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- `Ccnp Certification / Bcmsn Exam Tutorial: Hsrp Mac Addresses And Timers
To earn your CCNP certification and pass the BCMSN exam, you've got to know what HSRP does and the many configurable options. While the operation of HSRP is quite simple (and covered in a previous tutorial), you also need to know how HSRP arrives at the MAC address for the virtual router - as well as how to configure a new MAC for this virtual router. This puts us in the unusual position of creating a physical address for a router that doesn't exist!
The output of show standby for a two-router HSRP configuration is shown below. - Your Information Technology Career: Certification Vs. Experience
Whether you're just starting your Information Technology career, or wanting to get further ahead in your current IT career, you have probably thought about earning one of the many popular computer certifications such as the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification, or the MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) cert.
A major point of frustration for individuals pursuing one of these certifications is a possible lack of experience with these technologies. Many future CCNAs or MCSEs simply stop trying to earn their certification, feeling that their lack of experience will hold them back. - Your Information Technology Career: Beware The Comfort Zone
I've seen it happen time and again to programmers, network engineers and administrators, and other IT personnel. They get a solid IT position, a good-paying job, and they get comfortable. They stop keeping up with the latest technologies, they stop studying, they no longer keep their CCNA, MCSE, and other industry certifications up-to-date.... and then one day, their comfortable job is gone.
Maybe they get laid off, maybe the company moves and they don't want to move with it... but for one reason or another, they're in the worst position possible. They have no job, and they have allowed their IT skills to deteriorate to the point where they are no longer employable.
If you're in IT, you must be constantly learning. You must continually take the long view, and ask yourself three important questions. First, where do you want to be in three years? Second, what are you doing now in order to reach this goal? And finally, if you were laid off today, are your current skills sharp enough to quickly get another job? - Yahoo And The Peanut Butter Manifesto
One of the great internal battles at any successful company is the desire to expand versus the desire to branch out into other areas. After all, if an organization is wildly successful at one thing, they usually feel that they can be successful at anything.
That line of thinking is particularly true at Yahoo, Google, and MSN, today's three largest search engines. All three companies are continually expanding, and a senior executive at Yahoo recently sent an internal memo that basically said Yahoo is spreading itself too thin. Nothing unusual there, since it's common for executives at rapidly-expanding companies to guard against such things - but the comparison the exec used to draw this conclusion was rather unusual. - What To Expect When Taking Your First Cisco Certification Exam
Cisco Certification: Taking Your First Certification Exam
You’ve studied hard you’ve practiced your configurations you’ve used your flash cards over and over again and finally, the big day is here. Your first certification exam! - What Certification Should You Pursue After The Ccna ?
Once you've got your CCNA, you're ready to move on to the next level, the Professional certifications. For years, Cisco had one Professional certification, the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification. Over time, Cisco has expanded this level of certifications to include the Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP) and Cisco Certified Voice Professional (CCVP).
With security and voice being the two most rapidly expanding areas of today's networks, some new CCNAs consider going after the CCSP or CCVP without first adding the CCNP to their resume. - Tips On Buying A Cisco Ccna / Ccnp Home Lab Kit
Buying a CCNA / CCNP home lab is the best way to be totally prepared for your Cisco exams. Most home labs are put together one router or switch at a time, but many CCNA / CCNP candidates prefer to buy kits where you get multiple routers and switches, along with all the cables and other connection devices you'll need.
While this is a good idea, keep a few things in mind when purchasing Cisco home lab kits. - Three Ways To Jumpstart Your It Career
We all get stuck in ruts from time to time, and that happens on the job as well. You've thought about doing something different with your information technology career, but just haven't quite gotten around to it yet. Sound familiar?
You can make 2006 the best year yet for your IT career. There are several simple steps you can take to accelerate your career - but you have to take the step, not just think about it! - The Hidden Benefit Of Computer Certifications
The web is covered with stories regarding the benefits of professional computer certification, and most of them are backed up with salary surveys and the like. While there’s certainly nothing wrong with making more money and having better job prospects, there’s one benefit of certification that many candidates forget about.
Confidence. - The Future Of Computer Certification Exams
The format and difficulty of computer certification exams is constantly changing. When I took my first certification exam (Novell NetWare 3.1x CNA, January 1997), there was no such thing as a simulator question, and my practical skills really were not tested. The exams then were much heavier on memorization.
One factor that helped make up for that was that the Novell exams were adaptive. If you missed a question on a particular topic, you would continue to be asked questions about that topic until you got it right. You couldn't afford to be weak in any topic, because the exam would most likely find that out and keep hitting you with questions on that topic until you failed. - Taking A Look At Cisco's Ccvp Certification
I hardly have to tell you how important voice technologies are in today's networks; what we all need to keep in mind to maximize our career potential is how important knowing voice is going to be tomorrow.
We've always got to look forward in IT, both in our work and out studies. Cisco, always the pioneer in technical certifications, now offers a Cisco Certified Voice Professional certification that is gaining a lot of attention from IT professionals looking to add to their skills and their resume. - Starting Your Own Ebay Business: The Perils Of Creating Ebooks With Microsoft Word
In my previous eBay auction tutorial, I talked about my personal guarantee to you that you know something that someone on eBay is willing to pay to learn. Whether it's soup recipes, technical knowledge, fishing tips, or something else, I guarantee you can start an eBay home business just by writing about something you know about. No inventory, no huge startup costs - just writing! And when someone buys your electronic book, or "ebook", you just email it to them as an attachment - so you can sell to anyone in the world without any trips to the post office!
You've got to be careful about how you create this ebook, though, because the easier way may be eating into your profits without you knowing about it. - Starting Your Career In Information Technology - Or Accelerating Your Current One !
Many newcomers to the IT field are surprised when they find out it's tougher to get that first job than they thought it would be. I know exactly what that's like. I've had a great career in IT and I'd recommend it to anyone, but I had a tough time breaking in as well. I'd like to share some tips with you on how to get started on what can be a financially rewarding and personally satisfying career in Information Technology.
School systems are a great place to start. A lot of newcomers forget that schools around the world need IT personnel to support school networks, printers, etc. I began my career with a public school system and it was the best move I could ever have made. If you land such a job, you'll be doing everything from unjamming printers to supporting the school's Local Area Network (LAN). You get experience that is going to look great on your resume - you'll have a big advantage over those whose job responsibilities are narrower. You won't make a lot of money, but what you need at the beginning of your career is experience, not money. Which brings me to my second point .... - Securing Your Network And Your Career With Cisco's Ccsp Certification
You don't need me to tell you that security is the #1 concern in today's networks. With that in mind, your career path must include some security certifications, or you will be left behind.
