Top five cisco certification books

1. Top Five Cisco Certification Books
What books will help you with your Cisco certification? Here
are some top picks for CCNP, CCIE, and CCNA study guides.
1) CCIE Practical Studies, Vol. 1KarlSolie
With a focus on the lab portion of the exam, this book provides in-depth study and
exercises for the CCIE Routing and Switching Lab Exam. It includes 37 lab scenarios
and 5 practice labs, to test your knowledge and ability to perform in a timed
environment.
CustomerReviews from
By emmanueloppong (Silicon Valley) Excellent CCIE Lab Prep
I have used several ccie lab preps and books but have never come across anything as
good as this one. I just wish it had come out a few months earlier, so I would have
more time to pratice the labs. The book is jam packed with numerious exercises and
several ccie day-one-type labs at the end of the book for practicing the real lab.
There are diagrams for every exercise and scenario. This book certainly
maksesCaslow'sobsolite and threatens the the businesses that have sprang up selling
ccie labs. The down side of the book is, this is vol 1 and doesn't have IPX, BGP, IS-IS,
IPSec, and Multicast which the author says will be in vol 2. Also the solutions for the
labs at the end of the book can be downloaded from a Cisco site. I think this should
have been on a CD and included with the book. I can't even find the solutions on
Cisco site; it is probably not postered yet. The price is steep, but compared to what is
out there, it is worth every penny.
By Jean Maurice MEREL To focus on exam - CCIE # 9285
It was my main book to prepare the exam. It is well focused on exam. It includes
some fast and good therorical parts. During the exam you need to be fast. You get
speed with confidence in your knwoledge and practice. The book help you very much
in that sense because it gives you a method with the main steps, the traps you'll face
and the main show and debug command.It offers nice and sophisticated exercises
and labs. A very good way to check your level and practice "translation" of an
instruction into a configuration.
Does not include QOS, IPX, BGP but on those we already have the CD and good books.
For those not familiar with Cisco Voice and ATM, it gives exactly what we need for
the exam. With or without it, it requires work and practice. With some luck, I passed

2. on the first time.
Guide Rating
2) Cisco CCNP Certification LibraryCisco Press
"You get four comprehensive review and practice books, plenty of review questions
and real-world scenarios, plus four CD-ROMs containing realistic sample exams -- all
written by CCIEs and reviewed thoroughly by Cisco's own experts. The books cover all
four CCNP exams: routing, switching, remote access, and support. From managing
growth to troubleshooting campus networks, configuring PPP to deploying multicast,
it's here -- authoritative and complete." -Barnes&Noble Editors
By Rus Healy (Canadice, New York)Excellent
Once you have achieved the CCNA certification, your natural path points toward the
Cisco Certified Network Professional certification. This title from Cisco Press is a set
consisting of one book for each of the four exams specific to the CCNP certification.
This set includes the following books:
--CCNP BSCI Exam Certification Guide, Third Edition, by Claire Gough
--CCNP BCMSN Exam Certification Guide, by David Hucaby
--CCNP BCRAN Exam Certification Guide, Second Edition, by Brian Morgan and Craig
Dennis
--CCNP CIT Exam Certification Guide, Second Edition, by Amir S. Ranjbar
This set, covering diverse topics in significant detail, is an excellent CCNP preparation
tool. The material in the books focuses on Cisco's published objectives for the CCNP
exams, and covers them well. The longest and most unique book in this collection is
the volume on routing (BSCI). It's structured to cover the objectives for the 642-801
exam using several tools common to all the books in the set-namely detailed but
highly readable text, graphical, tabular, and router configuration examples, Q&A and
"Do I Know This Already?" quizzes, and the bundled CDROM. The graphics are
first-rate and illustrate key concepts clearly.

