Self-study for CCNP exams (personal experience)
Hello! In this article I want to share with you my personal experience in preparing and successfully passing the three required exams for acquiring a CCNP certificate.
As a preamble, I want to warn you that we will talk about exams valid until January 29, 2015 . After this date, you will need to submit their updated versions (you can read about the differences here ). Despite this, the strategy and sources of information (meaning their updated versions) remain unchanged.
Perhaps I’ll start with my home setup, and then move on to a phased description of the preparation process for each exam.
And so, my home lab consists of:
The PC acts as a console server based on ubuntu-like Linux, a serial port adapter is connected to it, from which 4 cables go to the console ports of the switches (only 4 out of 6 are used). Communication with serial ports is provided by the ser2net application . Also, the PC contains virtual machines based on TinyCore miniature linux images for use as clients / hosts; they connect to switch ports through the network interfaces of external USB-to-Ethernet cards. In addition, all this stuff is controlled by power using an IP relay board, thereby providing the ability to remotely start the system.
We pass directly to the exams themselves.
In my humble opinion, it is necessary to start with it, since understanding the principles of routing protocols, as well as redistributing and route manipulation, will greatly facilitate the preparation for the second exam, which will be discussed later.
1. Implementing Cisco IP Routing (ROUTE) Foundation Learning Guide - the book provides comprehensive knowledge on each topic. Voluminous chapters help to study in detail the work of all the main protocols. Read it first.
2. CCNP ROUTE 642-902 Official Certification Guide - this book somewhat repeats the first, but the material in it is presented in a more concise form. It allows you to quickly update the memory on topics read in the first book. Before each chapter, a list of control questions is given, with the correct answer to which the reader has the right to skip the chapter ( not recommended) Also, in it the author shares simple ways to memorize certain difficult moments, such as, for example, BGP Best Path Selection using mnemonics. I recommend buying the Premium version, as it comes with a test exam from Boson.
3. How to Master CCNP ROUTE is an excellent little book from an independent expert René Molenaar, which explains in a simple language and with a bunch of examples and listings everything that a candidate needs to know. Keep it handy.
4. Cisco Online Documentation- unfortunately, during the exam there are tricky questions, the answers to which are not fully covered in books. In order not to lose extra points, I recommend often referring to the Cisco documentation to clarify the intricacies of the mechanisms, as well as consolidate the material covered.
5. The Cisco Learning Network is a major Cisco training forum. Contains a huge number of topics. If you have not found the answer to your question, feel free to create a new topic. There are plenty of people there, many of them are ready to come to your aid. Also, the forum contains a large amount of documentation. The main thing is not to be lazy to use the search.
6. CCNP ROUTE 642-902 Quick Reference - all the most important things to remember before entering the examination room.
Having finished reading, we turn to practical exercises. In fact, if possible, it is better to alternate the theory with work in the console.
My main tools were the GNS3 and PacketTracer 6.1 simulators. The advantage of the first, as you know, is the ability to work with real iOS images. This gives confidence that the device works exactly as intended by the manufacturer! In PacketTracer, on the contrary, there are too many critical bugs, and the devices themselves often do not behave like their real counterparts, therefore, the GNS3 program was chosen as my main laboratory environment. I used PT exclusively in cases when I needed to quickly experience a small config.
I took laboratory tasks from the CCNP ROUTE 6.0 SLM ( Student Lab Manual)) This document is intended for students attending Cisco's official courses, but it is easy to find online for free. In addition, the Rene Molenaar website contains a large number of labs with ready-made configs for loading them into GNS3 ( version 1.x is required ).
It took me about three months to complete the preparation. I read the first two diligently, occasionally playing with the console, and the last month was spent on repeating the material and practical exercises. They managed to pass the exam on the first attempt.