Cisco's Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP) certification demands a candidate be well-rounded and well-versed in Cisco security measures. Besides the difficultly we've all come to expect from a Cisco exam, this five-exam path covers every major aspect of network security (from Cisco's viewpoint, anyway!) - Passing Your Ccna And Ccnp: Configuring And Troubleshooting Router-on-a-stick
For CCNA and CCNP candidates, it's hard not to laugh the first time you hear the phrase "router on a stick". Let's face it, that's a pretty silly term. But as those who have passed the CCNA and CCNP exams know, this is a vital exam topic that you must know how to configure and troubleshoot.
Basic Cisco theory states that for hosts in different VLANs to communicate, a Layer 3 device must be involved to handle the routing between the VLANs. That device is a router, and there are special considerations that must be taken into account for both the physical router itself and the configuration you'll be writing. - Passing The Cisco Ccna Exam: An Illustrated Guide To Router Modes
When you're getting started on your CCNA studies, learning the different router modes is key to passing your Intro and ICND exams. But keeping those modes straight can be very difficult. (At least it was for me!) Let's take a look at the various router modes you'll need to know about to pass your CCNA, and use IOS Help to illustrate the different uses of each mode.
The first mode you'll see on a router (if the person before you logged off as they should have) is user exec mode. This is also the default mode a user is placed into when using Telnet to connect to a router. The prompt will look like this: - Passing The Ccna And Ccnp: Three Myths About Cisco Exams
One of the drawbacks to the Internet is that it allows myths and "friend of a friend" stories to spread quickly, and usually the story becomes more exaggerated as it's passed along. Cisco exams are no exception. Here are three often-repeated myths and exaggerations regarding the CCNA and CCNP exams.
1. The survey you fill out before the exam determines the questions you'll get. Before you actually start your exam, Cisco presents you with a survey asking how you prepared and how comfortable you feel with certain technologies. It's a little awkward to rate yourself on Frame Relay, ISDN, etc., especially since the exam you're about to take covers those subjects. It's human nature to think that these questions impact your exam, but they do not. - Passing The Ccna And Ccnp: Home Lab Shopping On Ebay
Whether you're just getting ideas for your Cisco home lab or adding to your existing lab, ebay is a great place to get ideas for your lab as well as pick up some great bargains.
Of course, the internet being what it is, there are always going to be a few people looking to take your money while shipping you inferior merchandise, or worse, no merchandise at all. While these "dealers" are in the minority, you still need to be careful when purchasing Cisco equipment on ebay. In this article, I'll give you several tips on browsing ebay ads for home lab ideas, and a few things to look out for when purchasing equipment on ebay.
For those of you just starting your Cisco certification pursuit, the idea of purchasing a home lab kit -- a set of routers, switches, and perhaps some cables and study guides -- seems like a good idea. Instead of putting your lab together one piece at a time, these kits allow you to get a head start on your studies. - Passing The Ccna And Ccnp: Cisco Home Lab Faq
There is a real revolution today among CCNA and CCNP candidates. More and more of you are turning your back on "router simulators" and putting your own CCNA and/or CCNP Home Lab together, which is the best way to totally prepare to pass these tough Cisco exams.
I get hundreds of emails every month from CCNA and CCNP candidate who are putting together their first lab or adding to their existing one. I'm always glad to help with suggestions, and I thought I'd list five common questions regarding home labs here. - Passing The Ccna And Ccnp Exams: Setup Mode
CCNA and CCNP candidates need to know all about Setup Mode, why a router goes into that mode, and as you'll see, how to get out of that mode. Practicing Setup Mode at work is a good way to get fired, though, so you need to practice this on your CCNA / CCNP home lab or rack rental. In this article, we'll take a look at a Cisco 2500 router going into setup mode and a few tips that will help you pass the exams and excel at your job.
First, why does a router go into Setup Mode in the first place? When a Cisco router boots up, the router looks into Non-Volatile RAM (NVRAM) for the startup configuration file. If such a file is not found, and the router has not been programmed to look to a TFTP server for this file, the router enters setup mode. - Passing Cisco’s Ccna And Ccnp Exams: Traceroute
In preparation for your CCNA and CCNP exam success, you've got to learn to troubleshoot Cisco routers. And while ping is a great basic IP connectivity tool, it doesn't give you all the information you need to diagnose network connectivity issues.
Let's say you have six routers between CityA and CityB. You send a ping from A to B, and get this return: - Passing Cisco's Ccna And Ccnp Exams: Five Tips For Exam Day Success
As you get ready to pass the CCNA or CCNP exams, you can feel quite a bit of stress as you enter your last week of study. Let's take a look at a few ways to reduce that stress.
1. Do not stay up late cramming. The CCNA and CCNP are not exams you're going to pass by cramming. "Cramming" is a study technique best left behind in junior high school. The CCNA can't be passed by memorization - you've got to know how Cisco technologies work. That leads us to the second point... - Passing Cisco Ccna And Ccnp Exams: Ping And Extended Ping
I often tell CCNA and CCNP candidates that you do your best learning when you screw something up. I often get a funny look right after I say that, but the only way to develop your Cisco troubleshooting skills - the skills you'll need to pass your Intro, ICND, and CCNP exams - is by actually fixing configurations. Since your employer will take a dim view of you practicing these skills on his or her network, you better do so on your home lab!
Three essential tools for networking and CCNA/CCNP exam success are ping, extended ping, and traceroute. Today we're going to take a look at the ping that we're used to using for LAN issues, and the extended ping.
We're all familiar with "basic" ping, where you use the ping command followed by the IP address you want to confirm IP connectivity with. When you've got connectivity, you will see five exclamation points, as seen here: - Network+ Exam Tutorial: Ports, Port Numbers, And Sockets
If there's one thing that can be a bit confusing to many Network+ certification exam candidates, it's the concept of ports and sockets. Well, it was confusing to me when I got started with computer certifications! Let's take a look at ports and sockets, and why we need them in the first place.
Past Network+ exam tutorials have focused on how two PCs start communicating, but what we've got to keep in mind is that host PCs may and probably will have several different kinds of communications going on at the same time. A single PC may be sending email, receiving a Telnet request, and accessing the Internet at the same time. These conversations have to kept separate.. but how? - Network+ Exam Tutorial: Network Interface Cards (nics)
Part of the challenge of passing the Network+ exam is learning about all the different types of hardware a network requires. Today we’ll take a look at a vital part of network connectivity, the Network Interface Card (NIC, pronounced “nick”).