3. What sets the BSCI book apart from the others in the set, and other Cisco Press
books I've read, is the series of lab exercises at the end of each chapter. The BSCI labs
provide comprehensive scenarios that take in all the concepts taught in each chapter,
in step-by-step form. Answers are provided following each example so that you can
check your work. This book is particularly well-suited to self-study. This level of detail
and the inclusion of labs is key, since in my opinion, the CCNP routing exam (642-801)
is the most difficult one in all of Cisco's Professional-level certifications. It's
appropriate that the routing book, at 950 pages, contains about a third of the pages
of the entire set!
The labs in the routing book cover concepts that Cisco hits hard on the exam
questions and simulations, including OSPF, BGP and IS-IS. You'll need a fair amount of
Cisco equipment to do the lab work, but it's obtainable on-line and is worth the
investment if you want to do well on the exams and really understand the topics. For
a book of this size, the routing text is remarkably consistent and error-free. Although
I found a few minor errors here and there, the book is well-suited to self-study-in
part because it is so accurate. The overall structure and content of this book make it
the strongest learning tool I've seen for the BSCI exam.
Although the other three books in the set don't include this comprehensive level of
configuration exercises, they do provide some scenario-based material to reinforce
concepts.
All the texts are good for instructor-led training, or as a text for web-based training.
Although the other three books are all significantly shorter than the routing text,
they share many of the excellent traits that makes this set such a strong preparation
tool for the CCNP certification exams. I tried to use Exam Cram 2 texts in addition to
this Cisco Press set while preparing for the BSCI and BCMSN exams, and quickly
found that the Cisco Press set offers by far the clearest, most easily digested,
error-free and relevant information.
Each book in this set comes with a CD that contains a high-quality practice exam
engine (sourced by Boson), as well as the PDF text of the book and some sample
material from other Cisco Press titles. I found the CDs very useful-especially the test
engines, since a key part of studying for certification exams that are as difficult as
Cisco's CCNP exams is assessing what you've learned and how well you can apply it.
The self-tests include questions of each type that appear on the exams, including
basic simulation-type questions that are probably best called scenarios; they don't
have the look and feel of an actual router or switch interface during configuration, as
the exams do. They do, however, show you clearly whether you understand the
command syntax and topics being covered. The practice test questions are harder
and less forgiving, overall, than what's on the exams. I found that if I could make 75%
or better on the sample tests, my scores were significantly better on the CCNP

4. exams.
The weakest book in this set is the CIT text, which sticks strictly to Cisco's published
objectives for the exam. As such, it's a bit simplistic and doesn't exercise your mind
much when it comes to troubleshooting for results-it's oriented toward procedure
rather than outcome. The author lets you know to expect this going in, and I
appreciated his honesty. The three scenarios offered at the end of the book are
rather weak; I was hoping for substantial troubleshooting exercises. But all of the
topics on the CIT exam are fully covered in this book.
The BCMSN and BCRAN books are both excellent long-term references, along with
the BSCI text, and cover not only the core topics of the exams but also a lot of
information useful to networking people after the exams are distant memories. This
trait is the core strength of this set. The layout, graphics, quality writing and editing,
and extra learning tools make for an outstanding value. Overall, I can't recommend
this set highly enough. The highly motivated learner will find everything in this set
that's needed to pass the CCNP exams. That said, however, it is important to have
either professional experience, a set of readily available routers and switches, or
both, to make it over the CCNP hurdles.
These books have a prominent place on my bookshelf at work and at home. I have
two sets because I think the books are that good. Anyone interested in networking at
the geek level of detail will be well-served by this set.
Guide Rating
3) CCNA Practical StudiesGary Heap & Lynn Maynes
With over 500 pages of lessons and information, this is a useful study guide for the

5. new 640-607 exam. It offers hands-on networking lab scenarios to give you the best
learning tool with which to gain the knowledge you need to pass the CCNA exam. A
practice exam on CD would have won this a five star rating.
By Michael J Woznicki "Michael J Woznicki" (Holland, MA USA)Make a few updates
and this is a great book
I have always wished that there was some sort of lab manual for the Cisco Press
books that would allow the student to be able to work with real world examples.
Now with the release of Practical Studies you have a handy study companion to work
with.
The 500 page book is more than just an ad-on reference manual it is a useful study
tool for the new 640-607 exam. The authors went to a great deal of time and effort
to make sure all exam objectives were covered and the material up to date and
technically accurate.
One thing I was impressed with is that this book fits right into any ICND training
course because not only does it cover the exam it provide information for other
CCNP exams as well. The breakdown examples use actual router code and show you
what is happening throughout the examples.
While this manual is for the intermediate to advanced user the material is tailored
made for those ready to take the exam but need just a little more help. One
drawback is that you...Read more
Guide Rating
6) CCNP: Cisco Certified Network Professional Exam NotesToddLammle
This book covers all of the information to pass the four CCNP certification exams. It
provides detailed analysis of all exam objectives and the CD includes an electronic
version of the book, 4 sample exams, and 200 electronic flashcards.
By HERSH BHATT Excellent to help u towards passing the CCNP
Trying to attain the CCNP and CCDP certification is my goal for the career. I have been
working at this for over a year now and found several good books on the subject
matter. Todd Lammle's CCNP Exam Notes is certainly making life easier and the
studying is going great.
While this book is not the end all for the four Cisco CCNP exams, the book does break
down each exam objective and give an overview of what you need to know. This is an
excellent reference book to coincide with the actual study guides. I have also used
this book in the CCNA classes I teach.
Part 1 of the book breaks down routing, from IP addressing to OSPF in a single and
multiple area to EIRGP and BGP and route summarization. Also covered is classless

