Struggling To Become a CCNA ? Pass Now
No need to worry, I'm here to guide you. I have gained my CCNA after going through a well organised study technique. I was able to score 986/1000 in my first attempt for which I studied hard for a month not more than that. I want you to go through the simple study plan which I'm suggesting for getting success in CCNA exam. The technique which I'm going to explain is also useful for pursuing your CCNP and higher certificatons. Post your queries and request and check my post regularly on this blog for your success.

I completed my CCNA, CCNP & CCIP (BGP+MPLS) and working towards CCIE.
Trust me, I will show you the right path. I started this blog in the year 2007, I could not post regularly since I was busy with my project. Now I have decided to help young people who are eager to succeed. I would be really happy to help anyone who is really interested in succeeding in career.
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Monday, August 31, 2009

CCNA Beginners - Its for you

For CCNA Beginners I highly recommend this CCNA PPT.
This material will be useful for easy understanding of Networking. Download it now.


Click Here:

http://www.4shared.com/file/129153577/d2c4c449/CCNA_interactive_Presentation.html


If you going to start CCNA study don't miss this.

GNS3 Grapical Network Simulator

What is GNS3 ?

GNS3 is a graphical network simulator that allows simulation of complex networks.

To allow complete simulations, GNS3 is strongly linked with :

* Dynamips, the core program that allows Cisco IOS emulation.
* Dynagen, a text-based front-end for Dynamips.
* Pemu, a Cisco PIX firewall emulator based on Qemu.

GNS3 is an excellent complementary tool to real labs for Cisco network engineers, administrators and people wanting to pass certifications such as CCNA, CCNP, CCIP or CCIE.

It can also be used to experiment features of Cisco IOS or to check configurations that need to be deployed later on real routers.

This project is an open source, free program that may be used on multiple operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and MacOS X.
Features overview

* Design of high quality and complex network topologies.
* Emulation of many Cisco router platforms and PIX firewalls.
* Simulation of simple Ethernet, ATM and Frame Relay switches.
* Connection of the simulated network to the real world!
* Packet capture using Wireshark.

Important notice: users have to provide their own Cisco IOS to use with GNS3.

Below you can download GNS3, a network simulator for making topologies of routers (IOS) and firewalls (PIX). It is particularly useful for training to Cisco certifications (CCNA, CCNP, CCSP, CCVP or CCIE).

DOWNLOAD HERE

http://rapidshare.com/files/273959048/GNS3_with_tutorial.rar.html

Or

http://www.4shared.com/file/129149535/a7ba9b5/GNS3_with_tutorial.html


Do not use boson network simulator.

How To Select A Good CBT Video

Using CCNA video training is a great way to study for your CCNA. There are several advantages, including low cost and having a highly qualified virtual instructor to teach you the difficult networking concepts anytime and anywhere. You are able to repeat the virtual class as many times as you like, until you are able to understand. Here are 6 factors to consider when you are buying CCNA video training:

1. Instructor - There is a large variety of CCNA video training available on the market. The best ones are taught by highly qualified CCIE certified network engineers. These instructors typically have years of experience in the networking industry and are not only able to teach the material well, they can also share with you tips and tricks from an industry insider's perspective. Be sure to check the qualifications and experience of the instructor before getting any video training.

2. Quality of CCNA Video Training - The resolution of the videos are crucial to the learning experience. Although it is definitely not necessary to have high-definition video, they must be clear enough for you to be able to learn effectively. For example, if the video is demonstrating command line configuration, the resolution should be enough so that you can watch the commands being typed in and the corresponding results.

3. Formats - You should take note of the format of the training video to ensure that the video can be played on your computer. If if it's in an industry standard format such as AVI or WMV, this should present less issues when trying to play the video.

4. Bonuses - Some video packages include many valuable bonuses including videos and audio files which can be played on your iPod, transcriptions of the video training and included practice tests. The cost of these extras will definitely add up, should you need to purchase them separately. It's definitely a great boon if they are all included in the package for the same price.

