Customer Reviews

CCNP CIT Exam Certification Guide (CCNP Self-Study, 642-831) (2nd Edition)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I can't understand how Amazon allows incredible books like this to be trashed and not have any back up. I respectfully disagree, and say that this is the only book that has helped me in my training and study for the CCNP exams. The Cisco CCNP Support Exam Certification Guide gave me a great review of the concepts involved in diagnosing, isolating, and correcting network problems that I have encountered, and no other book has done this. My biggest challenge was in Network Layer protocol troubleshooting. My issues were solved with The Cisco CCNP Support Exam Certification Guide from Cisco Press. Thank you Cisco Press and thank you Mr. Ranjbar!!

I challenge anyone to pick up this book and prove me wrong. Go into a book store if you are unsure, but be aware that this is the only book that helped me. I can't say enough good things about it (although it is a little dry). It's obvious that the author is very well connected in the Cisco community. I thought I had thought of everything, and then he gives some real world examples that blew me away. And I also have to give credit to Cisco Systems for creating this line of books. Every single exam, I have passed because of their books. I am also trying the Cisco Interactive Mentor (CIM) line of products as well and love them, but that's another story.

It sounds like the negative comments are coming from a disgruntled employee at Cisco (why would any be disgruntled??), or maybe another book publisher. That's unfortunate, because this book helped me in more ways than I can say thank you. I also think it was underpriced (for what that's worth, but that will be our little secret).

I am a CCNP as well as a Cisco Academy Instructor. I've taken 7 Cisco tests and this is the worst preparation book I've encountered so far. My gripes with this book are:

(1)After properly studying this book you CAN NOT walk in to the exam with the absolute confidence that you will pass. You may pass, you may not. In my opinion this is unacceptable for an "Exam Certification Guide".

(2) Several items on the exam were not covered even briefly in the book. Aka, you will be blindsided by topics on the exam that the book doesn't mention.

(3) The included quiz CD-ROM has several defective questions. ie. the answer that is right in the book is wrong on the CD-ROM, the question asks you to view exhibit 1 where there isn't any, etc... Did no one at Cisco Press proofread each question at least once before finalizing the CD?

(4) The quiz CD-ROM supposedly contains 225 unique questions. In taking the 50 question practice exam 10+ times, I encountered only about 100 unique questions. It seems the same questions get asked again and again, making your answers more reflex than knowledge.

(5) The questions in the book and on the CD-ROM are much much simpler than those on the exam. They don't provide any indicator at all of if you are ready for the exam.

Please note that most of the reviews here contain the disclaimer, "This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title". The Exams and books do change drastically between versions, not always for the better.

I passed the CCNP Support Exam 640-506 on Feb 18 2001. I had purchased Amir Ranjbar's book 3 weeks ago,last week of Jan 2001. I also bought CORIOLIS support Exam Cram by Matthew Luallen. The following is what I did to pass the exam.

1. I read Mr. Ranjbar's book cover to cover 11 Chapters. Second time around I read the Q&A in each section and the Foundation Summary in each Chapter. ( Excellent layout ). Third time around I just paid attention to the screen print out of all commands, there are many and Mr. Ranjbar has done a great job of explaining various sections of the output. Great diagrams of the ISDN, Internal architecture of 7000 & 7500 series Routers, and troubleshooting scenarios. These are actual printouts of the commands just visualize you are looking at a screen on a PC, and you will be fine. This book is GREAT !!! on the job too, it is practical.

2. Tear out the cram sheet on the Coriolis exam cram book. it has 103 commands and brief description of each, this is imperative to know,laminate this sheet at office depot for one dollar. Keep this laminated sheet with you wherever you go, good for rush hour commute, waiting at Dentist's office etc. Keep looking at it every day, it will make sense in a week or so.

3. 3-4 days before the exam, just read the Coriolis book 13 short and easy reading fun chapters, take the exam at the end of the book, keep in mind that the actual exam is much more harder than that, fill in the blanks are great.

