Cisco Ccnp Preparation Library: Clsc Exam Certification Guide, Cisco Internetwork Troubleshooting, Building Cisco Remote Access Networks, Acrc Exam Certification Guide [Box set] [Textbook Binding]

Clare Gough (Author), Cisco Systems (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1578702070 | ISBN-13: 978-1578702077 | Publication Date: October 1999 | Edition: Boxed

Cisco Systems has established levels of certifications to recognize different levels of expertise in the careers of networking professionals. Supporting Cisco's long-standing Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification are the various Cisco Career Certifications. Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification is the professional-level Cisco Career Certification for network support, following the associate-level Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification. CCNA has been a tremendously popular certification since its inception in May 1998, and many networking professionals who have attained CCNA certification plan to attempt CCNP certification.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Fine for the experienced professional (or an intermediate who's willing to do his or her homework), this densely written, sometimes obtuse set delivers the goods when it comes to technical specs.

But first, dear reader, note that the name of this book set: it is the Cisco CCNP Preparation Library, not the Cisco CCNP Certification Library (which is a separate set). If you're looking for something that will help you pass the exam easily, this isn't the place for you: the text in these books requires intense study, and it isn't always forgiving when it comes to learning tough concepts. If, however, you're looking to gain a solid understanding of how to build, maintain, and troubleshoot networks the Cisco way, this is an excellent place to start. And, when you're done, you'll have the nice bonus of being within a hair's breadth of passing anyway.

You'll start off with Cisco Internetwork Troubleshooting, which teaches you the fundamentals: basic maintenance and problem-solving methodologies. Along the way, it also goes into some good ground-level detail on how the Cisco technologies work. This book is extremely good and probably the best written of the bunch, although technically speaking it's also the weakest: there are a couple of glaring technical errors, some occasional illustration glitches, and the section on switching is slightly confusing. But the topics all mesh nicely, it's packed with examples that will come in handy in the real world--and most importantly, it provides you with a skill set of troubleshooting skills that will come in handy when you're reading all of the other books.

Building Scalable Cisco Networks delves into detail on routing and switching, and makes up for some of the lingering confusion that you may still have after Internetwork Troubleshooting. Routing concepts are always a headache, requiring both visual and intellectual skills to properly process, but this book does a workman's job of walking you through the various routing protocols in easily digestible detail.

Building Cisco Remote Access Networks is technically accurate, but it's definitely the hardest slog in the entire set in that it's dense and oddly structured, and it lacks the solid flow that Internetwork Troubleshooting has. The information's all there, of course, but you'll have to ferret it out yourself, and if you're a beginner to dialups you may well find yourself wandering in the woods.

Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks is almost as good as the Internetworking Troubleshooting guide: it's thorough, thoughtful, and well written. The concepts are fairly heavyweight, of course, but upon diligent study you'll find them all coming clear.

Of course, this is a problem with all of the books. Most people will be buying them to pass an exam, but they're not written as exam-prep guides--even if some of them are official coursework. These books ladle out information in great heaping spoonfuls, but none of them tell you, for example, which of these topics are heavily tested and which are usually ignored. It could be easy to lose the signal among all of this noise--and it doesn't help that all of the end-of-chapter test questions are open-ended, essay-style quizzes as opposed to the multiple-choice monstrosities you'll find on the actual exams. This turns the nature of this set into an all-in-one exercise: either you slurp down enough information that you can successfully pass, or you don't get anything.

Some might say that's the very problem with certification exams, anyway: students cram to learn a simple set of answers and then forget everything when they're in the real world. That's not possible here, since the text lacks any sort of friendly chat--every sentence means something, and the lack of waster verbiage means that if you skim a paragraph you may miss something vital. You've got to read everything in the book.

But once you get through this sometimes-grueling set, you'll be well prepared for the real world and probably set up nicely to pass the exam too. Much like real tech work, this isn't always easy--but it does come with some nice rewards. Recommended. --William Steinmetz --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From the Publisher

Fully updated to cover the CCNP 2.0 exams released in the summer of 2000, the second edition of the Cisco CCNP Preparation Library provides you with a comprehensive foundation for the concepts addressed on each of the four current CCNP exams (Routing, Switching, Remote Access, and Support). Each book in this four volume set is derived from the officially recommended, instructor-led training classes for CCNP preparation, including BSCN, BCMSN, BCRAN, and CIT. A great starting point for your study, these books cover all you need to know to succeed on the four CCNP 2.0 exams. Developed by CCIE's and CCSI's who teach the courses on a regular basis, each title brings a wealth of consulting and classroom experience to light, helping you master complex routing, switching, remote access, and troubleshooting concepts. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Textbook Binding: 2600 pages
• Publisher: Cisco Systems; Boxed edition (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578702070
• ISBN-13: 978-1578702077
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.7 x 7.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,518,556 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Many folks know me as a slightly hyperactive presenter and "Glenda, the Good Witch." After taking a break from writing for a while, I'm now back in the swing of things - with drafts of writing projects cluttering up by office space. We'll see if they get edited down to a business-card worth of writing - depends on the "Margarita count."

