Cisco System Administrators in the Real World

In the next section, we describe an ideal CCNP system administrator candidate, knowing full well that only a few actual candidates meet this ideal. In fact, our description of that ideal candidate might seem downright scary. But take heart: Although the requirements to obtain a CCNP certification might seem formidable, they are by no means impossible to meet. However, you should be keenly aware that it does take time, requires some expense, and calls for a substantial effort.

You can get all the real-world motivation you need from knowing that many others have gone before you. You can follow in their footsteps. If you're willing to tackle the process seriously and do what it takes to gain the necessary experience and knowledge, you can take and pass the certification tests. In fact, the Exam Cram 2s and, as available per topic, the companion Training Guides are designed to make it as easy as possible for you to prepare for these exams, but prepare you must!

The same, of course, is true for other Cisco certifications, including the following:

• Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI), which concentrates on the routing aspects. Topics covered include Variable Length Subnet Masking (VLSM), Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), and Border Gateway Protocol (BGP).

• Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks (BCMSN), which covers asynchronous learning networks (ALN) switching topics. This exam tests your knowledge of different types of switches and their functions, as well as switching standards and features.

• Cisco Internetwork Troubleshooting (CIT), which is the troubleshooting component of the CCNP. It tests your troubleshooting ability across the board with Cisco products. This exam expands on all the troubleshooting components in the other CCNP exams.

The Ideal CCNP Candidate

Just to give you some idea of what an ideal CCNP candidate is like, here are some relevant statistics about the background and experience such an individual might have. Don't worry if you don't meet these qualifications (or, indeed, if you don't even come close), because this world is far from ideal, and where you fall short is simply where you'll have more work to do. The ideal candidate has the following:

• Academic or professional training in Cisco IOS, the operating system that runs Cisco routers. This hands-on experience might be with real networking devices or with simulator applications.

• Two-plus years of professional system administration experience, including experience installing, monitoring, and troubleshooting systems and network problems. You should have a solid understanding of business demands on a network.

We believe that well under half of all certification candidates meet these requirements. In fact, most probably meet less than half of these requirements (that is, at least when they begin the certification process). However, because all those who have their certifications already survived this ordeal, you can survive it, too especially if you heed what this "Self Assessment" can tell you about what you already know and what you need to learn.

Put Yourself to the Test

The following series of questions and observations is designed to help you figure out how much work you will face in pursuing Cisco certification and what kinds of resources you can consult on your quest. Be absolutely honest in your answers, 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 is helpful.

• Hands-on experience with Cisco IOS and routing and switching 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 or passed previous exams on Cisco routers? (Yes or No)

   If yes, you will probably be able to handle the discussions relating to the IOS and system administration. If the answer is no, consider some basic reading in this area or starting with the CCNA certification. We strongly recommend a good Cisco system administration book, such as the CCNA Certification Library from Cisco Press.

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 Transport Communication Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).

4. Have you done any reading on networks? (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 is a great help in preparing for the Cisco exams.

Hands-On Experience

Another important key to success on all the Cisco tests is hands-on experience. If we leave you with only one realization after taking this "Self Assessment," it should be that there's no substitute for time spent designing, configuring, and using the various Cisco commands and tools on which you'll be tested repeatedly and in depth.

5. Have you installed, configured, and worked with Cisco IOS? (Yes or No)

   If yes, make sure you understand the basic concepts covered in Exam 642-821.

   If you haven't worked with Cisco IOS, you might consider purchasing a used router or two, as well as using simulator software. Then, learn about the installation and administration.

   

   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/en/US/learning/le3/le2/le37/le10/learning_certification_type_home.html.

   
   

   Before you even think about taking any Cisco exam, make sure you've spent enough time with the IOS to understand how it can be installed and configured, how to maintain such an installation, and how to troubleshoot that software when things go wrong. It will help you in the exam as well as in real life.

If you have the funds or your employer will pay your way, consider taking a class at a Cisco training partner.

Testing Your Exam Readiness

Whether you attend a formal class on a specific topic to get ready for an exam or use written materials to study on your own, some preparation for the Cisco certification exams is essential. At $125 a try, pass or fail, you want to do everything you can to pass on your first try. That's where studying comes in.

We include in this book several exam prep questions for each chapter and practice exams, so if you don't score well on the chapter questions, you can study more and then tackle the practice exams. If you don't earn a score of at least 70% on each practice exam, you'll want to investigate the other practice-test resources available via the Web. (Locate them by using your favorite search engine.)

For any given subject, consider taking a class if you've tackled self-study materials, taken the test, and failed anyway. If you can afford the privilege, the opportunity to interact with an instructor and fellow students can make all the difference in the world. For information about Cisco classes, visit the Certification Program page at http://www.cisco.com/pcgi-bin/front.x/wwtraining/CELC/index.cgi?action=IncSearchForm.

If you have more time than money, you might consider attending a Cisco Network Academy. Typically offered at established education institutions such as a college, the classes tend to run at a more leisurely pace and cost less. Find out more at http://cisco.netacad.net/public/gln/overview/index.html.

0. Have you taken a practice exam on your chosen test subject? (Yes or No)

   If yes and you scored 70% or better you're probably ready to tackle the real thing. If your score isn't above that crucial threshold, keep at it until you break that barrier. If you answered no, obtain all the free and low-budget practice tests you can find (or afford) and get to work. Keep at it until you can comfortably break the passing threshold.

There is no better way to assess your test readiness than to take a good-quality practice exam and pass with a score of 70% or better. When we're preparing, we shoot for 80+%, just to leave room for the "weirdness factor" that sometimes shows up on Cisco exams.

Assessing Your Readiness for Exam 642-821

In addition to the general exam-readiness information in the previous section, other resources are available to help you prepare for the exams. Three Web sites come to mind: http://www.groupstudy.com, http://www.tcpmag.com, and http://www.williamson.cx. Also, the comp newsgroups alt.certification.cisco and comp.dcom.sys.cisco are available via news services or http://google.com. The groups at http://groups.google.com are great places to ask questions about topics you are having trouble understanding and to get good answers or simply to observe the questions others ask (along with the answers, of course).

We'd also like to recommend that you check out these books as you prepare to take the exam:

• Cisco Press. Internetworking Technologies Handbook. Indianapolis, Indiana: Cisco Systems, 2003.

• Stallings, William. Data and Computer Communications. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2003.

One last note: We hope it makes sense to stress the importance of hands-on experience in the context of the exams. As you review the material for Cisco exams, you'll realize that hands-on experience with Cisco commands, tools, and utilities is invaluable.

Onward, Through the Fog!

After you've assessed your readiness, undertaken the right background studies, obtained the hands-on experience that will help you understand the products and technologies at work, and reviewed the many sources of information to help you prepare for a test, you'll be ready to take a round of practice tests. When your scores come back positive enough to get you through the exam, you're ready to go after the real thing. If you follow our assessment regimen, you'll not only know what you need to study, but also know when you're ready to make a test date at Prometric or VUE. Good luck!