(Part 2) Top products from r/ccna

Odom 100-101

Lammle 100-101

There are 200-101 and/or 200-120 versions of both books, but I'm sure you can dig those up pretty easily on your own.

The material I mentioned (and hated) in my first post were from Cisco's Net Acad. The classroom pace is really slow for the most part. I can't speak too much for the Lammle book, but Odom had me up and running really quickly. Lammle's is probably easier to digest.

I think I get your issue, I had a similar one. Best thing you can do is take things into your own hands. Do your own labs / exercises and experiment. I'm sure you've heard of Wireshark. If you have the hardware in class (or use VMs) do some simple packet captures. An easy one would be capturing the traffic from a telnet session from your machine to a router / switch. You'll see everything (and I do mean everything) and it'll hopefully solidify your understanding of the basic (important) concepts. Don't know the current curriculum but if you're early into the course you'll recognize Source / Destination IP and MAC addresses action along with port #s. Could do a topology like VM --> Switch --> Router to poke around and see how switches forward traffic. It's easy to do and enlightening.

And if by wiring switches and routers is an issue (I'm assuming straight vs crossover) what helped me was thinking about the layers of devices. This isn't 100% accurate, but for the basic devices (routers, workstations, hubs(lol), switches) use a straight if the devices work on different layers and use a crossover for same-layer devices. Hub is actually Layer 1, but group it with the switch for cabling.

Layer 3: Workstations / Routers

Layer 2: Switches

Switch to switch = crossover (both work on the L2 level)

Switch to hub = crossover

Router to workstation = crossover (both work in the L3 level)

Workstation to switch = straight

Router to switch = straight

And for CCNA you'll mostly care about Layers 4 and down, layers 2 and 3 are most important. 4 = ports / TCP or UDP. 3 = IP. 2 = MAC. 1 = physical (fiber, ethernet, serial)

Apologies for the small novel. The more you work with it (self labs!) the better you'll grasp the concepts.

Believe it or not, the 2509 is actually cheaper than the module you're looking for.

The module that would support what you want to do is an HWIC-8A. On eBay, they range anywhere from $250-$1k. Not only that, but you would need a compatible router (basically, an 1841, 1941, or any 2800/2900/3800/3900 series ISR) as well as the appropriate cabling (CAB-HD8-ASYNC, about $20-$40 on eBay).

You might be able to use a smaller module (like an HWIC-4A/S or an HWIC-4T), but the wiring is going to be a pain (meaning, you're going to effectively be making your own cables using serial-to-RJ45 pinout adapters, then using rollover cables to connect to your devices) and the cost isn't much better than going with an HWIC-8A or 8A/S.

Why so expensive, you ask? Well, think of it from a business perspective. You're the netadmin for a medium-sized business, and after a network outage that cost the company $100K+ that was prolonged partially because you needed to drive 45 minutes to the datacenter to console into your core switch/router, you need an out-of-band management solution. The HWIC-8A/S is in pretty high demand because they allow any old ISR to suddenly be used as an access server. Furthermore, I believe it has two ports for a total of 16 connections. Throw four of those babies in your old 3825, and you have 64 individual connections you can console into. That means a single terminal server will allow you to console into the top-of-rack switches across your entire datacenter. Let's assume you want some redundancy, so you get a second terminal server to plug into the Aux ports of your network devices - you've solved a $100K+ problem for less than $1k in equipment costs.

You might be able to come up with a homebrewed solution using a physical Linux server and some USB-to-serial connectors, as described in this blogpost. However, if you need thirteen devices to have console access, and USB-to-serial converters are $10 a pop, and rollover cables are $5 a piece (maybe more, maybe less), you're getting close to access server-levels of cost anyway. So, might as well go for the "proper" solution and save yourself potential hassle in the future.

here is my 2c

it is crucial that you understand subnet masking as it's like 70% of ipv4 networking and unfortunately the first thing you need to wrap your brain around as you will be working with VLSM in most networking labs/scenarios. download this pdf and just start plugging along..

Sormcontrol.net is a nice online tool to help with learning subnets.


once you finish that workbook and feel comfortable with variable length subnets, start working on these problems in your spare time and at your own pace. your goal should be to solve any single subnetting problem within 30 seconds.


now that you understand a bit of subnetting, you need to begin learning the OSI-model, focus mainly on the layers 1 (sending bits across a medium), 2 (mac address switching) ,3 (ip routing), and 4 (tcp, udp, and icmp ports). here are two of my favorite beginners books to networking.
Microsoft Windows Networking Essentials, &
Cisco Introduction to Networks V6


Once you've read those books you should be ready to learn routing and switching. Focus your attention here to static routing, dhcp, nat, basic ACLs, and to understanding switchports and vlan related things like trunking and routing on a stick.

