I’ve made a lot of mistakes but here are the biggest ones
and I hope you avoid them.

1. Waiting until I feel ready before booking the exam.
Don’t wait. Book it and if you really are not ready
when it comes time, move it to another date.

2. Not studying the same time every day. Even if it is at
various times during the day, make sure you form a habit.

3. Leaving my e-mail and phone on while I was studying.
All my friends wanted to call me and chat for half an
hour when I was studying. I also stopped studying every
time an e-mail came in.

Ridiculous. Lock yourself away and remove all
interruptions and distractions. This is your future you
are working on so take it seriously.

4. Taking on too much. Updating books, doing other
courses, decorating the house and so on. FOCUS, FOCUS
and FOCUS.

5. Listening to doom merchants. People who tell you it
can’t be done or that there is no point as there are
‘no jobs out there anyway.’ Rubbish. Don’t speak or
interact with dream stealers.

6. Not asking for help. When you get stuck, ask for
support. There is plenty on the forum. We are all in
the same boat so don’t be shy.

Paul Browning is the author of Cisco CCNA Simplified. One
of the best selling CCNA study guides available today.

http://www.howtonetwork.net/products/department4.cfm

Why are there loopback addresses in your labs? Why not
use real interfaces instead?

Loopbacks are logical and not physical interfaces. They
are invaluable for testing routing, access lists and so on
before you install a router onto a live network.

We use them in the labs because we want the labs to work
on any model of router and for those of you with only
two routers. If we used fast ethernet then you would
either have to connect to a switch or turn off
keepalives both of which lead to problems which have
nothing to do with the lab in question.

If you are studying for your Cisco CCNP exams at the moment then you will want to know which combination of old and new exams Cisco will accept for you to be a valid CCNP.

The Cisco CCNP exam combination tool will help you.

CCNP Syllabus

We are in the process of adding the CCNP Switching theory to the site. Once we have a few of the theory chapters ready we will post it to the new CCNP SWITCH section of the site. There needs to be a little added to the BSCI to turn it into the CCNP ROUTE module but that will be pretty easy.

Here are the three requirements for the CCNP:

642-902 ROUTE Available March 10, 2010 – Implementing Cisco IP Routing (ROUTE)

642-813 SWITCH Available March 10, 2010 – Implementing Cisco IP Switched Networks (SWITCH)

643-832 TSHOOT BETA Available: February 16-March 26, 2010 – Troubleshooting and Maintaining Cisco IP Networks (TSHOOT)

The content for the TSHOOT is a little wooly but we will be working on that as soon as the SWITCH content is done.

Thanks

Paul

Should You Do Your MCSE?

I have an MCSE you know. I used to think that having a bit of everything would make me more appealing to employers. How wrong I was.

I get asked this a lot but it is a bit like asking if you should be a qualified electrician and welder as well. The logic is that if you can do more then you will get more job offers or more money.

WRONG. WRONG. WRONG.

The myth that you need your CCNA, MCSE and various other vendor certs was put out by IT recruitment agents advertising jobs. They put out ‘wish lists’ of the skills they want for a job. This comes from employers who don’t understand what is required in order to do the role of network engineer.

Why is this? Because the job is specked up by some temp in human resources. That’s why.

So here is my question. Do you really want your fate to be decided by some 18 year old temp in an office who# quit university after a year because they had to get up for lectures at 0800?

MCSE is software based server configuration and management. For almost every company, once they have proved off the server, they hand problems and builds off to the network team.

While you are wasting time passing the seven exams you need for your MCSE, plus a years studying and costs you could have passed your CCNA, CCNP and maybe more. CCNP engineers are highly regarded and the difference in pay and skill level from CCNA to CCNP is dramatic.

I have no axe to grind by the way. I just want to help people avoid years of wasted time and effort going down the wrong path. If you want to be an MCSE then go ahead. I wish you all the best.

Please step back for a moment and tell me what you want do be doing for the next few years. Fixing server issues or working on the network?

Paul Browning

Cisco Announces New Service Provider Operations Track

Built on the growing demand for dedicated professionals who can manage, maintain and troubleshoot complex service provider IP NGN core network infrastructures, Cisco is introducing a new Service Provider (SP) Operations track. This new track is focused on developing associate, professional and expert-level capabilities to operate large, complex SP networks. These new, first of their kind certifications are designed specifically for Cisco Service Provider Customers, Partners and Cisco Networking Engineers.

