Reddit reviews CCNA Routing and Switching ICND2 200-101 Official Cert Guide
We found 7 Reddit comments about CCNA Routing and Switching ICND2 200-101 Official Cert Guide. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Just go with the odom books. That's what I used for the icnd 1 and 2.
http://amzn.com/1587143852 icnd 1
http://amzn.com/1587143739 icnd 2
http://amzn.com/1587143879 Comprehensive kit
(Includes "The New Edition of the Best-Selling two-book value priced CCNA Official Cert Guide Library includes Updated Content, New Exercises, 8 Practice Exams, and 150 Minutes of Video Training -- PLUS the CCENT and CCNA Network Simulator Lite Editions with 26 Free Network Simulator Labs." my recommendation)
Read them while constantly asking yourself, "Do I understand this?." Most people complain the books are dry but that wasn't the case for me. I was too busy making sure I comprehended everything, if not, I'd jump on google for clarification. I'd also recommend lammle but I don't think he made a book yet for the new revision of the ccna. odom and cbt + labs should be enough.
Depending on your level of knowledge:
Networking
Brocade IP Primer I haven't read it myself, but some guys around these parts that I have a lot of respect for recommend it highly for beginners.
CCENT Offical Cert Guide Good next step after above and gets you the CCENT cert which is half the ccna if you pass the test.
CCNA Official Cert Guide Next step after CCENT, gets you CCNA obviously if you pass the test.
If you need to know some basic wireless, I highly recommend the CWTS by CWNP. It is meant more as marketing/sales, but honestly its a really good entry into wifi. You can always follow it up with the CWNA after.
And an always favorite, the network warrior. This book really brings it all together for doing day-to-day networking for a ccna level. I haven't read all of it, but the majority I did read really clarified what I the CCNA brushed over.
As far as Microsoft and other tech's, I highly recommend getting your hands on CBT Nuggets (Yeah, its a bit expensive ~$1000 / year) and just start devouring as much as you can. Watch two or three shows a night? Sub one of them for a CBT nuggets vid. Just devour a few books and some vids and do your best to lab (either in vmware or with gear) and you'll be off to a really great start.
On a political level at work, I'd be fighting for some training (again cbtnuggets or the like) saying, hey tech is always moving forward and you need it to keep up and benefit the company. If you stay hungry you'll do just fine :)
Here is the CCNA path as printed on Cisco's website. My recommendation would be to take the 100-101 (ICND1) to earn the CCENT, then after passing that test take the 200-101 (ICND2) for the CCNA. I own the OCG books intended for the seperate tests, I am not sure if the OCG for 200-120 has it split for single tests. In the Sybex CCNA Routing and Switching book by Lammle, it does split into sections for the CCENT and CCNA.
There is a composite test that will get you the CCNA in one test, it is more expensive ($250 USD I think), versus the ICND1 and ICND2 being $150 USD each. I recommend the seperate tests, you can think of splitting up the CCNA test into two exams as using a checkpoint in a video game. No sense in starting over if you make a mistake or don't fully understand a topic. I think most here will agree, and most taking the 200-120 will be doing it for a re-certification or have years of experience in the technology.
Also keep in mind the questions on the exam are likely different than what you are used to. There are multiple-answer multiple choice, matching, simlets, etc. If you make the mistake and click Next before answering all the sections on a Simlet it will move to the next question. To get used to the question format, I would highly recommend investing in the Boson practice tests for your exam. They will help link all of the topics in your head and prepare you for success in your endeavor. At the Boson site there should be some sample tests if you question their quality. Good luck.
As someone else said, the second link is for both exams, so I would just go with that. Personally I like physical books, and Cisco Press has a few published that are handy
http://amzn.com/1587143852
http://amzn.com/1587143739
However, I would HIGHLY recommend going for the single 200-120 exam
First you should be aware that Cisco is introducing new exams at the CCNA level. The 640-822 and 640-816 are being replaced by the 100-101 and 200-101. So make sure you buy study materials for the correct tests.
Suggested study guides: 1 and 2
If you can afford it, pay for CBT nuggets. It's $100 per month for access to their videos. Yes, that's a lot of money, but you get what you pay for.
You will need something to practice configuring IOS routers with. Option 1 is to find a copy of packet tracer. You'll have to figure that one out for yourself.
Another option is a program called GNS3. This program allows you to emulate Cisco routers, but you will need to provide your own copy of the IOS. Also it doesn't support emulation of switches.
Your final option would be to use real gear. For a few hundred dollars you can build a home lab that will allow you to practice everything you need for the exams. There are many pros and cons to building a home lab. At the CCNA level packet tracer is usually a better idea.
The updated version is already released. Look up the 100-101 and 200-101 exams if you want to take them in 2 parts or the 200-120 exam if you want to take it all at once.
The two-part books that cover everything:
http://www.amazon.com/Cisco-CCENT-ICND1-100-101-Official/dp/1587143852/
http://www.amazon.com/Cisco-Routing-Switching-200-101-Official/dp/1587143739/
You probably don't need to build up a lab if you're going to stop at CCNA. Cisco's Packet Tracer is included with the books and you can use GNS3 to virtualize routers to practice on. That said, if you'd like the hands-on experience, feel free to grab hardware from ebay. Decent stuff to go with:
Of course, check /r/ccna
Pick up this book for the new test (this one for the old test), or similar book that has a software CD with a practice test. Do the practice test. At the end of the test, it will tell you which chapters you need to study the most.
Repeat until you are able to pass the practice test easily. (And not just by knowing the correct answers from repeat questions.) The practice test in this book is slightly harder than Cisco's exam in my opinion. If you can ace it, you should be good on the exam.