Next book you want to read is going to be on dynamic routing and scaling networks for large environments.This is where you delve into dynamic routing protocols (RIP, EIGRP, OSPF) and redundancy/failover protocols such as spanning-tree, etherchannel, and HSRP.


This is a nice book to read along the way and to sort of tie all of the knowledge you've learned so far together into short succinct chapters.

Download GNS3 or Packet Tracer if you want to simulate networks and labs at your desktop. You can learn a lot about the concepts and protocols presented in the books by searching on youtube things like "GNS3 dhcp" or "Packet Tracer dhcp".

I don't know about CBT nuggets, but just focus on what I've linked you and if you are going to follow anything online, the topic of routing and switching is the way to go as it is fundamental. Study like you are trying to pass the CCENT exam and then study for the CCNA exam.

I don’t mean that you should necessarily take the CWNA exam, I’m just saying it’s a better general resource than the cisco press wireless books.

Use the cisco resources that’s fine, but I would highly recommend you read the CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide as well.

The CWNA book will better prepare you for CCNA Wireless is what I’m saying.

The world of networking is huge. It's a marathon not a sprint. Huge repositories of information exist. Take your time to go through them.

Start with these -

https://www.amazon.com/TCP-Illustrated-Vol-Addison-Wesley-Professional/dp/0201633469

https://www.amazon.com/TCP-IP-Illustrated-Implementation-Vol/dp/020163354X

Use this to help supplement your studies -

https://www.amazon.com/Network-Warrior-Gary-Donahue/dp/1449387861/

As always Cisco has a ton of white papers -

http://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en_us/about/security/intelligence/urpf.pdf

Free Presentations from Cisco Live -

https://www.ciscolive.com/online/connect/search.ww



If you wish to look at things from a different vendors perspective look into Juniper Day One -

http://www.juniper.net/us/en/training/jnbooks/day-one/

Finally RFCs are good place to get the nitty gritty of the protocols/standards -


OSPF

here is something like what you would want. POE + Gigabit. Looks like the used price is somewhere around $150.

here is one is you want to sacrifice gigabit. Basically that feature will cost you an extra $100 at least.

When I was switch shopping I ended up with a 3750E for around $150. It's the price you pay for gigabit networking.

Most of the 10/100 models have gigabit uplinks, but they are in the form of SFP modules so you would have to get yourself the necessary hardware to utilize them. Better off just getting full gigabit IMO.

First take this as a learning experience. I failed it with that same score last month and past it this month. I would skip the dummies book because it is not really full of good information and get the this book Todd CCENT

Give yourself another month and have at it.

Happy birthday good sir.

Thank you for the detailed advice. I believe I've found the book that you mentioned on Amazon, though it was published in 2008. Should this suffice or would something more recent be better?

Thank for the advice tho, Which book are you using for study?
I found this one that is the official cert book:
http://www.amazon.com/Implementing-Network-Security-Foundation-Learning/dp/1587142724/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422066899&sr=1-9&keywords=ccna+security&pebp=1422066937544&peasin=1587142724

And this looks the same but is the fundation(Do you know the difference?). And according with the review it doesnt help much on the test due is way to extensive lol.
http://www.amazon.com/Implementing-Network-Security-Foundation-Learning/dp/1587142724/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422066899&sr=1-9&keywords=ccna+security&pebp=1422066937544&peasin=1587142724

Use a regular console cable [RJ45 to DB9][1], coupled with a serial to USB [DB9 to USB][2].

The above is a better setup, and a bit more reliable than a straight up [RJ45 to USB][3] cable. (imo)



[1]:http://www.amazon.com/72-3383-01-Rollover-Console-Cable-Female/dp/B005S2KPPU "RJ45 to DB9"
[2]:http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Serial-RS-232-Converter-CB-DB9P/dp/B00IDSM6BW "DB9 to USB"
[3]:http://www.amazon.com/CISCO-Console-Cable-Replaces-72-3383-01/dp/B00I8CT8YG "RJ45 to USB"

You could also go with something like this:

http://www.amazon.ca/Implementing-Network-Security-Foundation-Learning/dp/1587142724/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1420239263&sr=1-1

I took a security course from this author a few weeks ago, she really knows her stuff.