Here's the basic bio:

Laura Chappell is a highly-energetic speaker and author of numerous industry titles on network communications, analysis and security. Laura has presented to thousands of State, Federal and international law enforcement officers, judicial members, engineers, network administrators, technicians and developers.

Ms. Chappell is a member of the High Technology Crime Investigation Association (HTCIA) and an Associate Member of the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) since 1989. Her blend of humor, personal experiences, energy and clarity have earned her a top spot as an industry speaker at Microsoft, Novell, Hewlett-Packard, High Technology Crime Investigation Association and US Court conferences.

In 2007, Ms. Chappell founded Wireshark University, an educational firm devoted to teaching the art of wiretapping/communications interception, network forensics, digital deception and decoys, traceback and reconnaissance.

Laura's network analysis, troubleshooting and security training is available online through the All Access Pass at chappellU.com and through customized online/onsite analysis and training.

Clients: Ms. Chappell's clients include the US Navy, US Arsenal, US Appeals Court, Hong Kong Police Department, Lockheed Martin, Cisco Systems, IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Sutherland Asbill & Brennan, LLP, United Bank of Switzerland, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, McAfee Corporation, Symantec Corporation, Northern Indiana Power Company, CapitalOne Financial Services, City of Canberra (Australia), Macau Police Department, Australian High Tech Crime Centre, Fidelity National Information Services, the City of San Francisco and several unnamed Federal agencies.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Written by Cisco for Cisco exams - what a concept., November 30, 2000

By 

Michael J Woznicki "Michael J Woznicki" (Holland, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cisco CCNP Preparation Library (2nd Edition) (Hardcover)

Okay you have completed the CCNA exam and are now certified and then what? What is your next objective? CCNP? There are several tests and where do you find books to cover the exam? Cisco Press has taken the trouble to give you the perfect prep library for passing the CCNP Exams.

Written by CCIEs, CCSIs and CCNPs, this four volume set is the official course books used by Cisco. The four books cover the following exams, Building Scalable Cisco Networks (BSCN), Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks (BCMSN), Building Cisco Remote Access Networks (BCRAN) and Cisco Internetwork Troubleshooting (CIT). Book 1 - BCMSN - you work with and learn about campus networks Vlan and Inter Vlans. This book can be used for both the CCNP and CCDP exams. There are hands-on tasks to perform to help you learn as you go.

For book 2 - BSCN - You take on the routing principles, OSPF, VLSM, EIRGP, 150-page coverage of BGP. This book gives hands-on and case studies, which is a nice addition. The book is very detailed and is written to the more advanced level technician.

In book 3 - BCRAN - the world of remote access is put at your fingertips. From topics like DDR and ISN to modems and the 700 series router. Added to the case studies and hands-on is troubleshooting and management techniques.

Finally book 4 - CIT - you get to learn Cisco 8-step problem solving model in great detail. You also get extensive coverage of protocol characteristics. There are diagnostic tools and you learn to troubleshoot protocols.

The books come with chapter test to measure your learning as you go. I think that a routing simulator application could have been included for those people without direct router access. Overall an excellent purchase as your money is definitely well spent here.

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really great books but be careful with exam versions!, June 18, 2000

By 

Ruslan Moskalenko - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cisco Ccnp Preparation Library: Clsc Exam Certification Guide, Cisco Internetwork Troubleshooting, Building Cisco Remote Access Networks, Acrc Exam Certification Guide (Textbook Binding)

I've just got CCNP 1.0 using this books only (and questionsamples... to be precise).

Books are reallygreat. Everything is there. But they were written for CCNP 1.0 trackand it'll be retired in the July 2000. I used last two books to pass BCRAN and CIT from CCNP 2.0 track and it was easy. These books include all required information. As far as I know new Routing exam is also pretty close to ACRC and probably you can use book from this set too. But new switching is very different and the CLSC tutorial may be not enough to be prepared for the new test.

Moral is easy. After 31 July, you can use BCRAN and CIT books for new tests without any problems, I'm not sure about ACRC and you should find something instead of or in additions to CLSC. Of course, it's just my personal opinion.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Second Edition covers version 2 exams, December 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Cisco CCNP Preparation Library (2nd Edition) (Hardcover)

Ignore Cathy's remark the second edition covers the new version of CCNP exams (2.0)