Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching ICND2 200-101 Official Cert Guide + Cisco CCENT/CCNA ICND1 100-101 Official Cert Guide: Academic Edition HAR/DVD Edition

Perfect self-study guide for the CCENT/CCNA! NOTE: You'll need to download the errata and updates from the Cisco Press website. Included software is not the best for practice exams.This is a perfect tool to add to your toolbox if you're going for the Cisco CCENT or CCNA. However, you'll probably need to supplement these books with additional study material. The books are very detailed and give a great explanation of the topics in the Cisco exams. You'll benefit from adding some additional training to supplement these books. I would suggest either a home lab with real equipment or a network simulator, this way you can fully experience IOS commands and configuration. I'd also suggest a video training course, such as CBT Nuggets.Be sure to go to the Cisco Press website and download the errata and updates for the books (mostly the ICND-2 book has many updates since being published.) This way you'll be getting the latest information and training. Specifically, the ICND-2 book is lacking in subjects such as Rapid Spanning Tree, First Hop Redundancy Protocols, and OSPF/EIGRP. The free download of the updated content from Cisco Press has these topics covered in more detail. Also the errata will help with the few minor typo's the books have. So be sure to download them!!!The included software leaves a lot to be desired. While it is handy having all of the book practice questions available on the computer, along with the chapter review quizzes, the included Practice Exams are not the greatest. I will say this, the practice exam and part-review quizzes are MUCH more difficult than the actual exam. Wendell Odom went out of his way to make the practice questions as literal as possible, so beware of several trick questions that you'll get wrong because you didn't pay attention to exactly how the answers are worded. This can be discouraging because you'll score low on the practice questions even though you think you know the content, in actuality it's a good thing. Once you can pass the practice questions with passing scores you should really know the content and be prepared for the real exam.I passed the CCENT exam using these books along with CBT Nuggets videos and equipment in my home lab. I'm almost ready to take the CCNA exam and feel confident that I'll do well. I decided to review these books now that I've read through both of them a few times and have already taken one exam. Just remember, unless you already have experience with Cisco IOS and networking, you'll probably want to supplement your training with study materials other than these books. It's doubtful that just reading these books alone will fully prepare you for the exams.Good luck!

After being certified several years ago and letting it lapse (bad idea, kids) I needed to re-start my certification track. Cisco has introduced the concept of technology trains into their certifications so all 3 levels - CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE - all now have technology specialization tracks. The CCNA Routing & Switching material here provides the training necessary to pass both of the "pre-cert" tests (which will wind up granting you the CCENT cert along the way, if you go that route) or to pass the 1 "combined" test that gets you straight to the CCNA R&S.These books are very well written with explanations about how the technology got to the point where it is today, lots of tips and techniques, and a full treatment of everything you would need to know to pass the exam. A study strategy of how to use the 2 books together to study in a coherent manner for the test is provided and I do recommend you follow it. I use these skills for my job and I held certifications previously, so this was more a matter of studying up on current approaches and reminding myself of technologies that I don't use daily than anything else, so I managed to get through all of this in about 4 days of serious study. That said, I think anyone with some basic understanding of the concepts of networking should be able to use this material to pass the certification test in 2-3 weeks if you put in the time to read it all.Cisco Press has released some serious dogs in their day but this set is definitely not one of those. It's worth the money and the time and I think you'll be well pleased.

When you buy this library instead of each boot separately you get one book for free. I would highly recommend spending the money for the premium content. You well find the code you need to do this (purchase premium content) on the card inside the DVD sleeve in the back of the book. Do not skip the "contents" "introduction" and " Getting started" Mr. Odom uses these section to explain how to use both books and the premium content to study for the CCNA. Mr. Odom even provides a suggested Study Plan in appendix P. The Library (witch is both books) provides the purchaser with a way to prepare for the 2 test track or the 1 test track, Pearson IT Certification Practice Test Engine (Windows Only), Network Simulator Lite (Windows and MAC), Video Library, and the appendixes have more information on how to subnet and other areas of the CCNA. But, if you purchase the premium content you well receive Premium edition of the book in PDF, EPUB, Kindle format, Enhanced Practice Test Engine, two additional ICND1 practice test, and two additional full CCNA practice test and you get all this the premium content at a 70% discount off the list price of $39.99. I can honestly say that Wendell Odom and his team have out done themselves with this package deal, O one other thing you can also go to Wendell Odom website and access his blog and other features that accompany this truly great CCNA Certification package.