Just throwing in that I've found the CCNA portable command guide book extremely helpful for learning the CLI.

Yup, get yourself packet tracer. I also recommend the CCNA command guide for studying. SO MANY LABS!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Routing-Switching-Portable-Command-100-105/dp/1587205882/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475319461&sr=8-1keywords=CCNA+Routing+and+Switching+Portable+Command+Guide+%28ICND1+100-105%2C+ICND2+200-105%2C+and+CCNA+200-125%29

Also if you buy the OCG (Official Cert Guide), there are companion books that you can get also, the companion guides reference workbooks. The workbooks have labs and such written out that you can do in Packet Tracer / GNS3 / VIRL / Physical.

Here are Amazon links to all of the official Cisco books for CCENT (ICND-1):

• OCG 100-105
  
• Introduction to Networks v6
  
• Introduction to Networks v5.1 Lab Manual
  
• Routing and Switching Essentials v6
  
• Routing and Switching Essentials - Labs & Study Guide
  

You know they have Official books as well, right? https://smile.amazon.com/SECFND-210-250-210-255-Official-Library/dp/1587145006/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519698441&sr=8-1&keywords=ccna+cyberops

I use one of these.

http://www.amazon.com/GearMo%C2%AE-36inch-Windows-Certified-Drivers/dp/B004ETDC8K/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1394157353&sr=8-9&keywords=usb+serial

It works quite well, especially if configured with ser2net, if you're using linux.

In my case I'm running 5 switches, on a serial port. Interfacing with Routers in GNS3 running on a Linux box.

Is the Lammle's CCNA book the complete edition for 100-105 and 200-105? Also, it's 2017, is that fine?

This is the version I bought:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119375126/

It is focused on the current version of the tests. I assume a lot of the material will carry over to the new tests coming up in February 2020, but if you don't plan on getting certified before then you might want to wait for a newer revision.

Me too! In my college I've joined Cisco Networking Academy Program for 3 years. Maybe this book will help, but it's a little outdated.

TRENDnet TU-S9 USB to Serial Converter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007T27H8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_s5wuxb8XTQ24G

I have a couple of these that work just fine.

I've test with 2 USB to serial adapters This and This. OP of the article uses This 4 to 1 cable but I personally thought it was a bit expensive.

I have the rasp pi 2. It should work with all versions though.

I haven't tested with a usb hub just yet. But I can and will. I don't see why you would need a powered one though.


wifi adapter

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Serial-RS-232-Converter-CB-DB9P/dp/B00IDSM6BW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479225100&sr=8-1&keywords=9pin+serial+to+usb ?

https://www.amazon.com/Cisco-WS-C3560-24PS-S-Catalyst-3560-24PS-100BASE-TX/dp/B0001LFZUI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1502936475&sr=8-2&keywords=cisco+3560

is this an example of something I could get?

The official certification guide was just released

https://www.amazon.com/CCNA-200-301-Official-Cert-Guide/dp/0135792738

Do you have kindle? IP Subnetting - From Zero to Guru https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KV7N8WS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_.4kLDbGGWWEAM

I bought the below book during my studies.

CCNA Routing and Switching Portable Command Guide (ICND1 100-105, ICND2 200-105, and CCNA 200-125) (4th Edition) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1587205882/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_kxiHAb5ZDVK8F

The cert guide listed above is a single book, but according to the info I see you need to pass 2 tests and the cert guide for the whole smash is this one: https://www.amazon.com/SECFND-210-250-210-255-Official-Library/dp/1587145006/

comments? am I imagining things?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1587143070/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1504589979&sr=8-4

im looking at this book after the ocg, and i also bought chris bryant udemy course.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1587131978

Get those if you are studying for the current ccna.

This is the new one.
CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, Volume 1 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0135792738/

That's because that book is an abomination. I read it dilligently for months. Then started taking practice exams. Oh look, a whole bunch of stuff never mentioned in OCG. I wonder if anyone else has had this problem?

CCNA Security 210-260 Official Cert Guide https://www.amazon.com/dp/1587205661/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_sP1Byb84VZKKK

Everyone. Read the reviews. Made me mad enough to stop studying. Only now getting back into it. I've watched all of Chris Bryant's video courses on the material and still feel like I know nothing. I had to look long and hard for suitable PT labs and found some today. Went through a few and am starting to piece it all together.

Sorry, fat fingered the hell out of that. I meant OCG. Official Certification Book. Specifically, this by Omar Santos. Just finished reading it cover-to-cover today. I'm, maybe, 50% ready to actually take the test. :-(