How is thsi book for CCNA? Anyone used it?

[networker]

Someone told me that this is a nice book for CCNA:

http://www.amazon.com/Cisco-Certified-N ... 0072229349

And there used to be a "CCNA Secrets revealed" ebook by the same author which contained online videos along with the ebook, free. Now the videos are on the accompanying CD.

Has anyone reviewed this book for the 640-801 which is paperback edition by Richard Deal?

Regards,
Networker

[cmdeane]

havent heard much on that one however i have personal success with the wendell odom certification library,

i rate it 10/10 for ccna intro and icnd

[jjamesge]

I actually bought the current version of that book. (for the new CCNA exam).

I bought it because the local university used the old version a couple semesters ago, and figured it would be a really good book.

After I bought it and started to read it, I decided maybe it wasn't the best self study book out there.

I hadn't have a chance to look at the "CCNA Library 7th Edition" from Cisco Press until recently. I was at a Books A Million that was selling both the library, and the individual books, so I paged through the first book. (CCENT/CCNA ICND 1), and decided that was a much much better book for self study.

I doubt that the CCNA book your asking about is a bad book, but after reading the first couple chapters, I decided the information wasn't presented in a way that was conductive to my way of learning.

The book your asking about kinda rambled on about the OSI 7 layer model in a way I found rather boring. I'm sure its a very good book, I'm certainly going to use it. But I think going through the CCNA Preperatin Library is better for me. I've got both so, I'm happy.

Plus one more item I wanted to mention: Your book doesn't have a legend of their topographical router maps. The CCNA Preperation Library, in the very beginning of the first book clearly tells you what the various icons mean. Not a huge deal, but just indicitive of the different styles of the books.

The CCNA Preperation Library clearly presumes its the first book you've ever read concerning Cisco Routers.

[cmdeane]

i used the old version for the old test to pass and also some practice question softwares from the flashcards book and some other sources

the new one i dont know!

[Blatman]

I'm currently using Todd Lammle's CCNA study book published by Sybex. I have a couple of other Sybex books too (SQL2000 and NT4 Enterprise Server! ) and I quite like the way they're written.
I also used the Sybex offering for the A+, and Mike Meyers Network + Passport for my N+. I'm hoping Santa wil be bringing me Mike Meyers Security + Passport book for Christmas, 'cos I've been ever so good this year...

Also for the CCNA, Cisco Press publish a book with a lot of the config lines for routers and switches, called the Portable Command Guide which is small enough (for a change! ) to keep in the lap top bag

[robsam]

CCNA books by todd lammle are the best for self study. What you say ?


_________________________
CCNA by Ciscokits.com

[jjamesge]

The local university used the book in the past as a classroom textbook, so it must be pretty good.
-they used the last edition, a couple years ago. Since the new CCNA came out, I'm not sure what book they're using currently though. I haven't looked into it recently.

[spaldo1973]

There is no magic bullet. Any material you decide to use is going to have gray areas, boring areas and things that aren't explained in great detail. If you are going to fly solo, this is the trade-off. You aren't going to have a teacher you can ask questions or bounce ideas off of. Obviously, you are welcome to ask any of us questions. That's why we're all here.

There is absolutely NO substitute for hands on experience. Get on eBay and find some used equipment. Get on Amazon and find a lab book. Start doing the labs. It will all start to click very quickly. If it doesn't, think about a different career! j/k

[jjamesge]

http://www.ciscokits.com/ sells a variety of cisco equipment for using with labs. From what I understand, they buy most of thier stuff off ebay and the like.

You'll pay a bit more for a rack than piece meal off Ebay, but they guarentee the equipment and include all the nessesary cables with the rack, and also some extras, which depends on which lab kit you buy.

[spaldo1973]

I've bought equipment from them in the past. I wouldn't recommend it. You can find the same stuff on eBay, cables and kits, teksavers, etc. for alot cheaper and they all have warranties. What you get along with the hardware from ciscokits isn't worth the premium that you pay.