Put Yourself to the Test


The following series of questions and observations is designed to help you figure out how much work you'll face in pursuing Cisco career certification and what kinds of resources you can consult on your quest. Be absolutely honest in this self-assessment, or you'll end up wasting money on exams you're not ready to take. There are no right or wrong answers, only steps along the path to certification. Only you can decide where you really belong in the broad spectrum of aspiring candidates.

Two things should be clear from the outset, however:

  • Even a modest background in computer science will be helpful.

  • Hands-on experience with Cisco switches, routers, and technologies is an essential ingredient for certification success.

Educational Background

  1. Have you ever taken any computer- related classes? (Yes or No)

    If yes, proceed to question 2; if no, proceed to question 4.

  2. Have you taken any classes in the Cisco curriculum? (Yes or No)

    If yes, you will probably be able to handle the discussions relating to the Cisco product configuration and troubleshooting. If you're rusty, brush up on the basic concepts and networking. If the answer is no, consider some basic reading in this area. I strongly recommend CCNA Exam Cram 2 , Que, James Jones and Sheldon Barry, ISBN: 0-7897-3019-7 2003. If this title doesn't appeal to you, check out reviews for other, similar titles at your favorite online bookstore. You can expect to see a long list.

  3. Have you taken any networking concepts or technologies classes? (Yes or No)

    If yes, you will probably be able to handle the networking terminology, concepts, and technologies (but brace yourself for frequent departures from normal usage). If you're rusty, brush up on basic networking concepts and terminology. If your answer is no, you might want to check out some titles on the Transport Communication Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), subnetting, LAN and WAN transmission methodology, as well as the OSI Reference Model.

  4. Have you done any reading on routing or routed protocols? (Yes or No)

    If yes, review the requirements from questions 2 and 3. If you meet them, move to the next section, "Hands-On Experience." If you answered no, consult the recommended reading for both topics. This kind of strong background will be of great help in preparing for the CCNP exams.

Hands-On Experience

Another important key to success on all the CCNP tests is hands-on experience. If I leave you with only one realization after taking this self-assessment, it should be that there's no substitute for time spent installing, configuring, and troubleshooting Cisco technologies.

  1. Have you installed, configured, and worked with a Cisco switch or router? (Yes or No)

    If yes, make sure you understand the basic concepts covered in Exam 642-831.

    If you haven't worked with Cisco routers or switches, you need to find a way to get hands-on experience or the equivalent thereof. There are several router simulation programs available from Cisco or other third parties if you do not have the funds or access to the physical equipment. If you or your employer can afford to pay for training, Cisco's official class curriculum is offered through Cisco Training Partners.

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You can obtain the exam objectives, practice questions, and other information about Cisco exams from the Cisco's Training and Certification page on the Web at http://www.cisco.com/training.


Before you even think about taking any Cisco exam, make sure you've spent enough time with Cisco products. You should understand how Cisco routers and switches are installed and configured, how to maintain such an installation, and how to troubleshoot when things go wrong. This will help you in the exam as well as in real life.



CCNP CIT Exam Cram 2 (642-831)
CCNP CIT Exam Cram 2 (Exam Cram 642-831)
ISBN: 0789730219
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 213
Authors: Sean Odom

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