In my opinion, the most difficult and costly exam in finance. Its complexity lies in a clear understanding of the work of all the smallscrews and dowels that make up the basis of switching technologies. In addition, it also requires knowledge accumulated in preparation for the previous exam. The financial side of the issue is also not encouraging, because for practical exercises you need to buy real iron (of course, if you can get it for yourself for a while, then save a lot of money ). Yes, by the way, support for IOU switches appeared in GNS3 versions 1.x, but to be honest, I did not try to use them. If you have experience with them, share.
1. Implementing Cisco IP Switched Networks (SWITCH) Foundation Learning Guide - the same as in the case of ROUTE, but with the only difference that this book is more likely to complement the second in this series.
2. CCNP SWITCH 642-813 Official Certification Guide - in this book you will find what is missing in the first, and vice versa. So, read carefully both. The Premium version with tests is again recommended for purchase.
3. How to Master CCNP SWITCH - to facilitate hard-to-digest sections.
4. Articles by Peter Lopukhov on the INE blog regarding STP / RSTP / MSTP: tyts and tyts .
5. Of course, online documentation and the CLN forum.
6.CCNP SWITCH 642-813 Quick Reference
Brochure - crib.
The SWITCH theory is very voluminous, replete with a large number of important details and complex algorithms that require the reader to clearly understand the operation of the entire system. One of the most difficult topics - STP, it is made up of b on most of the exam questions. To understand how this protocol works, you can only thoroughly study it on real equipment, resorting to the built-in iOS debugging and external traffic analyzers, like Wireshark . Spend as much time as possible in the console, in particular, study the reaction of STP to certain events. Learn how to distribute the roles of bridges as well as port states.
Laboratory work can be found all on the same site , as well as from the collection CCNP SWITCH 6.0 SLM (Student Lab Manual).
It took me about two and a half months to read, and another 15 days to final preparation before the exam. It was possible to pass on the first attempt.
It's time to take a break in the truest sense of the word. We reached the easiest, and in some places even pleasant, exam. Here you will not have to learn something fundamentally new, with the exception of a couple of three monitoring protocols and a small introductory chapter devoted to methods of prevention and identification of problems in networks. But to repeat the material of previous exams will be very helpful. The Quick Reference brochures I mentioned above will help you with this.
In addition, the exam itself is not like the previous ones; there are practically no usual questions with one or multiple choices, drag-n-shots and all sorts of simlets. On the contrary, you will be prompted to troubleshoot the problems described in the style of TroubleTaking (incidents). How it looks, you can understand by practicing in the free exam demo here.
1. CCNP TSHOOT 642-832 Official Certification Guide - The author of the book, Kevin Wallace, claims to have written the book in such a way that the reader can simply remember all the important points and learn to identify and eliminate the causes of problems on their own. To do this, at the end of each chapter contains a structured scenario of the problem with a step-by-step description of the analysis of information and actions to localize and eliminate its causes. This book will be quite enough for the theoretical part.
2. Troubleshoot strategy videos from Kevin Wallace:
TSHOOT Bull's Eye Strategy # 1
TSHOOT Bull's Eye Strategy # 2
TSHOOT Bull's Eye Strategy # 3
3. CCNP TSHOOT 642-832 Quick Reference - a brain freshener.
First of all, we arm ourselves with the official topology, taking it here: Exam Topology
Yes, yes, this is the same network topology that is used during the exam. Oddly enough, but Cisco decided to meet the candidates, and posted it in the public domain. Of course, the questions of the exam are kept secret, but there is the opportunity to duplicate the topology at home, and begin to set up their own experiments todestroy the universe by destroying and restoring the working network. If you have a familiar networker at hand, ask him to break the grid for you, but so that you sweat properly in search of the “jambs” he has made. You can also use pre-broken configs from the reputable René.
Finally, I’ll say that I collected my topology in GNS3 ( for routers ), connecting the virtual component to my physical switches through the Cloud.
It took 20 days to learn the book, plus 10 days to practice. Total - only a month. Passed, gaining the maximum number of points.
Well, that’s all I wanted to tell the reputable community. I hope my experience will be useful to future professionals in the field of network technologies.
Good luck to all the session!
