How to Pass Cisco CCNA - Books and Other Study Aids

The CCNA Exam

There are two ways to earn the CCNA certification - pass two individual exams or pass one larger, combined (composite) exam. The exam options are (click the respective links to be taken to the applicable Cisco web page):

Composite exam:

640-802 CCNA - 90 minutes, 45-55 questions
Or, individual exams:
640-822 ICND1 - 90 minutes, 40-50 questions
640-816 ICND2 - 75-90 minutes, 40-50 questions
If you are studying by yourself, it is advisable to take the two exams. It IS more expensive but if you try to do it all at once, you will probably spend more money failing and doing repeats in any case!

Cisco CCNA Discovery Course

Studying questions and answers and practicing Router Simulations such as I refer to in this Blog are a very useful way of preparing for the CCNA exam but hey are NOT a substitute for ordinary study. In my College we used the Cisco CCNA Discovery on line course over a period of 2 years (4 semesters - one for each part of the course).  This course is probably too expensive for an individual student but there are good books and other study aids available.

The following is an extract from Cisco's description of the course:

The following demos provide self-guided tours of chapters from each course. After launching a demo, you can navigate through the chapter topics using the index or the arrows, and explore the media-rich, interactive activities and labs to view the types of content available in each curriculum. Please Note: The chapter demos include embedded network simulation and visualization activities that use Packet Tracer, Cisco’s powerful network simulation software. Packet Tracer software is available only to Academy instructors and students free of charge, and must be previously installed on your computer.

• Networking for Home and Small Businesses Chapter Demo

• Working at a Small-to-Medium Business or ISP Chapter Demo

• Introducing Routing and Switching in the Enterprise Demo

• Designing and Supporting Computer Networks Demo

(One English company is offering the online course for £297 sterling plus VAT for 12 months use or £447 for 24 months )
http://www.october-systems.co.uk/qc-cisco-ccna-training-course.html   )

Official Exam Certification Guides by Wendell Odom, Cisco Press

The following books are recommended  by Cisco for complete understanding of all CCNA objectives:
1. CCENT/CCNA ICND1 Official Exam Certification Guide by Wendell Odom, Cisco Press. 
2. CCNA ICND2 Official Exam Certification Guide by Wendell Odom, Cisco Press.
The above links are to the Premium Edition, eBook and Practice Test versions of each book. This is also the Third Edition (2011).

Part of the Product Description for the ICND2 book reads:

The exciting new CCNA ICND2 640-816 Official Cert Guide, Premium Edition eBook and Practice Test is a digital-only certification preparation product combining an eBook with enhanced Pearson IT Certification Practice Test. The Premium Edition eBook and Practice Test contains the following items:

• The CCNA ICND2 Premium Edition Practice Test, including four complete ICND2 practice exams, four full CCNA practice exams, and enhanced practice test features
• PDF and EPUB formats of the CCNA ICND2 640-816 Official Cert Guide, Third Edition from Cisco Press, which are accessible via your PC, tablet, and Smartphone

I quoted extracts from the Wendell Odom's ICND2 book (Second Edition 2008) in my previous post regarding IPv6 Questions and Answers.

TO BE CONTINUED