The NIC is the device, or card, that gives the host a physical connection to the network. The NIC is generally an internal device, but one that can be removed and replaced with a different NIC. NICs are considered Physical layer devices and work at Layer 1 of the OSI model. - Network+ Exam Tutorial: Becoming A Master Troubleshooter
Passing your Network+ exam is the first step on the way to becoming a master network troubleshooter, and that's where you need to be. The average network admin spends 90% of their time troubleshooting and 10% installing hardware and software, so you better be good at troubleshooting!
In my experience, there are two kinds of network troubleshooters in the world: - Network+ Exam Certification Tutorial: The Bus Topology
The Physical layer of the OSI model isn't the most exciting or interesting to work with, but it's the foundation for everything we do in networking. The same goes for the physical side of networking - whether it's cable types, network topologies, or network cards, it's not necessarily the most exciting study you'll ever do, but it is the most important. After all, if a network has physical issues such as a bad Network Interface Card or mismatched cables, there's no way the network can work properly!
My next few Network+ exam tutorials will discuss the different network topology types, and we’ll start with a look at the dreaded bus topology. After we define it, I'll tell you why I call it "dreaded". - Network+ Certification Exam Tutorial: How And When To Use Virtual Lans (vlans)
From your Network+ exam studies, you know that switches forward broadcasts, and that sounds great, but that's not always a good thing. A switch can have anywhere from 12 ports to 80 or more, and by default all hosts connected to that switch are going to be in the same broadcast domain. Let's say we have an 80-port switch. If one host connected to that switch sends a broadcast, by default, all of the other 79 hosts are going to receive the broadcast. That will unnecessarily take up our network's available bandwidth.
It gets worse. For some network services and protocols, a broadcast received by a host results in that receiving host transmitting a broadcast of its own. Then when all the hosts receive that broadcast, they all end up transmitting even more broadcasts. Pretty soon, all these broadcasts have snowballed into a broadcast storm, which can take up most of a network's bandwidth and make normal network operations almost impossible. - Network+ Certification Exam Tutorial: Ethernet Csma/cd Explained
When you're studying for the Network+ exam, you've got a lot of new acronyms to learn! One of the basics is CSMA/CD, which stands for Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection. That's quite a mouthful, but it's an important term to know for both your exam and real-world success.
On an Ethernet segment, hosts can send data at any time. As you might guess, that's a bit of a problem in itself, because if multiple hosts send data at the same time, a collision will occur and the data will become unusable. That's why CSMA/CD requires a host that wants to send data to listen first. Listen for what? Data being sent by another host. If the host hears data being transmitted, that host will not begin sending data itself. That's the "carrier sense" part of CSMA/CD. If that host hears nothing, the host will begin to transmit. - Network+ Certification Exam Tutorial: Dhcp And Rarp
Part of passing the Network+ exam is mastering the many different protocols and services you're introduced to in your studies, and that's especially hard when two protocols do much the same thing! That's the case with RARP and DHCP, so let's take a close look at these two protocols and why we use them in the first place.
Whether you've been around networks for a while or are just getting started with your IT career, you'll quickly notice that many basic tasks in networking can be handled either statically or dynamically. By "statically", I mean configuring each device in question manually; by "dynamically", I mean having it done (almost) automatically. Generally, you're going to choose the dynamic method, and not because it's easier or quicker - it's because dynamic methods are much more adaptable to change, and today's networks are always changing. - Network+ Certification Exam Tutorial: Arp And Proxy Arp Explained
In yesterday's Network+ tutorial, we talked about the importance of Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) in today's networks. A host PC must have the MAC and IP addresses of a remote host in order to send data to that remote host, and it's ARP that allows the local host to request the remost host to send the local host its MAC address through an ARP Request.
The ARP Request is a layer two broadcast, and like all L2 broadcasts it has a destination MAC address of ff-ff-ff-ff-ff-ff. Switches forward broadcasts, but routers do not, which brings up a basic problem. If there's a router between two hosts, how can one possibly send an ARP Request to the remote host, since routers do not forward broadcasts? - Network+ Certification Exam Tutorial: Address Resolution Protocol (arp)
When you're studying for the Network+ exam, you've got to master the fundamentals of networking, because the Network+ is a hard exam to pass due to the range of information covered. One such fundamental is the Address Resolution Protocol, commonly referred to as ARP.
ARP operates at the Data Link layer of the OSI model, and its purpose is often overlooked. When Host A wants to send data to Host B, we know Host A must have a destination IP address for Host B (the Network layer address). What we tend to overlook is that Host A must also have a Layer 2 destination address for Host B -- in other words, it's got to have a destination MAC address for Host B. That's where ARP comes in. - Network+ / Ccna Certification Exam Tutorial: Port Numbers And Troubleshooting
Passing the Network+ and CCNA exams demands that you know quite a few port numbers, but they're important to know when working with real-world networks as well. Before we discuss why, here's a partial list of important port numbers to know for these certification exams:
Ports 20 and 21 are used by File Transfer Protocol (FTP). - More Questions To Ask A Computer Training School Before Paying
The decision to attend a computer training school is one of the most important you'll ever make, and even more important is which one to attend. Asking the right questions can give you an idea of whether a given IT school is a good investment. An earlier article I wrote on this subject was so popular that I thought I'd offer some more advice on the questions to ask before you write that check or take out that loan.
If the school offers a placement service, ask to talk to the people working in that department and ask them how they go about placing graduates. Most schools offer a list of companies that they've placed students with. Get this list and start calling some of these companies. Ask to speak to their HR department, and ask them for their opinion of the school. Even if they don't say a lot, their tone of voice can speak volumes. - Microsoft Vista News: Downloads, Extended Xp Support, And One Billion Dollars
There’s been quite a bit of news regarding Microsoft Vista downloads and options lately, so here's a quick recap for you!
In the past, Microsoft has supported an OS version for two years after releasing a new one. CNN’s website has reported that MS has announced that they will offer what they call “extended support” for XP for five years after the initial two-year support ends in 2009. What’s the catch? The extended support will cost you. No exact fees have been released, but MS reports they expect most support in that five-year period to carry a fee. - Microsoft Vista Certification Tutorial: An Introduction To Windows Defender
You don't have to be working on a Microsoft Windows Vista certification to know about the security problems that past versions of Windows have encountered. As a result, Microsoft is paying special attention to security with Vista, and one of the new features Vista features is Windows Defender.