As a preamble, I want to warn you that we will talk about exams valid until January 29, 2015 . After this date, you will need to submit their updated versions (you can read about the differences here ). Despite this, the strategy and sources of information (meaning their updated versions) remain unchanged.
Perhaps I’ll start with my home setup, and then move on to a phased description of the preparation process for each exam.
And so, my home lab consists of:
- 2 x Cisco 3560
- 4 x Cisco 2950
- Old Pentium 4 PC with 256MB RAM
- USB-to-Ethernet Network Cards
- 4-Port Serial-to-USB Adapter
- Remote Power Cards
- Racks of own production
It looks like this:
The PC acts as a console server based on ubuntu-like Linux, a serial port adapter is connected to it, from which 4 cables go to the console ports of the switches (only 4 out of 6 are used). Communication with serial ports is provided by the ser2net application . Also, the PC contains virtual machines based on TinyCore miniature linux images for use as clients / hosts; they connect to switch ports through the network interfaces of external USB-to-Ethernet cards. In addition, all this stuff is controlled by power using an IP relay board, thereby providing the ability to remotely start the system.
We pass directly to the exams themselves.
CCNP ROUTE 642-902
In my humble opinion, it is necessary to start with it, since understanding the principles of routing protocols, as well as redistributing and route manipulation, will greatly facilitate the preparation for the second exam, which will be discussed later.
Sources of information
1. Implementing Cisco IP Routing (ROUTE) Foundation Learning Guide - the book provides comprehensive knowledge on each topic. Voluminous chapters help to study in detail the work of all the main protocols. Read it first.
2. CCNP ROUTE 642-902 Official Certification Guide - this book somewhat repeats the first, but the material in it is presented in a more concise form. It allows you to quickly update the memory on topics read in the first book. Before each chapter, a list of control questions is given, with the correct answer to which the reader has the right to skip the chapter ( not recommended) Also, in it the author shares simple ways to memorize certain difficult moments, such as, for example, BGP Best Path Selection using mnemonics. I recommend buying the Premium version, as it comes with a test exam from Boson.
3. How to Master CCNP ROUTE is an excellent little book from an independent expert René Molenaar, which explains in a simple language and with a bunch of examples and listings everything that a candidate needs to know. Keep it handy.
4. Cisco Online Documentation- unfortunately, during the exam there are tricky questions, the answers to which are not fully covered in books. In order not to lose extra points, I recommend often referring to the Cisco documentation to clarify the intricacies of the mechanisms, as well as consolidate the material covered.
5. The Cisco Learning Network is a major Cisco training forum. Contains a huge number of topics. If you have not found the answer to your question, feel free to create a new topic. There are plenty of people there, many of them are ready to come to your aid. Also, the forum contains a large amount of documentation. The main thing is not to be lazy to use the search.
6. CCNP ROUTE 642-902 Quick Reference - all the most important things to remember before entering the examination room.
From theory to practice
Having finished reading, we turn to practical exercises. In fact, if possible, it is better to alternate the theory with work in the console.
My main tools were the GNS3 and PacketTracer 6.1 simulators. The advantage of the first, as you know, is the ability to work with real iOS images. This gives confidence that the device works exactly as intended by the manufacturer! In PacketTracer, on the contrary, there are too many critical bugs, and the devices themselves often do not behave like their real counterparts, therefore, the GNS3 program was chosen as my main laboratory environment. I used PT exclusively in cases when I needed to quickly experience a small config.
I took laboratory tasks from the CCNP ROUTE 6.0 SLM ( Student Lab Manual)) This document is intended for students attending Cisco's official courses, but it is easy to find online for free. In addition, the Rene Molenaar website contains a large number of labs with ready-made configs for loading them into GNS3 ( version 1.x is required ).
How long does it take
It took me about three months to complete the preparation. I read the first two diligently, occasionally playing with the console, and the last month was spent on repeating the material and practical exercises. They managed to pass the exam on the first attempt.