6. and classful routing and differences between RIP1 and RIP 2.
Part 2 is switching with topics like VLANS, STA, STP, Inter-Vlan routing, multi=layer
switching, multicasting. Part 3 covers the remote access exam with topics like WAN
components, connection types, what connection works in what situation,
authentication with PAP and CHAP as well as ISDN and DDR.
Other topics covers in this section include Frame Relay, PVC and SVC, setting up DLCI,
X.25 , NAT and PAT. Finally Part 4 Support; with IOS troubleshooting commands,
troubleshooting areas like TCP/IP, AppleTalk, Serial links, ISDN, IPX and switches.
The cd-rom included has 4 practice tests, 1 for each exam and over 200 flash cards
which can be used on a pc or with a palm device as well as e-version of the book.
Over all the price is small compared to the amount of information included. Todd
Lammle is certainly proving why more people turn to his books than any others out
there today.
Guide Rating
4)Cisco CCNA Exam #640-607 Flash Card Practice KitEric Rivard
"This unique kit offers more than 350 CCNA test prep questions in physical, PC, or
handheld formats as well as a 500-question test bank that tests a candidate's
profiency. Designed for anyone looking to get an extra edge on the Cisco Certification
Exams, these cards are a great supplement to the basic CCNA cirriculum."
-Barnes&Noble Editors
By M. Dawson (SF, CA United States) Good but BROKEN
A good tool to help in the questions it asks.
The test engine is broken however. It has multiple choice buttons where you clearly
need to select more than one answer, yet can only choose one. Some questions are
totally wrong, so verify each wrong answer you get from the test engine before you
count it or commit it to memory for the CCNA.
It is good in helping you understand the type of questions you will encounter, from
CLI, to move boxes around, to type out the answers. (Spelling does count and I have
been told it does on the CCNA as well.) The fact that if you type "router" and it wants
"routers" is just wrong and messed up. Many questions have been missed because I
typed "Spanning-tree" and it wanted "Spanning-tree protocol". Note it will not take
STP either. IMHO: A serious flaw in Cisco's testing and this flash card kit. One note I
recommend. Hand Write all your flash cards. Don't rely on the print outs. You will
have better retention.
For the money, it is worth a buy. It is helpful in orienting you to the new 607 test

7. format. If nothing else, it forces you to double check your wrong answers. Just don't
count on it to be totally accurate and don't let it's flawed low test scores discourage
you.
Guide Rating
5) Cisco CCNA Exam #640-607 Certification GuideWendell Odom
"Odom has designed the book to offer two learning pathways: one for readers "who
need a thorough background before their final study time"; the other for readers
who are "reviewing and filling in the missing parts of their CCNA knowledge. Well
organized, easy to understand, and respectful of your time, CCNA Exam Certification
Guide, Third Edition is worthy of the Cisco logo it bears." -Barnes&Noble Editors
By "bcurry7895" (Chicago, IL USA)Not for starter in Cisco, wrong answers on CD test
questions
As mentioned by some other readers that this book is not for beginners. The author
take the start from directly the cisco operating system instead of first building the
ground for a new commer to understand the networks, its topologies and some
other terms. Some of the chapters are explained very well like 'OSI Data Link Layer
Functions', 'LANs Bridges and Switches', 'Spanning Trees, VLANs and Trunking'. Most
of the time author goes in so much details that at least at a CCNA level you don't
need it.
Another big issue is the test questions on the CD. There are many questions with
wrong answers. For example correct answers shows for one of the questions is
"line-vty 0 4". Infact there is no command in Cisco IOS with the dash in between
'Line' and 'vty'. The correct answer 'line vty 0 4' also listed in the options for the same
questions but when you click on the button to show the right answers it will select
the wrong one and score you on the same.
There are issues with the drag and drop items. You drop the items correctly, you saw
them that they are correct by clicking the button to see the result, yet when you
complete the test the result shows that you never selected the answer rather you
skipped the question. The test engine has certain issues that will not give the student
the right score. There are spelling mistakes on the question. Another question that
asks that how many bits in node section of the IPX has all the options listed for Apple
Talk protocol. None of the options for this questions can bsseleceted for IPX. These
are only the few I mentioned and I am sure that there are many more.
The reader who said that he teahces the classes for Cisco and the CD is excellent has
to review it before writing any comments and misleading the new reader.
If you need to pass the exam you need to get two books. This book and Sybex book
written by Todd lammle for CCNA. Read the material that you think you can digest
from it and read the rest from another book.

8. Guide Rating |
More Notes: Best Path for Getting Your CCNA Certification
Core Topics Covered on the CCNA Exam