What exactly are we defending against with Defender? Spyware. Spyware programs range from annoying (one pop-up banner after another) to downright destructive (capturing your computer's keystrokes). Windows Defender is designed to operate much like an antivirus program in that Defender will detect the offending spyware and then quarantine or delete the spyware. - Microsoft Vista Certification Exams Announced
Microsoft Vista certification is on the way, and Microsoft recently announced the first Vista exams. In keeping with trends in certification, these particular exams are designed for different job roles. These exams are scheduled to be released in "early 2007", according to Microsoft's website:
MCITP - Microsoft Certified IT Professional - "Consumer Support Technician" and "Enterprise Support Technician" certifications - Microsoft Certification: The New Mcts Tracks And Exams
Microsoft is revamping its certification tracks, and will eventually retire the familiar MCSE certificatons. The new certification setup is much like Cisco's, where there are specialist certifications to go along with the more general CCNA, then mid-level certifications such as the CCNP, and then a more-advanced practical exam modeled somewhat after the coveted CCIE certification.
Microsoft's new specialist exams are the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) exams. As of March 2006, there were five separate MCTS Tracks. Three of them deal with .NET Framework 2.0; these are the Web Application, Windows Applications, and Distributed Applications certifications. Each of these separate certifications requires the candidate to pass two exams. There is also a one-exam SQL Server 2005 certification, as well as a BizTalk Server 2006 single-exam certification. - Microsoft Certification: Farewell To The Mcse
Microsoft is in the middle of a major push to overhaul its certification program. Last year, they announced the new Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA) certification, which is not a written exam but rather a practical exam that will be graded by a board of examiners. Just applying for the certification will require 10 years' experience in IT as well as three years of practical experience as a network architect.
For those of us not quite ready for that, Microsoft has announced that it's also going to revise other certifications. The MCSE that we've all come to know and love is going to be a thing of the past. In its place will be a series of specialization exams and IP Professional certification tracks. - Mcse? Ccna? Choosing The Right Computer Certification For Your Career
When you’re choosing which computer certification to pursue next, you should also be formulating a plan for your career. Your time is precious, and you should never choose to pursue a certification because it’s “hot”. There are some hard questions you should ask yourself before deciding to pursue the CCNA, CCNP, CCVP, CCSP, CCIE, MSCE, or any of the many other vendor certifications that are out there.
Why do I want this certification? - Keeping Calm On Ccna / Ccnp Exam Day
When you wake up on exam day, one of two things is going to happen. Well, yes, you're going to pass or fail. But what I'm thinking of comes before that, and has a lot to do with how you perform on exam day.
You're either going to have a tremendous feeling of anticipation or the dreaded feeling of being nervous about it. - It’s 2006. Do You Know Where Your It Career Is?
Whether you're thinking of starting a career with computers and information technology, or thinking about earning a professional certification such as the CCNA or MCSE to accelerate your career, there is no better time to start than today. Silicon Valley is hiring again, and while we all can't work for Google, IT hiring is at its highest level in years and the opportunities for driven, motivated individuals are unlimited.
I also know that for many of us, the holiday season is a good excuse to put off those studies! "I'll study for the CCNA after Thanksgiving..." "I'll start working on my CCNP after the New Year..." Well, guess what - the new year is here. - How To Succeed At A Computer Training School
One of the best decisions you can ever make is to attend a computer training school. As I've written in several other articles, you have to ask the right questions before writing a check or taking out a student loan, but when you find the right school you are indeed on your way to a successful career.
There's a big difference between attending a tech school and excelling at the classes, though. Whether you just "float through" the school or really work hard is totally up to you. From my personal experience at such a school, I'd like to offer you one simple tip that will quadruple your chances of success at the school and in the job market. - How To Start Your Career In Information Technology
Many newcomers to Information Technology get an overly-optimistic picture of the field from tech school ads that continually make note that "an average MCSE salary is $80.000 a year!".
And if someone's thinking of getting into IT and goes on the internet to do some research, they're met with the opposite end of the spectrum - complaint after complaint about how much IT is a terrible field, you can't break in, there's no room for newcomers, etc. - How To Start A Career In The Computer Field
If you're considering a career working in Information Technology - a fancy way of saying "working with computers" - congratulations! I can tell you from personal experience that it's one of the best decisions you'll ever make. I can also tell you from personal experience that it is never too late to begin!
I started my IT career 10 years ago, and it was a tough decision. I was 34 years old, and really knew next to nothing about computers. I decided to attend a technical school to get my career started, and it was the best decision I've ever made. Ten years later, I write ebooks and teach classes dealing with different facets of networking, I’ve earned the most difficult computer certification in the world, and I've never been happier. The same thing can happen for you. - How To Excel In A Technical Job Interview
Ah, the technical interview. Nothing like it. Not only does it cause anxiety, but it causes anxiety for several different reasons.
How many people will be asking questions? From experience I can tell you there’s nothing like walking into a room and seeing nine people on the other side of the table. - How To Earn Cisco’s Firewall Specialist Certification
Security is a hot topic in today's networks, and will continue to be for a long time to come. With that in mind, you must consider adding a Cisco security certification to your resume and firewall skills to your skill set.
It's quite a jump from the CCNA to the CCSP (Cisco Certified Security Professional), and Cisco has made that leap more manageable by adding Specialist certifications. These certifications can give quite a boost to both your resume and your skill set, and act as a great "stepping stone" to the CCSP. - How To Become A Cisco Vpn Specialist
There's quite an emphasis on security in today's networks, and that's reflected in Cisco's certification tracks. Cisco offers a CCIE Security track and the Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP) intermediate-level certification, but there is no real equivalent to the CCNA on the security side. Instead, Cisco offers several different Security Associate certifications.
The good news is that you’ve got a lot of security specializations from which to choose; the bad news is that you’ve got a lot of choices! In choosing a specialization, take some time to choose a certification that will be of practical use to you in your current position or in your “dream job”. - How To Become A Cisco Ccnp
Congratulations on your decision to earn your CCNP certification! As a CCIE, I can tell you that Cisco certifications are both financially and personally rewarding.
To earn your CCNP, you first have to earn your CCNA certification. Then you're faced with a decision - take the three-exam CCNP path, or the four-exam path? They're both quite demanding, so let's take a look at each path. - Getting Started With Ebay: The Best Thing To Sell In Ebay Auctions Is....
When people find out that I own several home-based businesses, they always ask what I do. When I mention eBay, I can see their eyes light up, because everyone wants to know how to start making money with eBay auctions!
I then mention a few of the things I sell on eBay, and since it has to do with computers, I can actually see their shoulders sag a bit and think "well, that's fine for you, but what about me?" - Four Important Commands For Your Ccna / Ccnp Home Lab
More CCNA and CCNP candidates than ever before are putting together their own home practice labs. It's more affordable than it ever has been, and I receive emails daily from new CCNAs and CCNPs who say it's the best thing they could have done to improve their studies.