5. Guarantee - Does the video package come with any guarantees? Although it's not guaranteed that you will pass the CCNA exam, CCNA video training can be rather expensive (when compared to a book) and it is always reassuring that you get a satisfaction guarantee. The guarantee period should also be at least a month long so you have time to use the training and evaluate it to see if it's a quality product.

6. Cost - How much does the training cost? A good training package need not be too expensive. There are many discount deals if you know where to look. A complete and good quality CCNA video training package can be purchased for under $400, often with many bonuses thrown in.

By Francis W Teo

Pass CCNA - CCNA Home LAB

More Cisco CCNA, CCENT, and CCNP candidates than ever before are putting together their own home labs for their certification exam study, and that's a great trend - there's nothing like learning on the real thing!

Part of putting a home lab together is getting the right cables and understanding their usage. In this new Cisco home lab series, we'll take a look at the different cable types and how each fits into your home lab. The first cable type we'll look at is the multi-purpose DTE/DCE cable.

When I say "multi-purpose", I mean that while the cable will always perform the same task, it can be used in several different points in your home lab network. If you're going to have a frame relay switch - and you should get one if at all possible, since having your own frame relay cloud is a tremendous boost to your home lab studies and your exam score - you're going to need a DTE/DCE cable.

You can also use a DTE/DCE cable to directly connect two Cisco router serial interfaces and configure HDLC (the default) or PPP encapsulation over that point-to-point link.

Most of today's DTE/DCE cables have "DTE" clearly stamped on one end of the cable - actually, "DTE" is probably embedded into the connector itself. Naturally, the other end will have "DCE" clearly indicated. It's the DCE end that will connect to your frame relay switch. If you're going to use a direct connection to run PPP or HDLC, it almost doesn't matter which end of the cable is connected to a given router.

Keyword: "almost". You must use the clockrate command on the DCE end of the connection in order to bring the line protocol up.

If you're not sure which end of your DTE/DCE cable is connected to a given serial interface, just use the show controller serial command to get that information. Most of the output of that command isn't comprehensible, but what we need is right on top:

R3#show controller serial 1
HD unit 1, idb = 0x11B4DC, driver structure at 0x121868
buffer size 1524 HD unit 1, V.35 DCE cable

Naturally, if it's the DTE end, you'll see "DTE" there. And if you don't have anything connected to that interface, you'll see "no cable".

Whether you have your own frame relay switch or not, you'll want to pick up some DTE/DCE cables for direct connections between your Cisco home lab router's serial interfaces. Just don't forget to put the clockrate command on the DCE end of the cable! And if you're not familiar with a frame relay switch, check this same website soon for a tutorial that will show you how to set one up.

Just about any Cisco router can serve as a home lab frame relay switch, and once you've got it configured, you're in good shape - but it can be a little maddening to get it up and running in the first place. I'll show you how to avoid that aggravation in the next installment of this Cisco home lab tutorial series!

By,

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933

Saturday, August 29, 2009

CCNA free Study Guide

If you are intending to study for the CCNA exam on your own by using CCNA books, rather than taking a course at a school or other Cisco authorized training partner, you might be confused by the vast amount of CCNA preparation material out there. Here are 3 types of books you will definitely need in order to do well for the difficult Cisco CCNA networking certification exam: ALso refer ccna exam review questions answer key posted earlier.


1.CCNA books (self study)
- These are the books which provide the main learning and technical material for the CCNA exam. The good books are closely aligned with the CCNA syllabus and updated regularly to keep up with the changes that Cisco makes almost yearly to the CCNA exam. They are usually of a high quality and are written by highly qualified and experienced network engineers. These authors usually have a high-level Cisco technical qualification such as the CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert), which is the highest level of technical certification given to Cisco network professionals. You should be looking out for such qualities when choosing a good CCNA preparation book.


Exam cram books -
These are the books you should be looking at once you are finished with the self-study books. At this point, you should be familiar with the technical written material and understand all the necessary concepts required to pass the CCNA exam. These exam cram books serve as a last minute revision so you can remember the essential concepts required to pass the CCNA. Unfortunately, many of the concepts in the exam are still quite recall-intensive, so using exam cram books to boost your ability to recall the facts is a very good idea.

