Cisco CCNA / CCNP Certification Exam: Creating A Study Plan by Chris Bryant
Whether you're just starting to think about passing the CCNA or CCNP exams, or you've been on the certification track for a while, you've got to have a plan for success. If you wanted to drive your car from Florida to California, you'd create a plan to get there. ... Here are a few ways to go about getting the kind of quality study time that will get you to the CCNA or CCNP (or any Cisco certification, for that matter!). ... Earning your CCNA certification is the same way. ... The perfect time to start on the road to Cisco certification is not tomorrow, and it's not next week.

Securing Your Future And Your Network WIth Cisco's CCSP Certification by Chris Bryant
You don't need me to tell you that security is the #1 concern in today's networks. With that in mind, your career path must include some security certifications, or you will be left behind. Cisco's Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP) certification demands a candidate be well-rounded and... Besides the difficultly we've all come to expect from a Cisco exam, this five-exam path covers every major aspect of network security (from Cisco's viewpoint, anyway!) You must hold a valid CCNA certification to earn your CCSP.

Cisco CCNA Certification Exam Tutorial: OSPF Hub-And-Spoke by Chris Bryant
CCNA certification demands that you master the basics of OSPF, and for many studying for the CCNA exam, their first exposure to OSPF is a hub-and-spoke configuration. That's a tough way to get started, because a hub-and-spoke configuration built over an NBMA technology such as Frame Relay... By paying special attention to these details, you're that much close to CCNA exam day success and earning your certification. ... Let's take a quick look at several common OSPF configuration errors and how to avoid them on your CCNA test.

Cisco CCNA Certification Exam Case Study: Frame Relay, Pings, And Routing Protocols by Chris Bryant
Cisco CCNA certification training includes troubleshooting your own work and that of others. The best CCNA certification training you can do is indeed troubleshooting your own Cisco router and switch configurations - as I'm always telling my students, "I can guarantee that any error you make has... Then he configured RIP version 2 on the router and got the following result after running "debug ip rip" and clearing the routing table with "clear ip route *": 03:33:01: IP: s=172.12.123.1 (local), d=224.0.0.9 (Serial0), len 72, sending broad/multicast 03:33:01: IP: s=172.12.123.1 (local),...

The Future Of Computer Certification Exams by Chris Bryant
The format and difficulty of computer certification exams is constantly changing. When I took my first certification exam (Novell NetWare 3.1x CNA, January 1997), there was no such thing as a simulator question, and my practical skills really were not tested. ... This is just personal opinion and not "insider information", but I believe the day will come when the CCNA, CCNP, and other Cisco certifications will require some kind of hands-on practical lab to earn the certification. ... There would be more overhead for Cisco with this kind of testing, since lab equipment and lab proctors...

CCNA Tests by Marcus Peterson
Most of the modes for preparing for CCNA Certification - study guides, forums, online and classroom courses, etc., - give the students several CCNA tests to prepare them for the actual CCNA exam. These tests not only sharpen their knowledge but also provide the students with realistic... They also provide certification mode which gives the user a new test every time instead of some fixed practice tests that are available for free on the Internet. ... It should be remembered that one should be extremely careful in choosing a particular test, since a lot of websites do not update their tests...

Cisco CCNP Certification FAQ by Chris Bryant
To earn your CCNP, you've got to pass some very rigorous Cisco exams, and you also need to know the rules regarding this important certification. In this article, I'll answer some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the CCNP. Q: What exams do I need to pass to get my CCNP? ... Becoming CCNP certified is a great boost to your career and your confidence, and as with any Cisco certification, it's up to you to stay current with the CCNA and CCNP requirements. ... A: You must earn your CCNA before you can be CCNP certified (as well as passing the exams, of course).

CCNA Certification Exam Training: Doing Your Best On Test Day by Chris Bryant
CCNA certification is tough enough without you making it tough on yourself. There are a few simple things you can do that will increase your exam day performance greatly. Let's take a look at these simple yet powerful techniques. First, get plenty of sleep the night before. ... I've taken certification exams from the CCNA to the CCIE, and I'm always amazed at the number of bleary-eyed test takers that show up at the testing center looking like they're about to fall asleep. ... Just doing these few simple things before your exam will help you get the result you want after the exam - the...

It's 2006 - Do You Know Where Your IT Career Is? by Chris Bryant
Whether you're thinking of starting a career with computers and information technology, or thinking about earning a professional certification such as the CCNA or MCSE to accelerate your career, there is no better time to start than today. Silicon Valley is hiring again, and while we all can't... "I'll study for the CCNA after Thanksgiving..." "I'll start working on my CCNP after the New Year..." Well, guess what - the new year is here. ... Are you actively studying to earn a certification, or are you still thinking about it?

Cisco Certification: The "Secret" Key To Getting Your CCNA And CCNP by Chris Bryant
Whether you're working on your CCNA or CCNP, Cisco certification exams are the most demanding computer certification exams in the IT field. Cisco exams are not a test of memorization, they're a test of your analytical skills. You'll need to look at configurations and console output and analyze... By using debugs as part of your CCNA and CCNP studies, you're going beyond just memorizing commands and thinking you understand everything that's happening when you enter a command or two. ... You move to a higher level of understanding how routers, switches, and protocols work -- and that is the...