There are some commands you can configure on your lab routers that won't necessarily be on your CCNA or CCNP exams, but they will make life a lot easier for you. Let's take a look at just a few of these. - Five Questions To Ask Before Attending A Computer Tech School
As with any field, there are good technical training schools, and bad ones. When you sign up with one of these schools, you’ve made a significant investment in time and money. You deserve to know everything about the school and your job prospects after leaving that school before you put down your hard-earned money. The problem is, sometimes it’s hard to know the right questions to ask.
The point of this article is not to bash technical training schools. That’s how I got my start in IT eight years ago, and today I’m a CCIE™ and own my own Cisco training company and my own consulting firm. - Ebay Home Business Tutorial: Is Creating Ebooks With Adobe Professional A Good Idea?
In my previous eBay auction tutorials, I talked about how someone - a lot of someones - are willing to pay for your knowledge, whether it's a soup recipe, bowling tips, or just about anything!
Selling ebooks means that you don't have to spend a lot of money for inventory, and you can "deliver" your ebooks via email immediately after someone purchases them, which is a very big selling point. What you do have to decide upon is the format in which you're going to create your ebooks. As I mentioned in my last eBay auction tutorial, using a word processor program such as Microsoft Word isn't a good choice, since this allows a buyer to share your ebook with anyone they choose - and that takes money out of your pocket! - Ebay Auction Home Business Tutorial: Start Low To Sell High!
I sell items on eBay and enjoy teaching others how to make money with eBay auctions, but I admit to doing my fair share of buying, too. Recently I found a few items I wanted to add to my collection, and even though I knew the items would go for several hundred dollars, I noticed the seller began the auction price at 99 cents. Is this a good idea?
Turns out that it's an excellent idea. A recent study performed by the London Business School and two professors from Northwestern University proved that items that were posted with an opening price of one penny actually ended up selling at "significantly higher" prices than auctions for the same item that began at higher prices. - Ebay Auction Home Business Tutorial: Registering As An Ebay Seller
ast eBay auction home business tutorials have concentrated on deciding what to sell, what price to charge, what payment methods to accept...but once we've decided on all of this, we've got to go out to eBay and create an account!
Starting an account on eBay is a simple process, and even better, it's free! If you're 18 or older and you've got Internet access, you can have an active eBay account in just minutes. Just go to www.ebay.com, click on "Register Now", and you're off! - Ebay Auction Home Business Tutorial: Don't Charge Too Much...or Too Little!
In my last few eBay auction tutorials, we talked about what you can sell to make money on eBay and start your own home business. But whether it's an ebook packed with your favorite recipes or custom coffee cups, one of the most important decisions you have to make is the price of your item.
As we all know, the highest bidder in an eBay auction wins the item. There's also a "Buy It Now" feature on Ebay you can use to sell your item for a set price rather than auctioning it off, and that's the way I sell all of my items. If you use "Buy It Now", the purchaser can decide to pay your asking price and purchase the item immediately, rather than having to wait for the end of the auction. - Ebay Auction Home Business Tutorial: Do Your Research!
In past eBay auction tutorials, we've talked about how there are people just waiting out there to buy you knowledge, and the best way to sell it to them is through writing ebooks. But whether you're going to sell ebooks or CDs, you need to do some research before diving in and selling. I know you're excited about starting your own eBay home business, but spending a nickel's worth of time on research can save you dollars worth of regret later.
Before you post your first item up for sale, search for related topics on eBay to see what your competitors are selling. If you're going to write an ebook full of fishing tips, use eBay Search to look for other items with "fishing tips" in the title, or maybe even just "fishing". The eBay Search window can be found in the upper right of the main eBay page (www.ebay.com), and on every other page on the site! - Ebay Auction Home Business Tutorial: Creating Ebooks With Ebook Pro
In past eBay tutorials, we talked about how people on eBay are willing to pay to learn what you already know - and the best way to convey (and sell!) that information to them is through an electronically delivered book, or "ebook". When a customer purchases your ebook, you just email it to them, and you're done!
We talked about using Microsoft Word and Adobe Professional to create ebooks, and the pros and cons of each. I've been writing ebooks for almost three years, and while these two products are good, they have their limitations. The best program I've come across yet to write your own ebooks is a product called Ebook Pro. - Ebay Auction Home Business Tutorial: Avoid This Common Listing Error
My previous eBay auction tutorials have focused on deciding what to sell, and for how much. These are obviously important decisions, but there's one more vital part of your eBay auction posting that we've got to discuss - and that's the content of your auction listing!
Whether you're selling your own ebook of soup recipes or old soup labels, the sale itself all comes down to the listing you write. After all, the listing is the initial interaction you have with potential buyers, and it doesn't get any more important than that! - Configuring Basic Cisco Router Security
Network security is a hot topic today, and will only increase in importance in the months and years ahead.
While most of the attention is paid to exterior threats, there are some steps you can take to prevent unwanted Cisco router access from within your organization. - Computer Training School Tutorial: Know Your Instructor
Making the decision to attend a computer tech school can be one of the best decisions of your life. Another great decision is to tap a hidden wealth of knowledge that is right before every student at schools such as ECPI and ITT, but very few students take advantage of it.
When you're attending a computer training school, you must avoid the mentality that some other students will have - "I gotta go to school, I gotta be here, I can't wait to leave and go home". When you're preparing for a career working with computers, you've got to take advantage of every learning experience you can get, and that includes getting to know the most valuable resource at your school - your teachers! - Computer Jobs: How To Figure Out What Your Career Speciality Should Be
Making the decision to pursue a computer career is a great choice. I can vouch for that personally -it's the most important career decision I have ever made. Having said that, I know from experience that it can be hard to decide which computer job to pursue! Many of you are attending or thinking of attending a tech school such as ITT Tech or ECPI, and once you get started you may be overwhelmed at the number of fields you can enter from there.
Should you specialize in Microsoft networking software, or email programs, or Novell, or Cisco, or Linux, or network security, or voice over IP, or….? The list goes on and on. I faced a similar decision when I attended a computer school. I took some programming classes, and while they helped me understand computer logic, it just wasn't what I wanted to do for a living. Then I took a networking class and I just knew that's what I wanted to do. - Computer Certification: Four Tips For Maximum Performance During The Exam
There are plenty of articles out there about how to prepare for a computer certification exam. However, there are also things you can do to increase your chances of success on exam day during the most important part of the entire process -- the time that you're actually taking the test.
