CCNA Cisco Certified Network Associate : Study Guide (with CD-ROM) (Hardcover)

~ (Author), et al. (Author) "Cisco makes a smorgasbord of router, hub, and switch products, so it follows that by understanding all that's available from Cisco, you can make a..." (more)
Key Phrases: tftp host, switch output shows, broadcast address for each subnet, Written Lab, Internet Protocol, Token Ring (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Some child psychologists will tell you that you should never talk down to your children. Rather than spoonfeeding 'em baby talk, you should speak to your kids using big words and long complex sentences--which is tougher on the kid at first, but ultimately makes them a lot smarter than they'd ever be from just hearing "goo goo ga ga".

In much the same way, Sybex's CCNA Study Guide is a book that uncompromisingly presents complex material and expects you to live up to it. While the explanations are dense and often intimidating, once you get through this book, you'll be ready to face--and pass!--the treacherous CCNA exam.

Todd Lammle assumes that the reader has a passing familiarity with basic networking concepts, and he launches straight into an in-depth review of the OSI networking model without even mentioning what hubs, routers, and switches are. He then works his way into explaining TCP/IP and TCP/IP subnetting, a notoriously confusing concept for beginners, and in truth, mid-level techies may be temporarily confused here as well.

Unlike many other CCNA study guides, which touch briefly on subnetting and then provide a list of common subnet masks for rote memorization, Lammle really wants you to understand why certain masks and address ranges work. His objective is for his readers to be able to compute subnets on the fly--a task which many network professionals fake to this day--and as such, he takes you deep into the binary mysteries of TCP/IP. The explanations here are real migraine-inducers, but that's more the fault of TCP/IP's innate complexity than Lammle's explanations. Lammle himself admits that he expects his audience to have to reread the TCP/IP chapter at least once--but if you take the time to bear down, do the math, and really study, you'll never need to read another chapter on TCP/IP subnetting again.

The next sections of the book deal with Cisco routing commands, and it is here that the CCNA Study Guide truly shines. Cisco router commands are infamous for providing the user with floods of information, and the incoming tide of network statistics often sends fledgling CCNA trainees into info-shock. When you have three pages worth of data zipping by on your screen, how do you decide what the important bits are?

Lammle does an extremely good job of walking his students through the various Cisco commands. He explains what each command is meant to do, shows how it's done, and then shows you what you should be looking for after it's done. The chapters here are methodical, thorough, and dense, but they hang together excellently. The only problem is that Lammle assumes you'll be practicing these commands on an actual router--and many CCNA students don't have a practice lab to work with. However, if you purchase the CCNA Virtual Lab, a highly recommended piece of software that simulates Cisco routers in an connected environment, you'll have the next best thing to hands-on router experience. A preview edition of the Virtual Lab is included with the book.

The last section of the book is devoted to WAN protocols, and this part of the book is slightly disappointing. While the details presented in the WAN chapters are solid, they seem slightly out of proportion: while Wide Area Networks, and in particular, ISDN, are a reasonably large part of the CCNA exam, the ISDN section here is all of 20 pages. It's not that there's not enough to pass, but Lammle doesn't provide his usual wealth of details in the final chapter.

Like every good certification book, there are quizzes to test your skill, and you won't be lacking for choices here--seven "open answer" questions, 20 multiple-choice questions, and hands-on workshops grace the end of each chapter. The book ends with a 60-question final exam. The questions are moderately hard, and are a good test of your overall comprehension, but you can probably expect to find harder questions on the actual exam.

