CCNP(TM) Routing Study Guide (Exam 640-503) [Hardcover]

Syngress Media Inc (Author), Inc Syngress Media (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 27, 2000 | Series: Global Knowledge Certification

Cisco dominates the router market and holds a significant share of the switching market. Global Knowledge reports that class enrollment is near maximum capacity. CCNP is a newly developed exam track and is the next step in the covered Cisco certification hierarchy. Interest in this mid-level certification (between CCNA and CCIE) is growing. This first book to market - the newly revised exam consists of 4 parts, and Osborne has a study guide to correspond with each exam. This book completely covers the BSCN Exam 640-503. It features an updated Test Yourself Personal Testing Center with over 300 questions and answers. It contains special 60 minute audio section - great for on-the-go studying and last minute cram sessions. The CD-ROM includes entire contents of book and glossary so readers can access electronically.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Only Certification Study System Based on 200,000+ Hours of IT Training Experience

* 100% Complete Coverage - All test objectives for exam 640-503 are covered in detail
* Hands-on Exercises - Step-by-step instruction modeled after classroom labs
* Exam Watch - Warnings based on thorough post-exam research identifying the most troublesome exam topics and how to answer them correctly
* Three Types of Practice Questions - Knowledge, scenario, and lab-based questions, all with in-depth answers
* From the Classroom - Discussions of important issues direct from the classroom

Full coverage of the topics you need to review, including how to:

* Compare distance vector to link state routing protocols
* Maximize IP address space using Variable Length Subnet Masking (VLSM)
* Monitor and verify OSPF operations
* Understand the differences between the types of areas, routers, and LSAs
* Configure a multi-area OSPF network
* Monitor and verify EIGRP operations
* Monitor BGP Operations
* Configure route redistribution with a single redistribution gateway
* Select and configure different ways to control route update traffic
* Verify route maps
* Understand multicast protocols

CD-ROM features full CertTrainer CBT software and the new ExamSim test engine¿more than 200 questions on CD

CertTrainer

* e-Training - Self-paced review of key topics, including exam tips
* In-depth Links - Need more explanation? Topically relevant links provide detailed instruction
* Skill Assessment - Test your knowledge with more than 130 challenging practice exam questions
* Score Reports - Indicate subject areas requiring further study

ExamSim

* Complete Practice Exam - A realistic and challenging CCNP exam
* Review Mode - Analyze what you got wrong and why
* Detailed Answers - Explain why the correct options are right and why the incorrect options are wrong
* Score Reports - Chart your progress over time

PLUS

* E-book - Electronic, searchable version of the Study Guide

About the Author

Syngress Media, Inc. (Rockland, MA) is an independent company committed to creating the very best book, software and Internet based exam preparation tools. They have published over 20 certification study guides and over a dozen Personal Testing Centers. All of these products are created by leading content experts, many of whom are also full-time trainers.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 721 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies; Stg edition (November 27, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072125438
• ISBN-13: 978-0072125436
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.6 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,750,380 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Should be better!, February 20, 2001

By 

"net-kid" - See all my reviews

This review is from: CCNP(TM) Routing Study Guide (Exam 640-503) (Hardcover)

All right fellow readers, bad news first!

Let me explain why I took away 2 stars.

Firstly, this book misses 1 * for numerous of typos, syntax errors, and logic errors all around the book. These errors will slow your study time down.

- Typos: when you see inconsistent diagram or R1 and R2 mistakenly switched, you'll have to think twice and reread the whole paragraph again to fit all things together. You can find this kind of errors all over the place. I found out that they're really annoying! They're not 'normal' typos like 'advaned' instead of 'advanced' which can be corrected quite easily using any word processors.

- Syntax error: if you take all the command syntax for granted and sit for the exam, you'll be in trouble. Always double check with Cisco web site or actual router commands or even another chapter of the book. For example, one chapter tells you that the command to change EIGRP hello-interval is ip eigrp hello-interval, while another chapter tells you is ip hello-interval eigrp which is off the correct one.

- Logic error: this is the worst error of all! I couldn't believe my eyes the Advanced EIGRP chapter teached me that the best path for EIGRP is the one with the highest metric, while the previous chapter just explained quite clearly that is the lowest one. It seems that the author of this chapter doesn't even understand the basic concept of EIGRP!

Secondly, I took another 1/2 * for lack of 100% of coverage as advertised. Where are the bgp peer group and bgp community sections as stated by official curriculum from Cisco? The basic coverage of BGP is also shallow.

Lastly, I took another 1/2 * for:

- Bad ExamSim software not as promised. The ExamSim only contains 65 questions taken from the book and that's it! No pools of questions and the test engine is not as sophisticated as it's advertised!

- Inconsistent style of writing

- Lack of correct configuration mode for the commands explained, i.e. you don't know whether the command is for interface or router configuration mode

- Not providing summary of commands in the end of chapters.

It will make the readers' life easier if the editors did their jobs properly to eliminate typos and errors and to make the style of writing consistent throughout the book. Anyway, that's what they are paid for, right?

Now, the good news for the sake of fairness!

The overall coverage of the book (although not 100% as explained before) can make you pass the CCNP Routing (640-503) exam, if you read careful and sceptic enough and given the pass mark of the exam is still 690. That's what the 3 * for. I hope the publisher can make the book better in the next edition.

Conclusion: My suggestion is to get a better book while you could, like Cisco Press' CCNP Routing Exam Certification Guide, which is the best book I've ever seen so far for the Routing exam (their test engine is superb!). If this book is your only choice, just take it. Be patient, and cross check. You still can pass the exam like I did!

Router#end-review my-off

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars mistakes, mistakes, and more mistakes, February 26, 2001

By 

David Wynegar (Baltimore, Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: CCNP(TM) Routing Study Guide (Exam 640-503) (Hardcover)

This book is by far the worst book I have ever read. After only reading 2 chapters I have found numerous mistakes, some of which made it very difficult to understand. Some of the scenario questions asked the reader to answer things that were not even covered at that point. I did however complete the reading of the entire book and was more confused then when I first started.

When trying to contact the author and editor for comments, I was passed from one HR personnel to another before eventually giving up.

I've developed technical courseware books in the past and highly recommend not to buy this book if you are studying for the CCNP Routing exam. Other recommendations would be to read the Exam Cram and Cisco Press Routing books.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Chockful of Errors, February 20, 2001

By 

Max Southall (Miami FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: CCNP(TM) Routing Study Guide (Exam 640-503) (Hardcover)

Some good ideas, but confusion reigns with a multiplicity of errors. These aren't just charitably typo's, but downright mistakes.

Additionally, the book seems to be missing pieces that were intended to be included. Review sections refer to topics having just been covered - that were never mentioned at all in the preceding material!

From this, it seems it was rushed into print in order to capture the market for the new Cisco 640-503 test, in what is a most cynical manner, because if the intent is to teach, not just make money, then it's a failure to give people who are buying the product false information.

Too bad. It's a good pre-publication rough draft suitable for editorial review, not for sale. In my opinion Adam Osborne ought to give purchasers a refund. Or be sentenced to re-typeset it personally, using his original Osborne-1 transportable CP/M-80 machine...