I've taken many a certification exam over the years, and helped many others prep for theirs. Here are the five things you must do on exam day to maximize your efforts. - Computer Certification: Become A Utility Player
In baseball, a "utility player" is one who plays more than one position. These players are usually backups, but they have a job in the major leagues because of their value to the team; since they can play more than one position, they have that much more value to their employer.
Too often in IT, workers become either LAN or WAN engineers, knowing little if anything about the other side. Many LAN administrators I worked with knew little about routing and switching, while many WAN engineers I knew not only didn't know much about the LAN side of their network, but they didn't want to know anything about the servers! - Computer Careers: Your First Job And Salary Hype
Computer careers can be highly lucrative, and I'll be the first to say that starting a career in information technology is one of the smartest decisions I ever made. Most computer training schools and tech schools are realistic with you about the kind of money you can make in getting started, but occasionally I still hear radio ads for schools using a salary survey or "average salary" as a recruiting tool.
This is in no way meant to talk you out of starting a career in computers, but keep in mind that the average salary survey in no way reflects the kind of money you should expect to make when starting out in IT. One recent survey I read reflected an average salary of $70,000 a year. While you can certainly make that kind of money in a computer career - and frankly, you can make even more - there are so many other factors involved in an "average salary" that I'd go as far to say that there really isn't such a thing as an average salary. Salaries are affected by your geographic location, your certification, your education, and your job role. - Computer Careers: Getting Your First Job
The hardest part of getting a computer career started is just that - getting started! For many career changers, the first step in a rewarding career in IT is attending a tech school such as ECPI or ITT Tech, and then it's off to the job hunt.
When it comes to the difficulties you can face getting that first job, I speak from experience. Today, I possess the world's most valuable computer certification and own my own computer training company, but the beginning of my career was very, very difficult. Just getting an interview when you're looking for your first computer job is tough, but I'm also living proof that it can be done and you can go on to a great career. - Computer Careers And Training Schools: Building A Network Of Contacts
Almost all computer schools and colleges have some sort of job placement assistance (and you should ask about this before signing up!). The people who work in these departments work very hard to get your computer career started and get you into your first job in the computer field, but you shouldn't leave it all up to them. You need to know how to build two kinds of networks to get ahead in IT - the physical kind that carries packets, and the personal kind that can get you hired and get you ahead.
When it comes to getting that first computer job, you have to show initiative. Don't just send a pile of resumes out and expect the phone to ring off the hook. If you're attending a computer training school, you have two great resources to draw on in your job search. First, schedule an interview with someone in the job placement assistance department. Ask them what you can do to help them get your computer career started. Showing initiative will also help you stand out from the crowd, and there's nothing wrong with that. - Comptia Network+ Certification Exam Tutorial: Virus Attacks And Antivirus Programs
Whether you’re preparing to pass the Network+ or Cisco CCNA certification exam or not, you must not underestimate the importance of antivirus programs and virus definition updates. With all the attention we pay to viruses and their prevention, I feel a little silly even saying that. But….
If there's one thing you must have working at full capacity in your network, it's the antivirus programs. - Comptia Network+ Certification Exam Tutorial: The Five Ip Address Classes
Passing the CompTIA Network+ certification exam and going on to become a subnetting expert is mastering the basics of IP addressing, and that means knowing the different classes, their default masks, and what these masks mean. Let’s get started!
Part of every IP address indicates the network the host is part of, and the other part identifies that particular host. You need to be able to look at an IP address and determine the network and host portions, and you do that by determining the class of the address. - Comptia Network+ Certification Exam Tutorial: Hubs, Repeaters, Bridges, And Switches
To pass your Network+ certification exam, you must know the differences between hubs, repeaters, bridges, and switches. The differences are straightforward for the most part, so let's examine the basic purpose of these devices.
Hubs and repeaters both work at the Physical layer of the OSI model. They do not help to direct traffic toward the proper destination, as routers and switches do. Their purpose in the network is simply to make the signal strong enough to reach its destination, by regenerating the signal. Hubs and repeaters both take an incoming data signal and make a clean, strong copy of the signal. Otherwise, the signal would suffer from attenuation, the gradual weakening of a signal as it gets farther and farther away from the source. - Comptia Network+ Certification Exam Tutorial: Hot Sites, Warm Sites, And Disaster Recovery
Part of passing the Network+ exam and being an outstanding network administrator is being prepared for disaster. Sometimes that's a disaster on a relatively small scale, such as a drive failure. If you're running data backups on a regular basis (and you are, aren't you?), you're prepared for that issue.
What is your network's disaster recovery plan from a true disaster, either natural or man-made? What if the entire building your servers are in disappeared tonight? What is your plan if that happens? In today's world, that's not a rhetorical question. Disaster recovery is taken to the next level by preparing a cold site, warm site, or hot site at another physical location. - Comptia Network+ Certification Exam Tutorial: Dhcp And Dhcp Relay Agents
As a CompTIA Network+ exam candidate, you’re probably familiar with DHCP – but just in case, we’re going to review DHCP basics here and then go into a discussion of DHCP Relay Agents.
When it comes to assigning an IP address to all the PCs on our network, along with their network mask, DNS server location, and more, we've got two choices on how to do it: - Comptia Network+ Certification Exam Tutorial: Antivirus Programs
In the first part of this CompTIA Network+ certification exam tutorial, we looked at the different types of viruses and other invaders trying to get into our network, and how antivirus programs help to stop them. Today, we’ll discuss some tips on how to get the maximum protection from your antivirus program.
I strongly recommend you choose an antivirus program that offers automatic updates. If you rely on manual updates - that is, relying on remembering to go out and check for updates yourself instead of having them automatically downloaded when new updates are available - I can practically guarantee you're going to forget to do so, and this can be a fatal mistake for both your network and your career. - Cisco Tac : An Introduction To The Cisco Technical Assistance Center
The Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) is Cisco's tech support center, and they've got some very talented people working there. Before you pick up the phone to call the TAC, though, you should do your best to resolve the problem and document each step along the way. One of the first things the TAC will do is ask what you've done so far to resolve the issue, and giving them an accurate answer is a huge step toward getting the problem resolved.
If you're used to "tech support" where calls are prioritized by the order in which they come in, the TAC will open your eyes! Cisco's TAC uses four priority levels to determine which cases should be handled first: - Cisco Routing: "ip Default-network" Vs. Default Static Routes
One point of confusion for some CCNA and CCNP candidates is the difference between configuring a static default route and using the Cisco routing command ip default-network.