Over the coming months Cisco will release new CCIE, CCNP, and CCNA SP Operations courses and exams. In addition, the written exam topics for the CCIE SP Operations certification are now available on the Cisco Learning Network. The CCIE SP Operations written exam is scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2010.

CCIE SP Operations Certification

The Cisco CCIE SP Operations certification assesses and validates core IP NGN service provider operations expertise. Candidates who pass the CCIE SP Operations certification exams demonstrate skills required of a expert-level (Tier III or Tier IV support) operations engineer to troubleshoot and maintain complex service provider IP NGN core (PE-PE and PE-CE) network infrastructures in both IOS and IOS XR operating environments, plus validate broad theoretical knowledge of operations management processes, frameworks, and network management systems.

CCIE SP Operations Certification benefits:

* Certification helps qualify personnel for customer’s Operations (NOC) Centers * Provides a credential (certification) that a person holds significant knowledge in SP Operations * Provides expert level certification to network operations (i.e. NOC) personnel to validate they are qualified to support various Build-Operate Transfer operation models

The CCIE SP Operations written exam is scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2010. The practical exam is scheduled for release in the third quarter of 2010. CCNP SP Operations Certification

The Cisco Certified Network Professional in Service Provider Operations (CCNP SP Operations) validates knowledge and skills required (of a Tier II or Tier III support engineer) to troubleshoot and maintain service provider IP NGN core (PE-PE and PE-CE) network infrastructures. With a CCNP SP Operations certification, a network professional demonstrates the knowledge and skills required to isolate network performance problems, implement proactive fault measures using operations management processes, frameworks, and network management systems. The CCNP SP Operations curriculum includes maintaining carrier class routing protocol environments, MPLS VPN and TE deployments, and QoS mechanisms using Cisco IOS and IOS XR.

CCNP SP Operations Certification benefits:

* Certification helps qualify personnel for customers Operations Centers * Certification classes provide a developmental path for personnel in Operations * Provides advanced level training and certification to network operations (i.e. NOC) personnel

The Cisco CCNP SP Operations certification will be made available in the third quarter of 2010.

CCNA SP Operations Certification

Cisco Certified Network Associate in Service Provider Operations (CCNA SP Operations) validates basic knowledge and skills (of a Tier I support engineer) in a prescriptive troubleshooting environment within carrier class IP NGN core network infrastructure. CCNA SP Operations curriculum includes incident (event), fault, configuration, change, and performance management procedures, along with NMS tools and protocols.

CCNA SP Operations Certification benefits:

* Provides students with a foundation of network operations skills for SP NGN environments * Provides training and certifications around Network Operations job role * Provides entry level training and certification to entry level network operations (i.e. NOC) personnel

The CCNA SP Operations certification is scheduled to be released in the second quarter of 2010.

Did I ever mention that once you start studying to better yourself you will always become a target for morons? I should have warned you before if not.

Some people don’t like it when others take action to get ahead or help others. It reminds them of the fact that they are getting nowhere and that they hate their lives.

There are two ways to have the biggest building in town. You can build your own or knock all the others down. That is why sometimes, you might want to keep the fact you are studying to yourself.

I get all sorts of sad characters sending me various abuse. Here is the latest:

‘Very amateur, glad your daughter had a day at the parkbut if you want paying customers perhaps you should concentrate on the constant spelling mistakes and lack of content oppicer Stephen – centelec@hotmail.com’

When I was working on a contract at BT I let slip one day that I was running a business on the side. From that day some people stopped talking to me and others looked for chances to get me into trouble. They hated the fact I had a backup plan.

My best advice is to ignore such people. They live off getting a reaction from successful people. Why waste your energy. The best form of revenge is success.

As Dale Carnegie said:

‘Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain.. and most fools do.’

Which are the Best Cisco Exams?

I get asked this a lot. ‘What are the best certs to get and the best exams for me to get them?’

Good question. Here they are:

If you want to be a Cisco engineer in my personal opinion you should have the CCNA and the CCNP. The CCNA will give you a good grounding in Cisco networking basics. Out of all the certs I know of, this is the most relevant to the real world and give you a good level of hands on ability.

The CCNP gives you a great level of knowledge about the most common routing protocols, switching concepts, voice and security basics, IPv6 and redistribution. With this knowledge I believe any person can install, maintain and troubleshoot at almost any company to a good level.

