Customer Reviews

CCNA Cisco Certified Network Associate : Study Guide (with CD-ROM)

5 star:		(321)
4 star:		(122)
3 star:		(27)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

I recently passed CCNA exam 640-507 with a score of 860 (on my first try). I have read the Cisco Press books as well but found them quite difficult to read and understand.

Todd Lammle's book covers all angles and provides simplified explanations off all CCNA exam objectives. Although this book is extremely helpful, one should read this book several times to fully understand the material required to pass the exam. The exam is based on comprehension, not memorization of questions and answers.

For hands on practice using Cisco router configuration commands, I suggest the Sybex virtual lab trainer.

Twelve weeks ago I couldn't turn on a Cisco Router let alone program one to work. After using Todd Lammle's book not only can I program one, but I am on the verge of taking the test for CCNA. Lammle makes learning the Cisco Router fun and easy.

In this book you get step-by-step instruction on the router and how to make it work. Lammle start from the beginning, networks and the OSI model, right through TCP/IP and sub netting, the configuration of the routers. The books has review question and hands-on exercises to track your progress.

Included is cd with over 200 questions to practice with, I think more should be included. Also the cd has a demo copy of Visio Professional 5.0 for drawing out network. I also think a Cisco Configuration should have been included as well.

About the only utility on the cd I Couldn't get working the Etherpeek, a small inconvienence in the grand scheme of things. So for the book that's filled with dozens of working configurations, meets the CCNA objectives, and give you the best chance to pass - don't pass this one up.

I have been teaching computers for over 2 years and in that time I have used Todd Lammle's 1st edition of the CCNA Study Guide as a basis for the course outline. Todd Lammle is one of the most respected names in the industry and his new book is now updated for the latest CCNA exam, 640-507.

As with the 1st edition, the book is detailed and extremely accurate. This book covers each exam objective by breaking them down into ten chapters and 750 plus pages. Starting with internetworking and what it takes to make a network, Lammle gives the basics in an easy to understand a follow manner.

Adding Switching techniques is new and the detail is what you have come to expect from Lammle. TCP/IP is given more coverage and again Lammle makes the learning fun and easy. Moving on to the IOS and commands, IP Routing, VLANs, Network Management, Novell and access lists, WAN Protocols and an appendix that covers the Catalyst 1900 switch.

There are diagrams, router screen shots, labs, hands-on exercises, practice questions, figures, tables and so much more. You have everything you need to pass this exam first time around. Lammle's attention to detail is what makes this the standout performer of the year.

There is also a complete listing of the IOS commands used in the book coupled with one of the best glossaries I have ever seen. As if Lammle and Sybex haven't given you enough, that also included a cd-rom with the price of the book.

The cd-rom has practice tests and electronic versions of he book as well as the "Dictionary of Networking". Rounding out the package is the e-Trainer Demo of the CCNA as well as utilities from Boson Software. Once again Lammle has taken the hard part out of exam preparation and all you have to do is study.

This is an outstanding book to thoroughly prepare yourself for the CCNA exam. Although I have been away from Cisco equipment for over 2 years now, I was able to sit down with this book and prepare myself for the exam in just over a week. I used no other materials and came away from the test with a 956. The section on IP addressing finally made the arcane world of subnetting clear to me, enabling me to calculate subnet masks, broadcasts addresses, and host ranges in my head! This book is a must have for anyone serious about obtaining their CCNA.

This book is a concise introduction to the Cisco world and an excellent study guide to use for Exam 640-407. It helps to keep me focus on what are most important for the exam. Use it with the CCNA Virtual Lab e-Trainer and you can get a working knowledge of Command Line Interface.

However, that's all it does - a king-size Exam Cram, but that a well-written Exam Cram. To really learn something in addition to passing the exam, you need the ICRC book and Wendell Odom's CCNA Certification Guide (get the 507 version so that you have a stone for two birds). Read two chapters and I could tell Odom, CCIE #1624, is an outstanding technical writer.

Don't get a false sense of security about your comprehension of WAN by reading Chapter 11 of this book. You need ICRC and Odom to get sufficient coverage of WAN for the exam. Wherever you get confused about frame-relay and ISDN when you read ICRC, Odom clarifies it.

MCSE, MCP+I, CNA, CCNA

I read this book from cover to cover at a pretty fast clip, then went back to the beginning and read it again, this time taking notes. This book covers everything you need to know for the exam, but I needed a little more depth on the concepts and more study questions are always good, so I also went through the Wendel Odom Study Guide and the ICND book from Cisco Press.

Any two of these three books in any order is more than adequate for preparation for the CCNA 2 Exam. The Sybex book has clearer and more thorough coverage of the actual IOS command lines you will run into on the test than either of the others, and Todd's explanation of subnetting is excellent.

The sample test questions in the book and on the cd were very close to the actual test itself, in fact I was getting consistantly in the 90% range on the practice test cd and pulled a 913 on the actual test.

You could study from this book alone and pass the test, but I would never sit for a test without going through at least two full guides. When I can spot the errors in the text I know it's time to schedual the exam, and there are a few glaring errors in this book, but not enough to drop my evaluation down to 4 stars. If you want a good leg up on the CCNA this book won't disappoint you.

I took the CCNA exam yesterday ,and passed it with a score of 916/1000,using this book as my only reference. It is a very well written, easy to understand book. It has almost all the objects covered in detail, except WAN technologies. You must know OSI, router commands, IP/IPX rounting, WAN, and a bit about access list. I recommend this book and some hands-on experience.

trieu
CCNA,CNA 4.11/5, MCSE

I took my CCNA test today and scored 953/1000. I had read this study guide yesterday and did the practice questions at the end of the chapters. There are some glaring errors in this book (be on alert in the WAN chapter), but it is a good study aid. The information presented in this guide is complete, but some of it just doesn't match up with Cisco's interpretation. One example of this is the first chapter on OSI -- I read it thoroughly and scored 100% on the test at the end of the chapter, but I was wholly confused on OSI-related questions on the exam. The terminology used to describe the data encapsulation method and session/transport layers is much different! I did very well on all of the other sections of the test, and I think the book helped a lot in those areas... for those studying for the exam, I recommand that you try to augment what is in this guide regarding OSI and WAN with other text (perhaps Cisco's ICRC guide). If you can read and understand this guide, you will probably pass the test, but you really should not use this as your only source.

I thought that the book was great. I passed the CCNA exam first try. The simulation questions are a bit weak though. The exam questions were much more difficult. The material is well organized. Todd does a great job explaining IP addressing and subnetting! The practice exams were great as well.

I have never been a fan of Sybex as I had bad experiences in the past with some of their texts. I have read many certification texts over the past couple years, and this one is one of the better ones I've read. It gives you all the theory and all the technical syntax you will need to pass the CCNA exam. I had no significant hands on experience with Cisco routers and used this book and the Virtual lab e-trainer as my only tools to prepare. I passed with a 946/1000. There are a few minor errors, but the Sybex site has caught those already. My only gripe is that the last 2 chapters on Access lists and WAN protocols are a little thin on details/explanations of terms. Probably could have elaborated more and written 3 or 4 chapters out of the 2. In any case, the text more than covered everything the CCNA test threw at me. I would highly recommend this text for anyone pursuing their CCNA. It is definitely well worth the money. If your goal is to pass the CCNA exam, then buy this book.