At first glance, they appear to do the same thing. Both configure a destination to which packets should be routed if there is no more specific route in the routing table. - Cisco Routing For The Ccna And Ccnp: Administrative Distance
The textbook definition of "administrative distance" is simple enough: "the measurement of a protocol's believability". It's not enough to know the definition, however you've got to know when AD comes into the picture and when it does not.
When a packet needs to be routed, the router looks in its routing table for the next-hop IP address the packet should take to get to the destination. There may be more than one matching path, in which case the router will look for the "longest match". The route that has the longest match - the route with the most bits in the mask set to "1" - will be the route that is used. - Cisco Home Lab Tutorial: Buying And Building A Frame Relay Switch
One of the major topics on your CCNA and CCNP exams is Frame Relay. Additionally, Frame Relay is one of the most popular WAN technolgies in today's networks. Getting hands-on experience with Frame Relay in Cisco networks isn't just a good idea, it's a necessity. Let's face it, your employer is going to get a little touchy if you start experimenting with your network's Frame Relay setup.
To practice all your important Frame Relay commands for your exams, you need a working Frame Relay cloud in your home lab. A production network's Frame cloud consists of a lot of Frame switches, but if you choose wisely, a single Cisco router can act as your home lab's entire Frame cloud! - Cisco Certification: The Most Important Study You'll Ever Do Is....
All of us are familiar with the pyramids of Egypt. These magnificent structures have stood for thousands of years, withstanding extreme heat and other factors that would bring down an ordinary structure.
When we look at these pyramids, we instinctively look toward the peak. We tend to do the same with the Cisco Learning Pyramid. If you're not familiar with this, Cisco uses a pyramid to illustrate how the CCIE is at the peak of the Cisco certification structure, with the CCNP in the middle and the CCNA at the bottom. - Cisco Certification: The Importance Of Building Your Own Home Lab
CCNAs and CCNA candidates hear it all the time: “Get some hands-on experience”. From my personal experience climbing the Cisco certification ladder, I can tell you firsthand that there is no learning like hands-on learning. No simulator in the world is going to give you the experience you will get cabling and configuring your own routers.
Whenever I mention this to one of my students, they always say it costs too much. The truth is, it is cheaper now to build your own CCNA and CCNP lab than it has ever been. The secret? Used routers. - Cisco Certification: The "secret" Key To Getting Your Ccna And Ccnp
Whether you're working on your CCNA or CCNP, Cisco certification exams are the most demanding computer certification exams in the IT field. Cisco exams are not a test of memorization, they're a test of your analytical skills. You'll need to look at configurations and console output and analyze them to identify problems and answer detailed questions. To pass these demanding exams, you've got to truly understand how Cisco routers and switches operate - and the key to doing so is right in front of you.
The debug command. - Cisco Certification: Suggested Home Lab Setups
When you make the decision to put your own home lab together for your CCNA and CCNP studies (a very wise decision, if I may say so!), the hardest part is figuring out how to spend your budget. Do you spend it all on the routers and go with a cheaper 1900 switch, knowing that the 640-801 (CCNA), 640-821 (Intro), and 640-811 (ICND) exams now place a premium on knowing the ins and outs of a 2950 switch? Do you buy a frame relay switch? Do you buy an access server?
One factor to keep in mind when you're starting to put your lab together is that you don't have to put it all together at one time. With some careful planning, you've got a lab that you can use for your Intro studies, perhaps add a router or two for ICND study, and then some more devices for your CCNP study. - Cisco Certification: Recertifying Your Ccna And Ccnp
Once you get your CCNA and CCNP, you can't just rest on your accomplishment. You've got to continue to study and add to your skill set - and then prove to Cisco you've been doing just that by recertifying.
Recertification sounds like a pain, but it's actually one of the best things to ever happen to computer certification, and it helps your career as well. One trap many LAN and WAN personnel fall into is that they fail to keep up with changes in technology, and if they happen to be laid off or want to change jobs, they're unable to because they didn't keep their skill set up. - Cisco Certification: Putting Together Your Own Home Practice Lab
CCNA and CCNP candidates hear it all the time: “Get some hands-on experience”. From my personal experience climbing the Cisco certification ladder, I can tell you firsthand that there is no learning like hands-on learning. No simulator in the world is going to give you the experience you will get cabling and configuring your own routers.
Whenever I mention this to one of my students, they always say it costs too much. The truth is, it is cheaper now to build your own CCNA and CCNP lab than it has ever been. The secret? Used routers. - Cisco Certification: Making A Good Impression In Your Job Interview
Okay, you did it! You earned your Cisco Certified Network Associate certification.
Now what? - Cisco Certification: Learning To Navigate Cisco's Online Documentation
When studying for your Cisco CCNA, CCNP, or CCIE exam, you’ve got a powerful online weapon at your disposal. It’s Cisco Connection Documentation, found at www.cisco.com/univercd. This site contains product, code, and protocol documentation for all Cisco products.
Many exam candidates really don’t start using this powerful tool until they’re studying for their more advanced exams. However, it’s important for CCNAs, CCNPs, and candidates for these certifications to learn their way around this site. It comes in handy for finding default values that Cisco really enjoys asking about on exams, and the protocol documentation found there can help you study as well. - Cisco Certification: Introduction To Isdn
From the CCNA to the CCIE, ISDN is one of the most important technolgies you'll work with. It's also very common in the field ISDN is frequently used as a backup connection in case an organization's Frame Relay connections go down. Therefore, it's important to know ISDN basics not only for your particular exam, but for job success.
ISDN is used between two Cisco routers that have BRI or PRI interfaces. Basically, with ISDN one of the routers places a phone call to the other router. It is vital to understand not only what causes one router to dial another, but what makes the link go down. - Cisco Certification: In What Order Should You Take Your Ccnp Exams ?
When you choose to pursue your Cisco Certified Network Professional certification, you've got some decisions to make right at the beginning. Cisco offers a three-exam path and a four-exam path, and you select the order in which you'll take and pass the exams.
While every CCNP candidate has to make their own decision, I'd like to share some thoughts based on my personal experience and the experiences of CCNPs worldwide. - Cisco Certification: Don't Overreact To Exam Version Changes
Whenever a Cisco exam version changes, there's always a lot of chatter about it on the web. The CCNA exams are no exception.
One comment I see often goes like this: " I hear Cisco is going to change Intro / ICND / CCNA exam versions soon, so I'm not going to start studying yet. I'll wait until the new exam comes out." - Cisco Certification: Don't Depend On Practice Exams
Ask a CCNA candidate how they’re preparing for exam day, and you’ll get different answers. Different books, different websites, different practice exams.
