Hello
I'm looking for a best way to upgrade my CCNA and become a CCNP. At the moment, I have the following options on my mind:
a) CCNP academy - it costs around 16k CHF; a lot of money, isn't it? - is CCNP course organized somewhere in Zürich or Zug (preferably on weekends)? - can I expect to have academy lessons in English language or only German?
b) to make my own lab (ebay), buy all books and try to become a "home made" CCNP? :-)
c) ?
I would appreciate any info and/or suggestions.
Thanx
Zoran Brakus wrote:
I'm looking for a best way to upgrade my CCNA and become a CCNP. At the moment, I have the following options on my mind:
Well, to choose the right option is basically a question of self-motivation. If you prefer to get kicked in your a. to make a move, then go for a)
a) CCNP academy - it costs around 16k CHF; a lot of money, isn't it? - is CCNP course organized somewhere in Zürich or Zug (preferably on weekends)? - can I expect to have academy lessons in English language or only German?
From my own experience I can recommend the courses of HSR Hochschule Rapperswil. http://cisco.netacad.ch/ - nice guys, professional gear, good connections in the class (of course this can vary) and you get the latest tips and tricks how to survive.
b) to make my own lab (ebay), buy all books and try to become a "home made" CCNP? :-)
not my thingy even with learning at class, you need some self-motivation to repeat etc.
Good luck!
F.
--- Zoran Brakus zoran.brakus@angel-telecom.com wrote:
I'm looking for a best way to upgrade my CCNA and become a CCNP. At the moment, I have the following options on my mind:
a) CCNP academy - it costs around 16k CHF; a lot of money, isn't it?
it's waaay too high price for quite a moderate degree. A set of ciscopress books will not cost you more than few hundred francs. And if you find a job where you have access to some roiuters, that will be enough.
I would recommend gaining some real-life experience and head for CCIE, and not wasting time for those numerous exams for the CCNP degree.
b) to make my own lab (ebay), buy all books and try to become a "home made" CCNP? :-)
for CCIE it would work, for CCNP it's an overkill imho.
stan (ccie since 2000)
Zoran
is really a matter of self discipline and motivation. I did CCNA and CCNP almost on my own (2 courses at Getronics), the main effort using Cisco press and related books, CCO and of course hands-on on some real hardware...
Personally I use the kick in the ass method: 1) set the exam date 2) study / try / repeat 3) pass the exam (are there alternatives ?...)
This way I have the kick and a real target to focus on.
Until now I used to success with them, I will see next monday if I also get the CCIE qualification that way...
My suggestion to you (I don't know your actual knowledge level): get some Boson tests (real test simulation) and walk through. That way you can find out where are your weak points and you can get specific self-study books and/or get training.
Save the 16k for the CCIE track...
Daniele
Zoran Brakus wrote:
Hello
I'm looking for a best way to upgrade my CCNA and become a CCNP. At the moment, I have the following options on my mind:
a) CCNP academy - it costs around 16k CHF; a lot of money, isn't it? - is CCNP course organized somewhere in Zürich or Zug (preferably on weekends)? - can I expect to have academy lessons in English language or only German?
b) to make my own lab (ebay), buy all books and try to become a "home made" CCNP? :-)
c) ?
I would appreciate any info and/or suggestions.
Thanx
Hello Fredy,
Tuesday, August 30, 2005, 22:37:05, you wrote:
Well, to choose the right option is basically a question of self-motivation. If you prefer to get kicked in your a. to make a move, then go for a)
Well, the experience I have from CCNA preparation course suggests me that kicking my a. is not absolutely necessary. OTOH, CCNP (as much larger theme than CCNA) is maybe something where I could use some additional motivation. It's hard to say.
However, the main reason why I'm even considering to pay 16k for the academy course is because I need to get the knowledge, not only the certificate. In such circumstances, the academy with a well equipped lab and skilled people could be a good environment.
From my own experience I can recommend the courses of HSR Hochschule Rapperswil. http://cisco.netacad.ch/ - nice guys, professional gear, good connections in the class (of course this can vary) and you get the latest tips and tricks how to survive.
