Customer Reviews

CCNA Preparation Library (7th Edition)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Those just starting out on their Cisco certification journey will find these books to be quite helpful. They covered the basic theories well such as the OSI model, IP addressing and network topologies. Additionally, these theories were applied using various examples taken from network design, router and switch configurations, and troubleshooting some of the more common problems that can occur on a day to day basis.

One significant difference in these books from past study guides that I've read, is the concept summary within each chapter. In addition to the usual chapter ending summary, there are what I would I call concept summaries. After each new concept there was a brief summary, which I found made the chapter as a whole easier to digest. There are plenty of examples to reinforce the theory including photos of equipment.

The books lined up well with the exam topics found on Cisco's web site. I feel that the material provides a solid beginning to anyone's CCNA preparation. Even though the section on the SDM utility was adequate, the SDM utility is really something that you really need to use to fully understand. The books were a bit light on lab examples, so I would recommend additional material as well as actual hands on lab time. However, these books combined with the current version of the CCNA Exam Guide, will provide a solid base of knowledge to take the CCNA exam.

The only thing that I would like to see differently would be the addition of a 'recommended reading' section. I always found those additional references to be helpful. The most significant source for more information would of course be Cisco's web site. Cisco has developed a CCNA Prep Center. The site has plenty of web casts, practice labs and practice questions. The site is free, you just have to register.

I've recently had the chance to use and review the Authorised Self Study Guide CCNA and here are my thoughts/views.

Initially, on seeing the pack arrive on my desk, I was filled with dread. Here were two books about Cisco equipment that I had to read through, and which would theoretically give me all the skills I need to undertake the exam, which is quite a tall order, and I don't like doing exams and would rather just learn by using (and breaking) the equipment. So, imagine my surprise when I started to read the first book, and discovered that it wasn't as scary as I thought.

The first book in the set in designed around the ICND1 part of the exam. I opened the book and was very glad to see that the lessons started "right at the beginning" The book works on the idea that you have never done any computer network stuff before and takes you step by step through the basics. One of the things I enjoyed about the initial part of the book was that it didn't just "jump right in" but took time to explain the history of what it was teaching to help you understand more. As the book progressed I came to enjoy the history lessons, and the light and easy reading style of the book. Throughout the book, all the little acronyms are turned into "beginners speak" so you don't get lost in the terminology.

I found the progression of chapter in the book to be very clever. Before you move on to the next chapter, you will have covered quite thoroughly everything you need to understand the concept of the chapter. However, to make sure you have, they provide test questions at the end of each chapter. I have to admit that having got some of the answers wrong, I've gone back and re-read the section concerned. The one thing I feel would have been a nice addition would have been some software. My colleague had the chance to review the Cramm Study book and that has a simulated test/learning environment CD. I feel this might have been a good addition to the Lab Books, but maybe next time.

The further into the book you get, obviously the more technical it gets. At this point, I'd have started to get worried and "run away". However, the book still managed to keep a light and easy style, thus making the difficult technical stuff easy to understand. One of the great things I found about the books is that sometimes there are concepts and ideas that you just can't read. The people writing these books have obviously had occasions like that, and to resolve this, they put lots of pictures, screen shots etc. To me this was a blessing; there were occasions where the concept just didn't make any sense to me. However, the diagrams and screenshots made up for that. I found some of the diagrams and tables so useful that I've made my own version of them and now have them on and around my desk to help keep the ideas fresh in my mind.

One of the other benefits we can't miss to mention about the book, is the popular 'Safari Service'. No it's not something you do in a Landrover in the desert somewhere far off land. I'll let the book explain.

"This book is safari enabled"

The safari enabled icon on the cover of your favourite technology book means the bok is available through Safari Bookshelf. When you buy this book, you get free access to the online edition for 45 days.

Safari Bookshelf is an electronic reference library that lets you easily search thousands of technical books, find code samples, download chapters, and access technical information whenever and wherever you need it.

To gain 45-day Safari Enabled access to this book

Go to the website in the book and enter the code on the inside of the book.

Cool huh?

So, all in all, I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about Cisco equipment but doesn't know where to start.

Note to Editor.

My 9/10 rating was purely because I would have liked to see an accompanying CD with test questions/test exam. However, on a purely book review basis, I'd give the book a 10/10

I felt misled when I bought this text. I thought it is intended for those who don't plan to take the class, but plan to take the test. If you plan to take the CCNA test, get the official exam certification guide, definitely not this one. The materials covered in the self-study are inadequate to prepare one to take the test, though they are still useful. The author does a good job showing the structure of OSI layers, how they compare to TCP/IP structure, the packet, frame and segment format for the transport and network access (or data-link) layers, how the packets flow through switches and routers. The subnetting section, perhaps the most important skill one needs to understand when working with a network, describes a slow but more scientific way to analyze IP addressing schemes, while the exam certification guide adds the quick and dirty method to help test-takers answer the exam questions more efficiently. In addition, this self-study text has very limited practice problems while the official guide has extensive drills and summary sections to ensure students truly understand the subnetting and other networking concepts. In fact, the official guide also comes with the test software by Boson that covers all possible exam question types and the Network simulation tool.