One trend I’ve noticed is that some candidates answer the question by reeling off the number and names of the practice exams they’ve purchased. Basically, the candidate is studying by taking a lot of practice exams. And in some cases, I mean a lot of them. - Cisco Certification: Ccna Certifcation Faq
When you start your CCNA studies, a lot of questions come to mind! Here are the five most common questions CCNA candidates have, answered by Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933.
Q. What exams do I have to take to get my CCNA? - Cisco Certification: Becoming A Truly Valuable Ccna
I've been active in the Cisco Certification track for four years, working my way from the CCNA to the coveted Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert title, and during that time I've conducted job interviews and casual conversations with hundreds of CCNAs and CCNA candidates.
The CCNA is an exciting beginning to your Cisco career, but just having the certification simply isn't enough. A recruiter or interviewer isn't going to be impressed just with the cert you've got to have some real-world knowledge to back it up. - Cisco Certification: A Survival Guide To The Cisco Cable Jungle
One of the most confusing parts of beginning your Cisco studies is keeping all the cable types separate in your mind, and then remembering what they’re used for. This often occurs when a CCNA or CCNP candidate starts putting together their own home practice lab, and they suddenly realize that they have the equipment to run labs, but not the cables.
With this in mind, here are some common Cisco cable types and their primary use. - Cisco Ccnp Exam Tutorial: Defining Collision Domains
CCNA exam success depends on mastering the fundamentals, and two important fundamentals are knowing exactly what the terms "collision domain" and "broadcast domain" mean. In this free Cisco tutorial, we'll take a look at the term "collision domain" and how a collision domain is defined.
A collision domain is an area in which a collision can occur. Fair enough, but what "collision" are we talking about here? We're talking about collisions that occur on CSMA/CD segments, or Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection. If two hosts on an Ethernet segment transmit data at exactly the same time, the data from the two hosts will collide on the shared segment. CSMA/CD exists to lessen the chances of this happening, but collisions can still occur. To lessen the chances of collisions occurring, we may decide to create multiple, smaller collision domains. - Cisco Ccnp Cit Exam Training: Creating A Network Baseline
The first thing we've got to do in order to document our network is to create a network baseline. After all, if we don't know our goals, we can't accomplish them. A baseline is really a "network snapshot", a picture of our network devices and their performance - which also helps us spot issues before they happen.
Every network has its "breaking point", the point at which it can no longer transfer data effectively. By creating a baseline, you can see what the current network load is now - and by maintaining that baseline, you can spot network issues well before they become critical. For example, say you baseline all your network routers, and part of that is noting the CPU capability and usage. By maintaining the network baseline, you can note smaller, gradual increases in CPU usage and do something about it before the situation becomes critical. - Cisco Ccnp Certification: Using The Bgp Command “update-source”
When you start preparing for your CCNP exam, particularly the BSCI exam, you're introduced to Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) configurations. BGP is unlike any protocol you learned during your CCNA studies, and even the similarities are a little bit different!
BGP forms neighbor relationships, much like EIGRP and OSPF do. The interesting thing with BGP is that potential neighbors, or "peers", do not need to be directly connected and can use their loopback interfaces to form the peer relationships. - Cisco Ccnp Certification: The Bgp Weight Attribute
When you're studying for the CCNP certification, especially the BSCI exam, you must gain a solid understanding of BGP. BGP isn't just one of the biggest topics on the BSCI exam, it's one of the largest. BGP has a great many details that must be mastered for BSCI success, and those of you with one eye on the CCIE must learn the fundamentals of BGP now in order to build on those fundamentals at a later time.
Path attributes are a unique feature of BGP. With interior gateway protocols such as OSPF and EIGRP, administrative distance is used as a tiebreaker when two routes to the same destination had different next-hop IP addresses but the same prefix length. BGP uses path attributes to make this choice. - Cisco Ccnp Certification Training: What's New On The Bsci 642-901 Exam?
CCNP certification is getting a new look at the end of 2006. The BSCI and BCMSN exams are being updated, and the CIT and BCMSN exams are being retired. Let's take a look at what to expect from the new BSCI exam.
According to Cisco's exam blueprint - admittedly a very broad blueprint at this time - the major new topics are IP version 6 (IPv6) and multicasting. The addition of these two topics will make an already demanding Cisco certification exam that much tougher, but this is a great change for the exam and for the candidate. IPv6 is just going to become more and more prevalent in today's networks, and multicasting is as well. - Cisco Ccnp Certification Training Tutorial: The New Ont 642-845 Exam
The Cisco CCNP certification is changing at the end of 2006, with the BSCI and BCMSN exams being updated and the BCRAN and CIT exams being dropped. One of the two new exams is the 642-845 Optimizing Converged Cisco Networks (ONT) test, and the name of the exam doesn't give many hints as to the material covered!
According to Cisco's exam blueprint, the major topics on this new exam will be Voice over IP (VoIP) and Quality of Service (QoS). This exam change is an excellent move on Cisco's part, since VoIP is one of the fastest-growing network technologies today, and implementing VoIP demands the ability to implement QoS! - Cisco Ccnp Certification Training Tutorial: The New 642-825 Iscw Ccnp Exam
Cisco CCNP certification is getting a brand-new look, and that new look includes two new exams! The BCRAN and CIT exams are retiring at the end of 2006, and the exam replacing the BCRAN is the 642-825 Implementing Secure Converged Wide Area Networks exam, which is thankfully known as ISCW.
The key word in this Cisco exam is "secure". Very few of the BCRAN topics are moving to the ISCW exam, and an emphasis is being placed on VPNs and network security configurations and methods. According to Cisco's exam blueprint, the only BCRAN topics you can expect to possibly see on the ISCW exam are PPPoE and PPPoA. The importance of network security has never been higher, and it's to Cisco's credit that their new CCNP exams are emphasizing security. - Cisco Ccnp Certification Training : The New Ccnp Bcmsn 642-812 Exam
Cisco CCNP certification is about to become more valuable and more difficult! Cisco is making major changes to the CCNP certification program, retiring two exams (BCRAN and CIT) while updating two old friends, the BSCI and BCMSN exam. Today, we'll take a look at the changes in the Building Converged Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks (BCMSN) exam.
According to Cisco's exam blueprint, there are some major additions with the introduction of the 642-812 exam. Wireless access, security, and voice are all rapidly growing features and concerns in today's real-world networks, and Cisco is responding to that by adding all three of these topics to the CCNP BCMSN exam. Cisco CCNP candidates should expect to be questioned on WLANs as well as wireless clients.
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