3.Practice tests - Once you have all the necessary knowledge and facts, as well as a good understanding of the material, you should try out practice tests to ensure that you are able to answer test questions in a simulated test environment. Traditionally, these tests come in a book form where you just complete the questions in a book. These days, there are several computerized test programs where will simulate a real test. These ensure that you have a good feel for the exam before going for the real thing.
by,
Francis W Teo

Friday, August 28, 2009

Don't Get Caught Off-Guard, Be Prepared

The Cisco certification exam is not easy. On top of that, it's pretty expensive, too, with test takers paying $125-$150. Those taking the certification exam should be as prepared as possible. Being certified should be a one-time deal. No one should have to pay for more than one test. The facet of the test that affects most people being certified is the simulator section. Router simulation via virtual labs and practice tests is a great way to help with test preparation. The CCNA exam is not something to be taken lightly.

The CCNA simulator takes the most time on the test and that is where the majority of the test takers will make or break their test. It is both the toughest portion, and the most important portion. You can't simply answer "C" and move on like you can with several other tests. A simulation router helps the one being certified go through extensive practicals and troubleshooting methods. Router simulators should emulate the actual test design so the students are not caught off guard.

Life can get ahead of some people and study time is at a minimum. On the one hand it is important to take time to study for countless hours and on the other, it is equally wise to save the time studying and study effectively. It's common knowledge that the simulator section is the most time consuming and difficult. Why not have the simulation at your fingertips? That is an effective way to prepare for the test.

It is proven that those who have taken advantage of simulator software score higher and oftentimes get certified the first time they take the exam.

By Paras P

Cisco Simulator - Pros and Cons of Using a CCNA Virtual Lab to Prepare For Your CCNA Exam

Using a Cisco simulator is a popular way to prepare for the practical aspect of the CCNA. Having hands-on practical experience in the configuration of Cisco IOS is important both for passing the CCNA and for your CCNA career. The alternative to using a CCNA virtual lab is to purchase either new or used Cisco switches and routers and hook them up at home to use as a practice lab. Here are some pros and cons of using a Cisco simulator to prepare for your CCNA:

Pros:


Cisco simulators are cheap - This is the number one reason why people turn to using CCNA virtual labs instead of the real thing. The cost of real Cisco switches and routers is extremely high, even if you buy them used. For a CCNA student on a budget, this is not a very feasible option. Cisco simulators can be purchased cheaply for $150 or below and are definitely a cost effective option.
Built in lab scenarios - The virtual labs comprise not only a simulation, but also training materials as well. The good CCNA virtual lab packages usually have built in scenarios which will guide you step by step through the commands you need to know. These scenarios are usually written by highly qualified instructors. This is a feature that you'll need to get separately via lab manuals if you buy a real lab.
Convenient - Unlike a home lab, you can install the Cisco simulator program on your laptop and bring it with you so you can get practice anywhere and anytime even if you aren't connected to the internet. Many CCNA students do not have that much time to study and this is a great way to maximize study time.

Cons:


Not a complete simulation - Any CCNA virtual lab cannot possibly simulate all portions of Cisco IOS or support all the commands of the real IOS. Such CCNA simulators are simply a training aid. If you are using it for your CCNA, it is definitely more than sufficient. If you are intending to explore completely all the functions of the Cisco IOS router or switch, you'll probably want to look at using a home lab.
Not a real router - The Cisco simulator also cannot simulate the real routing of packets. For a real lab, you can integrate it with your home and office network to have a real feel of how packets and frames are switched and routed through the network. This is simply not possible with a mere simulation.

Despite all the cons, I still highly recommend using a CCNA simulator to get some needed hands-on practice on Cisco IOS. It is definitely the most cost effective way to do this for any new CCNA network engineer.

To find out more about how to choose the right Cisco simulator or what to consider when buying a CCNA virtual lab, mail to itmaster.us@gmail.com

by

Francis W Teo