CCNP SWITCH 642-813
In my opinion, the most difficult and costly exam in finance. Its complexity lies in a clear understanding of the work of all the small
Sources of information
1. Implementing Cisco IP Switched Networks (SWITCH) Foundation Learning Guide - the same as in the case of ROUTE, but with the only difference that this book is more likely to complement the second in this series.
2. CCNP SWITCH 642-813 Official Certification Guide - in this book you will find what is missing in the first, and vice versa. So, read carefully both. The Premium version with tests is again recommended for purchase.
3. How to Master CCNP SWITCH - to facilitate hard-to-digest sections.
4. Articles by Peter Lopukhov on the INE blog regarding STP / RSTP / MSTP: tyts and tyts .
5. Of course, online documentation and the CLN forum.
6.CCNP SWITCH 642-813 Quick Reference
Brochure - crib.
From theory to practice
The SWITCH theory is very voluminous, replete with a large number of important details and complex algorithms that require the reader to clearly understand the operation of the entire system. One of the most difficult topics - STP, it is made up of b on most of the exam questions. To understand how this protocol works, you can only thoroughly study it on real equipment, resorting to the built-in iOS debugging and external traffic analyzers, like Wireshark . Spend as much time as possible in the console, in particular, study the reaction of STP to certain events. Learn how to distribute the roles of bridges as well as port states.
Laboratory work can be found all on the same site , as well as from the collection CCNP SWITCH 6.0 SLM (Student Lab Manual).
How long does it take
It took me about two and a half months to read, and another 15 days to final preparation before the exam. It was possible to pass on the first attempt.
TSHOOT 642-832
It's time to take a break in the truest sense of the word. We reached the easiest, and in some places even pleasant, exam. Here you will not have to learn something fundamentally new, with the exception of a couple of three monitoring protocols and a small introductory chapter devoted to methods of prevention and identification of problems in networks. But to repeat the material of previous exams will be very helpful. The Quick Reference brochures I mentioned above will help you with this.
In addition, the exam itself is not like the previous ones; there are practically no usual questions with one or multiple choices, drag-n-shots and all sorts of simlets. On the contrary, you will be prompted to troubleshoot the problems described in the style of TroubleTaking (incidents). How it looks, you can understand by practicing in the free exam demo here.
Sources of information
1. CCNP TSHOOT 642-832 Official Certification Guide - The author of the book, Kevin Wallace, claims to have written the book in such a way that the reader can simply remember all the important points and learn to identify and eliminate the causes of problems on their own. To do this, at the end of each chapter contains a structured scenario of the problem with a step-by-step description of the analysis of information and actions to localize and eliminate its causes. This book will be quite enough for the theoretical part.
2. Troubleshoot strategy videos from Kevin Wallace:
TSHOOT Bull's Eye Strategy # 1
TSHOOT Bull's Eye Strategy # 2
TSHOOT Bull's Eye Strategy # 3
3. CCNP TSHOOT 642-832 Quick Reference - a brain freshener.
From theory to practice
First of all, we arm ourselves with the official topology, taking it here: Exam Topology
Yes, yes, this is the same network topology that is used during the exam. Oddly enough, but Cisco decided to meet the candidates, and posted it in the public domain. Of course, the questions of the exam are kept secret, but there is the opportunity to duplicate the topology at home, and begin to set up their own experiments to
Finally, I’ll say that I collected my topology in GNS3 ( for routers ), connecting the virtual component to my physical switches through the Cloud.
It looks something like this:
The area marked with a red dotted line is just a neatly overlaid picture for easy reading of the entire topology. Under the DSW1 and DSW2 icons are Clouds - devices for interfacing with external switches.
The area marked with a red dotted line is just a neatly overlaid picture for easy reading of the entire topology. Under the DSW1 and DSW2 icons are Clouds - devices for interfacing with external switches.
How long does it take
It took 20 days to learn the book, plus 10 days to practice. Total - only a month. Passed, gaining the maximum number of points.
Well, that’s all I wanted to tell the reputable community. I hope my experience will be useful to future professionals in the field of network technologies.
Good luck to all the session!