This library is good for those who are just starting their journey for Cisco certification. They will find these
books quite useful. More over this library serves those who are interested in self study. Even though there
are plenty of books available for CCNA I found this as the best among them for the beginners and self
motivated personals.
This library come with two books titled ICDN1 & 2. ICDN1 deals with the knowledge needed for
configuring Cisco Switches and routers. SDM is the quite interesting part of this book. ICDN 2 provides
the knowledge required to operate, configure and trouble shoot a mid size network. Deals with WAN,
OSPF, Access Lists, NAT, IPv6, VPN.
The uniqueness of this library is the concept summary within each chapter, along with usual chapter
ending summary. This concept summary seems to more useful to understand the concept and easy
remember. The questions and answer section is as usual good for CCNA.
The Library had lined up well with the exam topics covered for new CCNA 640-802 found in Cisco Web
site. The Library provides a solid knowledge base for the aspiring individuals. The reference provided is
found to very useful. I would recommend this Library to be in each individual who is looking forward for
CCNA.
If you could manage to make use of CCNA Prep Centre along with this study guide for sure no body can
stop you from obtain CCNA at first take. The CCNA prep Center has plenty of useful web cast, practice
labs, question of the week etc.
Overall these library deservers more than 5 stars but I would go with 5 stars. An excellent study guide for
CCNA. The author has done a great job. Hats off to Steve McQuerry.

The only reason I ordered the CCNA Preparation Library was to review and reinforce my CCNA concepts that I had learned and to see how this book explained concepts that I was weak in. This book really did help me review my material and helped me feel confident about taking the CCNA Certification exam. I have read other CCNA books, but this is a very unique one. There are three things that I liked about this book. Firstly, it had brief summary's for each chapter. I was able to read through them and find out whether or not I had to go through a certain chapter again. Secondly there were troubleshooting sections at the end of each chapter. The troubleshooting sections really helped me reinforce the concepts I learned in the chapter and allowed me to think and learn how to troubleshoot efficiently. It really is useful for real world scenarios that I would encounter as a CCNA, so I really liked the troubleshooting sections! The third thing I liked were the quizzes. The quizzes really helped me review the concepts I learned and make sure that I understand the concepts presented in each chapter. I really liked the quizzes because they helped me feel confident in the material I learned and also helped me figure out my weaknesses. Overall I thought this was a great book, and really helpful in my studies! I would recommend this not only to those preparing for their CCNA, but also for those who are working as new CCNA's because of the troubleshooting sections that are in there.

This books are very easy to read and they spend too much time on simple stuff. I am glad I have taken a training course previously and have the Sybex book as well. If you want what CISCO wants you to know, then these books are the ones. Otherwise, if you actually want to get the job done, go with the Sybex book, or if you are like me, get both.

Good luck!

Morning,

Here is my review concerning this package that I had the chance and that helped me to pass the CCNA .

The package is very solid and very classy. I had the chance to read few years ago official exam cert guide for the CCNA and this book differs in some way. Here is what I think about it.

In the CCNA exam you can find a wide range of topic, the books here are focusing on each topic in a very good manner. I mean that the author Steve Mcquerry helps to describe each protocol in such a way that it "seems" easy.

The first book focuses on the ICND1 exam:
-Understand the principle on which basic networks operate
-Explore and configuration of LAN
-Extend the boundaries with WLAN
-Configure router to provide connectivity
-Learn about IP addressing
-Wan connections
-NAT
-Manage the router startup

this book provides all the foundations you need to have when you begin your Cisco career.

At the begining of each chapter you can find the objectives for that topic and you really need to stay on the line provided by the author. Questions and chapter summary are here to help you solidy your foundations :) If you make some mistakes just read the chapter again and try answering, the foundations are so important if you want to pursue with the CCNP later

As you progress into your reading you will find yourself amused by some "boring" stuff like subnetting etc etc.

I'd advice you to note and mark important stuff on the book. The author has explained each technical point in such a good way that you only need to read and write down it once . :)

The 2nd book is smaller (smaller but better ? :) ) .

The subjects are harder and more importants. I mean you ll learn about

-IOS structure
-L2 switching
-Routing protocols differences
-OSPF
-EIGRP
-ACL
-NAT/PAT
-WAN VPN SSL

This is where the hard stuff takes place. OSPF,EIGRP,RIP,ACL

All those topics were scaring me when I was studying for the CCNA but once again the author did a great job !!!

Now I'm close of getting my CCIE and I don't know what would be my skills if this foundation book was different !

The book can be consulted via Safari so don't hesitate to activate it and enjoy the pdf version on Ipad,Iphone while sitting in the bus etc etc :)

I give 5 stars for sure !

I found this book good and useful especially the author provided section summaries in each chapter. This helped me to understand easily. There are chapter summaries at the end of each chapter too. Review questions are also provided for each chapter. This arrangement is good for readers.

For those who is preparing CCNA exam, this is a good choice to begin with.

This is exactly the course for "to go".
it's not easy to read on computer screen, eyes often get tired, and so on, so this is what you need to review what you have learned in class, especially the second volume, the CCNA one (first is on CCENT).
only one thing I should mention: this is on the "Discovery" curricula and not "Exploration" (the one I took). So for some like me it's a little confusing at start, but you manage it, it's the same CCNA exam after all.

I just started the first of the two books in this "library". So far, I feel that there are too many historical holes for an "intro" book. This bothers me because I am terrible at straight memorization. I have to understand (1)how it works (2)why it works [and] (3)its history (or predecessors) for me to remember/apply it. I spend about a third of my time reading and the other two thirds researching keywords/topics in wikipedia. This has worked for me for the first few chapters pretty well, but I would prefer a ratio of book to wikipedia closer to about 8:1. "A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide" by Michael Meyers and Scott Jernigan is an excellent example of a good blend of history, mechanics, and facts. I gove it four stars just because I know that someone could pass the the CCNA cert if they memorized this book... and that is the purpose of this book. However, I have to take away a star becuase I dont feel that there is enough here to make someone a _good_ Cisco certified network associate.