Cisco CCNA Exam Tutorial: CCNA Recertification Requirements by Chris Bryant
Passing the CCNA exam and earning this coveted Cisco certification is an important step in your career, but it's not the end of your responsibilities as a CCNA! When you work with computer networks, you've got to be continually learning and staying up on the latest technologies and changes in... Whether you just want to renew your CCNA or pursue a Specialist, CCNP, or CCIE certification, you can easily renew your CCNA along the way. ... You can take and pass any of the following exams to renew your CCNA - the CCNA exam itself, the ICND exam, any 642 series exam, any Cisco Qualiied...

Cisco Certification: Recertifying Your CCNA and CCNP by Chris Bryant
Once you get your CCNA and CCNP, you can't just rest on your accomplishment. You've got to continue to study and add to your skill set - and then prove to Cisco you've been doing just that by recertifying. Recertification sounds like a pain, but it's actually one of the best things to ever... For the CCNP, you need to pass the 642-891 Composite exam, a CCIE written qualification exam, or BOTH the BSCI and BCMSN exams (642-801 and 642-811, respectively.) CCNP certifications are valid for three years.

What Certification Should You Pursue After The CCNA ? by Chris Bryant
Once you've got your CCNA, you're ready to move on to the next level, the Professional certifications. For years, Cisco had one Professional certification, the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification. Over time, Cisco has expanded this level of certifications to include the... You learn about the theory of OSPF and some basic and intermediate configurations of that protocol in your CCNA studies, but the knowledge you acquire of OSPF in your CCNP studies is invaluable. ... As for BGP, there is no BGP in the CCNA curriculum, but it is a great idea to have some BGP knowledge...

Cisco CCNA Certification: How To Approach The Post-Cert Job Interview by Chris Bryant
Okay, you did it! You earned your Cisco Certified Network Associate certification. Now what? People who pass the CCNA exam fall into one of three categories. You may be just entering the IT field you may be working on the LAN side and want to move to the WAN side (that's where I was when I... Keep reviewing your CCNA topics, and get started on your first CCNP exam. ... If you prepared for your CCNA the right way -- getting hands-on experience and understanding tougher topics like binary math and NAT -- you'll be fine.

How To Become A True CCNA by Chris Bryant
I've worked my way from the CCNA to the CCIE, and along the way I've conducted job interviews and casual conversations with dozens of CCNAs and CCNA candidates. Believe me, people who "sneak by" the CCNA exam by braindumps, memorization, and never touching a router or switch are QUICKLY found... Look at it this way -- you can put together a true CCNA lab that you can also use for CCNP study for less than $1000. ... I went from the CCNA to the CCIE in this manner, and the habits I developed at the CCNA level followed me all the way to the top.

Cisco CCNA / CCNP Certification Exam: Attending A Video Boot Camp by Chris Bryant
When you're studying for the CCNA and CCNP exams, you've got a lot of different choices when it comes to training. One popular choice is choosing one of the many "boot camps" and five-day in-person courses that are out there. I've taught quite a few of these, and while many of them are good,... There are some high-quality computer-based training (CBT) courses out there, and these courses offer quite a few advantages for the CCNA and CCNP candidate. ... It is important for you to make and keep that schedule, but instead of spending thousands of dollars and having to travel, you can get...

Cisco Certification: The Importance Of Building Your Own Practice Lab by Chris Bryant
CCNAs and CCNA candidates hear it all the time: “Get some hands-on experience”. From my personal experience climbing the Cisco certification ladder, I can tell you firsthand that there is no learning like hands-on learning. No simulator in the world is going to give you the experience you will... Many eBay vendors who sell used Cisco equipment sell ready-made CCNA and CCNP labs for one price, including cables. ... The good news for current CCNA and CCNP candidates interested in building their own labs is that used Cisco equipment has never been more plentiful or cheaper.

Passing Cisco's CCNA and CCNP Exams: Five Tips For Exam Day Success by Chris Bryant
As you get ready to pass the CCNA or CCNP exams, you can feel quite a bit of stress as you enter your last week of study. Let's take a look at a few ways to reduce that stress. 1. Do not stay up late cramming. The CCNA and CCNP are not exams you're going to pass by cramming. ... The CCNA and CCNP exams are going to demand your best. ... Many CCNA and CCNP candidates prefer to take their exams in the morning. ... The CCNA can't be passed by memorization - you've got to know how Cisco technologies work.

Tips On Buying A Cisco CCNA / CCNP Home Lab Kit by Chris Bryant
Buying a CCNA / CCNP home lab is the best way to be totally prepared for your Cisco exams. Most home labs are put together one router or switch at a time, but many CCNA / CCNP candidates prefer to buy kits where you get multiple routers and switches, along with all the cables and other... (And make sure the routers have enough memory to handle the IOS you plan on putting on them.) Purchasing a Cisco CCNA / CCNP Home Lab is one of the best investments in your career that you will ever make. ... More importantly, don't buy kits with old CCNA or CCNP study guides included.

Cisco CCNA / CCNP Home Lab Tutorial: The 2503 Router by Chris Bryant
I know from experience that part of the excitement and anxiety of putting together your own CCNA / CCNP home lab is deciding what to buy! While you can make a workable home lab out of almost any combination of Cisco routers and switches, some routers are better suited for home lab work than... All in all, 2503 routers are great for your CCNA / CCNP home lab. ... 2503 routers are fantastic for CCNA and CCNP home labs. ... There's no better training than training on your own CCNA or CCNP home lab, and you can always sell the equipment later if you like.