Customer Reviews

Designing Cisco Networks

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I wish I could give this book 5 stars but, I can't. It's kind of hard to read and understand the layout of the subjects. However, the material is good once you do grasp the layout. Maybe, I'm a little thick for this field,....who knows? Anyway, I used this book and only this book to prep for exam. I passed with an 870 which is above the 745 minimum. I'm also a CCNA. It might do one good to get that CCNA first before wrestling this critter. I have to mention that this book emphasizes "Good Design Principle," using Cisco equipment to give the network design, "functionality". The design principle in the book is out-freaking-standing. One could use these concepts in any network design.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but, once you get the CCDA, you will find out that not too many IT Recruiters or employers know what it is. I have had several IT Recruiters and employers ask me what the acronym CCDA means. You can tell them that this is one more link in the chain to achieve your CCIE. They will understand that, believe me.

Buy the book, understand the case studies(35-40% of real exam), go down and get that certification.

This book is a summary of the DCN course taught by Cisco around the world. This course leads to the CCDA certification. If you have been working with Cisco for more than two to three years, just go and take the test. If you havent, get the book. If you just have to purchase one book, get Top-Down Network Design book.

I used this book alone to pass the CCDA exam, with minimal hands-on experience or study time. It logically summarized the major concepts of the exam, in a clear and easy to interpret manner. I would definitely recommend it!

I bought the book mainly to pass the DCN, 640-441, test and it paid off. The case studies become borring after a while but it PAYS off to do them. I did not use any other books to pass the test. There are some typos, but which book doesn't have them.

This book proved invaluable in preparing me for the Cisco way of designing networks. You are stepped through how to evaluate, document, plan, and implement a Cisco network and what Cisco products are used to monitor that network. But don't expect to necessarily pass the test with this reference alone. To pass you will need an understanding of the topics covered in the ICRC and some of the ACRC materials. However, the book covers its topics very well and should be read by anyone wanting to have a future in designing a Cisco routed and switched network.

Mike Coffin, MCSE, CCNA, CCDA

This is an excellent book at a very reasonable price to get the same information you would get from Cisco's DCN self study course. This book has an excellent OSPF design guide section. Plus, the tables and index help to remind any designer to cover all the steps that are necessary to produce a successful and functionally sound network design.

Good news is that I just passed my CCDA and I read this book only to pass. At first I thought it was a top notch book and I still believe it is a great book..however, I do not recommend this book alone to pass the CCDA. Main reason being that many of the questions on the test aren't even mentioned in this book. To give you an example, there are 32 questions on the practice exam and 85 on the test. You do the math! I was extremely overwhelmed and I felt very unprepared. I was lucky to pass.

This book is the best resource available for DCN exam which earns you CCDA certificate. It generalizes the information in such a beautiful way that it becomes very easy to memorize important things for the test. This book along Priscilla's Top-Down book can easily take you through the CCDA test smoothly. I also used Todd's book after reading DCN and TDND books but that was just a revision for me. Best of luck for all candidates for CCDA certification !

I recently took the CCDA exam, and passed with the help of this book as well as Todd Lammle's CCDA book. I would recommend that anyone planning to take this exam have at least two resources, unless you have previous Cisco experience. Through my experience, I feel that one book doesn't seem to cover all the required material.

If you really hate reading about this stuff, like I do, I would suggest reading this book and getting a lot of hands on experience! The Cisco book seems to be more reader-friendly and doesn't lose you in all the technical jargon like the Lammle book does!

Great book but tough reading!! I read this book along with the Lammle study guide. I found that this book was a lot more inclusive of the material in the exam. DCN goes deeper into topics than the Lammle study guide and is a definite pick up if you want to safely pass the exam. It took me 4 weeks to read and prepare but that included a lot of hours during the week as well as weekends. I scored a 903/1000 on the exam. I recommend that everyone who takes this exam to take the time to thoroughly know the material and do not try to learn just enough to pass the exam...chances are you will fail trying.