4. Take the exam on the test engine provided by Mr. Ranjbar's CD that comes with his book, keep taking the exam until you start getting above 90% and close to 100%. If you fllow the above directions, with discipline, dedication and hard work you can pass this exam too. Good Luck to You.

The CCNP Support Examination Certification Guide, by Amir S. Ranjbar, is an essential addition to the library of anyone aspiring to pass the 640-506 exam and complete their CCNP 2.0. Those who has studied Cisco's CIT 4.0 official courseware will immediately recognize the excellence of Ranjbar's work as a second-generation effort. Given the breadth of Cisco's troubleshooting subject areas (such as TCP/IP, IPX, VLANs, ISDN, Frame-Relay, etc.), that traditionally have been laborious to cover, this text is one of streamlined clarity and time-saving precision. The summary tables of show and debug commands are simply outstanding, while its lucid diagrams unravel complex relationships and consolidate disparate facts. Ranjbar's obvious skills, both as an engineer and an educator, combine nicely to make this easily one of best books published by Cisco Press.

Highlights the important, combines the real-world insights and experience of a master engineer with the concise, logical and focussed approach of a professional educator. Amir, thanks for sharing your enthusiasm and experience.

I Read the book and took the exam. While it may show you trouble shooting methodologies, it does not even come close to preparing you for the CIT exam. The CIT exam requires technical expertise and skills in frame-relay, ISDN and router configurations. This book only explains terminology and the "show" command. Bottom line is if your using this book to study for the exam, think again it's not worth the purchase price.

How can this book get such high reviews (from years 2001 and 2002) when it was published in November 2003? People are saying it is a good book for the 640-60x series exam! Wasn't this book written for the 642-831 exam? If the 642-831 exam covers troubleshooting for frame-relay, ISDN, switching, and routing, then this is NOT the book to buy to prepare for the exam because it doesn't describe how to troubleshoot these technologies!

I agree with what others are saying. I should have read the reviews prior to even purchasing this book. Anyways, I just took the exam and failed after studying this book from cover to cover several times.

I was blown away by some of the questions on the test. There was no information whatsoever in the book to prepare you. The practice exams are so easy, practically all the answers are show ip route. Plus, some of the answers are wrong (someone else already mentioned that)!

Any suggestions for another book to study with?

NOTE TO AMAZON: Would you please NOT include reviews for past versions of the book that have nothing to do with the current exam?

I agree with Patrick Since's review. This book is a great resource for you to prepare the exam. Compare with CIT preperation guide from Cisco Press,by Laura Chappell, this one has much less errors. It is simple but very clear on all the concepts you need for the exam. I use it for the exam and my score is over 900. I think it is due to this book is published recently plus the Auther really knows what students need for the exam. One thing I like is this book not only prints out a command's output like Laura Chappell's book, it also prints out the options of the command which is missing in the other book. For exapmle: show ip ?, listed all the options from that command. It is very handy for those who have no routers by hand when they prepare for the exam. Once again, thank Cisco Press for publishing this book!

If I am trying to find information about a certain company I go to that company's website. The same principal applies to certification material. I am looking to become a CCNP and Support is one exam I have to take and that's why I am going to Cisco Press for the information.

In the 475 plus page manual the Author walks you through the topics of Resources for troubleshooting and troubleshooting methods. The authors ability to simply the troubleshooting process is excellent, he is able convey his expertise in an easy to understand manner.

Also included are the areas of Cisco Troubleshooting tools and troubleshooting TCP/IP, AppleTalk and switch problems. Then you have troubleshooting techniques for ISDN, VLANs, Frame Relay and ATM.

You are given an extensive coverage of the Cisco IOS commands associated with troubleshooting process with a great explanation of why and when to use the commands. You have router screen shots, figures, diagrams, tables and end of chapter questions and answers to help in your studies.

The cd-rom included has practice questions and a practice test, which can be setup to focus on one topic or random coverage of several areas and topics. Overall this book would make a great classroom guide and is well worth the price.