the follow up which seems so much more complicated. also in most networking jobs having a cisco qual may make you stand out

[SlayerOfHellWyrm]

I have just passed my CCNA discovery in June if you are new to things like slayer said such as subnetting and IPv6 and basic router and switch configuration go dor it.  I am starting CCNA switching and routing essentials which is the follow up which seems so much more complicated. also in most networking jobs having a cisco qual may make you stand out

Yeah, CCNA is not easy for most. The biggest issue, and why I say do the Cisco courses before you attempt the exams, is you learn how Cisco likes to test, and more so, their specific commands for IOS

[hoggydoggy]

Yeah, CCNA is not easy for most. The biggest issue, and why I say do the Cisco courses before you attempt the exams, is you learn how Cisco likes to test, and more so, their specific commands for IOS

Yeah there are a few Cisco specifics in there, so even if you know most of the commands its useful to be able to top up your knowledge of the commands as in the exam you can't just press '?' although in the skills exam you can

[siberiansteel11]

Thanks for the fast replies guys and yes I am planning on taking a paid training for the cisco exam but it's not going to start until next year. so Right now I have all this free time and I just wanted to self-study just to get an overview on what to expect. 

[Cheesebaron]

I found that most Cisco books were written by authors that were paid by how many pages they wrote, so everything was a big and long rant... Even so I managed to be a Network Technician in a NOC for almost 3 years before, then University took up most of my time.

 

I do think there is a lot of good stuff in the Cisco certifications, but there is also a lot of Cisco related non-sense, and a lot of the stuff you won't need in the real world. Or at least I never got to use it. One thing that is great is that you need re-take the exam every 2 years, I think. Which holds you up to date. This I think is really great, as in many industries they don't really focus on educating their workers further, but with these kind of certificates you need to refresh them, to keep the validity.

[SlayerOfHellWyrm]

Re-cert is every 3 years, as of the last time I looked. That being said, I agree with a lot of useless things with Cisco teachings, but that's only because they focus on their equipment and proprietary protocols,of which, are obviously not used outside of Cisco. However, you do learn more than enough to work with other networks.