Rounding out this book is a voluminous hands-on walk-through of Catalyst 1900 Switch configuration, a comprehensive list of CCNA router commands, and a 70-page glossary. In short, this guide is like a stern teacher: it's not always easy to follow, and it's sometimes frustrating. But by the time you're finished, you'll understand the material better than you could have ever dreamed. --William Steinmetz

Product Description

The CCNA: Cisco Certified Network Associate Study Guide, 2nd Edition remains an affordable and reliable way to attain the core internetworking knowledge needed for Cisco's CCNA exam. Cisco recently changed the exam number (old version: 640-507; new version: 640-607) and question formats (simulation and drag-and-drop questions have been added), but they left the exam objectives intact. This book has served many successful CCNA candidates as the cornerstone of their exam prep program, and can do the same for you. Written by Todd Lammle, a renowned Cisco internetworking expert who knows exactly what it takes to pass the test, this study guide includes:

* Preliminary assessment test

* Focused coverage of key Cisco internetworking topics

* Written and hands-on labs

* More than 300 challenging review questions with explanations

* Two bonus exams

* Electronic flashcards for PCs and Palm handhelds

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 832 pages
• Publisher: Sybex Inc; 2nd edition (June 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0782126472
• ISBN-13: 978-0782126471
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.8 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (501 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #274,269 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read and understand!!, August 27, 2000

By A Customer

I recently passed CCNA exam 640-507 with a score of 860 (on my first try). I have read the Cisco Press books as well but found them quite difficult to read and understand.

Todd Lammle's book covers all angles and provides simplified explanations off all CCNA exam objectives. Although this book is extremely helpful, one should read this book several times to fully understand the material required to pass the exam. The exam is based on comprehension, not memorization of questions and answers.

For hands on practice using Cisco router configuration commands, I suggest the Sybex virtual lab trainer.

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now there is no excuse not to pass the exam., March 19, 2000

By	Michael J Woznicki "Michael J Woznicki" (Holland, MA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: CCNA: Cisco Certified Network Associate Study Guide (Hardcover)

Twelve weeks ago I couldn't turn on a Cisco Router let alone program one to work. After using Todd Lammle's book not only can I program one, but I am on the verge of taking the test for CCNA. Lammle makes learning the Cisco Router fun and easy.

In this book you get step-by-step instruction on the router and how to make it work. Lammle start from the beginning, networks and the OSI model, right through TCP/IP and sub netting, the configuration of the routers. The books has review question and hands-on exercises to track your progress.

Included is cd with over 200 questions to practice with, I think more should be included. Also the cd has a demo copy of Visio Professional 5.0 for drawing out network. I also think a Cisco Configuration should have been included as well.

About the only utility on the cd I Couldn't get working the Etherpeek, a small inconvienence in the grand scheme of things. So for the book that's filled with dozens of working configurations, meets the CCNA objectives, and give you the best chance to pass - don't pass this one up.

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lammle is at it again and better than before!, August 1, 2000

By	Michael J Woznicki "Michael J Woznicki" (Holland, MA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I have been teaching computers for over 2 years and in that time I have used Todd Lammle's 1st edition of the CCNA Study Guide as a basis for the course outline. Todd Lammle is one of the most respected names in the industry and his new book is now updated for the latest CCNA exam, 640-507.

As with the 1st edition, the book is detailed and extremely accurate. This book covers each exam objective by breaking them down into ten chapters and 750 plus pages. Starting with internetworking and what it takes to make a network, Lammle gives the basics in an easy to understand a follow manner.

Adding Switching techniques is new and the detail is what you have come to expect from Lammle. TCP/IP is given more coverage and again Lammle makes the learning fun and easy. Moving on to the IOS and commands, IP Routing, VLANs, Network Management, Novell and access lists, WAN Protocols and an appendix that covers the Catalyst 1900 switch.

There are diagrams, router screen shots, labs, hands-on exercises, practice questions, figures, tables and so much more. You have everything you need to pass this exam first time around. Lammle's attention to detail is what makes this the standout performer of the year.

There is also a complete listing of the IOS commands used in the book coupled with one of the best glossaries I have ever seen. As if Lammle and Sybex haven't given you enough, that also included a cd-rom with the price of the book.

The cd-rom has practice tests and electronic versions of he book as well as the "Dictionary of Networking". Rounding out the package is the e-Trainer Demo of the CCNA as well as utilities from Boson Software. Once again Lammle has taken the hard part out of exam preparation and all you have to do is study.