Thank you for recommendation, I've checked there web-site, but there is one major problem for me - the course is on Fridays afternoon. Unfortunately, I have only weekends available (or evenings during the week).
Good luck!
Thank you.
Hello Daniele,
Wednesday, August 31, 2005, 01:48:25, you wrote:
My suggestion to you (I don't know your actual knowledge level): get some Boson tests (real test simulation) and walk through. That way you can find out where are your weak points and you can get specific self-study books and/or get training.
Save the 16k for the CCIE track...
So, basically your suggestion is to try to do it myself. And that is probably going to happen. The academy is really expensive, and besides that they all (Rapperswil, Luzern) have lessons during my working time.
Thanx
Hello Stanislav,
Tuesday, August 30, 2005, 22:44:30, you wrote:
it's waaay too high price for quite a moderate degree. A set of ciscopress books will not cost you more than few hundred francs. And if you find a job where you have access to some roiuters, that will be enough.
Books are not the problem, but access to the equipment, hm... I mean, I have access to some routers in my company, but not in a manner useful for practicing (i.e. building CCNP labs).
I would recommend gaining some real-life experience and head for CCIE, and not wasting time for those numerous exams for the CCNP degree.
OK, but my impression was that the CCNP (with all that labs) is also a good way to get some experience, and after that also a "springboard" to a good environment (i.e. good job) for CCIE hunting. Maybe I'm wrong...
b) to make my own lab (ebay), buy all books and try to become a "home made" CCNP? :-)
for CCIE it would work, for CCNP it's an overkill imho.
Well, could be, but on the other hand such lab (of course, with a used equipment) would cost only quarter (or even less) of the academy price.
Thanx for suggestions.
I read something a while ago about someone working on a CC** lab simulator. You wouldn't get the full monty with cables and boxes and electrocution from spilling coffee on a PSU during baschteln (baschteling?) at 3 a.m., but it would be pretty cool nonetheless.
I think http://www.routersim.com/ is commercial, but googling for "cisco lab simulator" gave me a load of hits...
-John
Zoran Brakus wrote:
Books are not the problem, but access to the equipment, hm... I mean, I have access to some routers in my company, but not in a manner useful for practicing (i.e. building CCNP labs).
Hi Zoran,
--- Zoran Brakus zoran.brakus@angel-telecom.com wrote:
I have access to some routers in my company, but not in a manner useful for practicing (i.e. building CCNP labs).
Try finding online labs. For a dozen of dollars per hour, you get access to a whole bunch of gear, with practical tasks and excercises. I used to use fatkid.com back in 1999, for training with some technology that I couldn't access, but that site seems like shut down.
besides, the job market for network specialists is not as good as it was in 1999-2000. Have a search at jobs.ch - most demanded are software developers in banking sector, storage engineers, system architects.
In networking sector, knowledge of network management software, network monitoring principles, ability to operate open source software on a UNIX platform are of higher demand than just networking engineers knowing nothing but routers and switches.
and good luck in your career development :)
stan
On Wed, 31 Aug 2005 14:39:08 +0200 Zoran Brakus zoran.brakus@angel-telecom.com wrote:
Hi,
I would recommend gaining some real-life experience and head for CCIE, and not wasting time for those numerous exams for the CCNP degree.
OK, but my impression was that the CCNP (with all that labs) is also a good way to get some experience, and after that also a "springboard" to a good environment (i.e. good job) for CCIE hunting. Maybe I'm wrong...
I did first the CCNP exams and after I get my CCIE number.
The theory I had to learn for the CCNP was a good start for the CCIE. but without additional readings and without a lot of practical experience you'll wont get the number.
b) to make my own lab (ebay), buy all books and try to become a "home made" CCNP? :-)
for CCIE it would work, for CCNP it's an overkill imho.
if you are looking for the CCIE, CCNP ist something like a 'vordiplom'
hope it helps
Ueli
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Daniele Guazzoni -
Fredy Kuenzler -
John Morgan Salomon -
Stanislav Sinyagin -
ueli heuer -
Zoran Brakus