Certhunter

Beyond this it is very much down to you. I am very anti- Cert hunting. I used to log into various certification forums and it was ridiculous the amount of certs people used to collect. It is like a hobby to them. Why on earth would somebody spend 3 years doing their MCSE and then jump into programming? Eh! Why does one guy feel it necessary to fill in very post with three lines of his certs plus where he served in the army 20 years ago!

Choosing a Wife

Work out what you enjoy because they are all different skill sets and paths. Do you enjoy design or are you more interested in hands on and support. Does voice really appeal to you or more so security?

If you don’t know, how the heck do I? Would you bring a woman to my house and ask me if you should marry her? All I could give you would be some general advice about common values and interests.

Pleasing Employers

Don’t make the mistake of doing exams just because you see a job advert somewhere saying you should have X or Y to apply. Most of them are like a wish list. I would love my plumber to come and paint my house and service my car while he was here but it ain’t ever going to happen. If he offered I would be highly suspicious.

Work out what YOU enjoy first. In broad terms it is going to be standard routing and switching first and then either design, voice or security unless you want to jump from CCNP to CCIE. Nothing wrong with that.

Paul Browning

Here are some great tips from somebody who put the work in and passed his CCNA exam.

Passed the CCNA

What a challenge. 3 months of 2 hours plus a day study, a tough exam which tested more then just my technical ability, and a great score 972. Being a very nervous person I had Gary the hyptomists words going through my head to calm me down, and Pauls words “you have done the work required, you deserve to pass”. I settled myself down and started the exam. The rest is a blur but I finish with time to spare, even though there were times I thought I wasn’t.

I followed the 60 day Challenge plan, although I had already done study off and on for a few months, but no labs. I didn’t follow Pauls advice and book my exam Day 1, and as Christchurch has only one Testing Station, which closes for most of January, my 60 days was extended by a few weeks. Those weeks I spent doing one of the 5, 100 question exams each day, then really studying the areas of questions which I was unsure or wrong. I found them really hard, especially exam 3.

My biggest mistakes – Not becoming a Platium Member – coaching is important to hold yourself together during this tough challenge, and not booking my exam day 1.

Best tips – follow Paul and Ftafa’s advice, they rock! Use debugs and show commands to understand the theory, and really understand subnetting, you are under real pressure and lots of information, you need it to be second nature.

Thanks so much to Paul, what a great site this is, and what great service Paul and Ftafa give. Thanks to the whole How to Network community and particular Kevin from the CCNA forum, good luck for your upcomming exam.

What next, I will be staying a member of this site, and letting everyone I work with know how its helped me. I need to reassess my goals, my current job expires in two months, after seven years. Plus a need to get my Vegetable Patch under control.

Probably have a good look at both the CCNA Security & Voice and once a can plan 60 days focus, go for one.

Getting the CCNA means that I can sell myself as more then just a Communication Technican, I can really call myself a Network Engineer.

Thanks Guys

Peter

B”H

Peter,

Congrats on your pass, and good luck on your CCNA security, and voice.

You said you studied up on certain sections…was HTN what you used for all your exam prep needs?

Thanks,

Dovid

Hi Dovid;

Yes, when I found areas where I getting stuck I would look at the HowtoNetwork CCNA, then the CCNP Material (especially more detail around routing metrics), then Google it with the leading work Cisco, and use the HTN Forums.

When I tried the Cisco Learning Network site, I usually got lost and wasted time finding what I was after.

Peter

Cisco exams are hard. As the site owner I have a unique
perspective because I see people join and study hard and
pass and others join and quit the next week. They hit the
first hard bit and give up. I’m sure they give up on other
stuff as well.

When I worked at a help desk I studied like a mad man and
3 months later I was working for Cisco. 3 years on, the
same people were still at the help desk, moaning they were
underpaid and underappreciated.

I only say this because I ordered a Jujitsu gi and it
arrived on Friday with a very inspirational message on the
side of the cover it came with:

‘Too weak?
Too tired?
Too busy?

STOP THE EXCUSES!

Stop dreaming of what you could have been.
Stop telling the same old stories, because it changes nothing!

AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Get up
Get out.
Sell your TV

TOUGHEN UP!

Stop being pushed about!
Stop listening to people who say you will never make it.
And be somebody
It’s your life

TAKE CONTROL!

Only you can say ‘You Can’t’
And you don’t have to listen.’

See you at the top

Paul Browning