Any CCNA or CCNP Here?

[Zero_one]

Any CCNA or CCNP Here?

My current company (Public Transportation Authority) will most probably be merged with another Company The Process will take about 2-3 Years ...... I'm looking for a exit strategy and thinking about doing a CCNA and later CCNP Certification ..... I don't wanna buy the certification but really study the stuff & understand the whole thing behind it

So any one around here who has done it or is doing it or know anyone closely doing it ????

- Can it be done beside a Full-Time Job?
- How good r the chances to get a Job without any field experience?
- What Pay-Scale for a starter?

Thanx for anyhelpful advice.

[theBadCook]

Re: Any CCNA or CCNP Here?

A relative's son studied CCNP some time back. Took him two years of part time studies to complete it with a local college that specialised in networking and he paid over £8k for the two years. But they provided everything including career guidance. He completed it a year ago and now hes earning £35k mashaAllah, with chances for progression as his experience increases. Id say go for it if you're not IT-challenged and can push yourself to study with your current full time commitments. Good luck!

[Roshni]

Re: Any CCNA or CCNP Here?

my hubby is doing CCNA, completed Module 1 and three to go. Its tough but he will be doing parttime. there are few institutions who offer 8 weeks part time course than our own study and exam and it costs about $1500 in total.

hubby wants to do CCNP in future.

CCNA is not a big deal in IT industry now but ofcourse it increases your chance of getting good pay and job change in future.
for example hubby was told by his teachers at college that without CCNA max you can start a job is $35000 but if u have CCNA than you can expect $55000+.

[Zero_one]

Re: Any CCNA or CCNP Here?

Thanx Roshni and TBC

I think i'll give it a shot ..... although i've another 2-3 years to get it done and find some related Job but i'm hopeful that things will be even insha'Allah

[babloos]

Re: Any CCNA or CCNP Here?

i have been studying ccna on and off will give exam in jan.

was thinking about ccnp,but right now cloud computing is really worrying me.iam thinking to get into IAAS (infrastructure ) in cloud instead of going cisco route

[Lucid Chaotic]

Re: Any CCNA or CCNP Here?

did my CCNA and CCNP almost ten years ago. Things have changed drastically since then. Both certs are doable on a p-t basis if you have the aptitude for network design & admin, and also have access to equipment for hands-on practice. Enrolling in formal courses always helps too since you can learn from others experiences and get to practice in a group environment.

[jaan leva]

Re: Any CCNA or CCNP Here?

What is your current role in the company? What is your network admin/management experience? CCNA/NP are doable with fair amount of commitment, study (a lot of theory) and experience.

$35K is extremely low for network support/admin job... entry level job like pc repair/help desk would pay you that or in the low 40s.

In any job, your experience is key, that determines the pay, at least in US.

I did my CCNA over 10 years ago and never renewed it, didn't really have time to go after NP. I tried doing CCIE (yes you can do that without CCNA or NP) but it requires a lot of commitment and time which is extremely hard if you are married and working 50/60 hours a week.

If you can, build a home lab.... my lab over a year ago,





its changed now (different servers, couple of Cisco ASA's in there, a lot of virtualization, etc.) but it allows you to be flexible and test scenarios without causing harm.

Cloud computing is growing but underlying platform for that and thing which RUNS cloud computing is virtualization and you should keep that in your cert portfolio. You cannot be successful at virtualization without combination of networking, storage and hardware skills. Therefore, cisco will come handy.

[Zero_one]

Re: Any CCNA or CCNP Here?

^ Currently i'm working for a Public Transportation Authority

My Job has many aspects:

- Datamanagement for Timetables (Actual Timetable), Online Interface for quick reaction to any Traffic hinderance etc.
- Planning/Designing of a Network to fetch Realtime Info from vehicles (Buses, Trams, & Trains)
- Build-up of a background System/Infrastructure to handle the Info and push it out to several clients like Smartphone Users, Terminals at Busstations, Vehicle to vehicle communication for connecting/transferring passengers
- Income reporting, validating and forwarding (ticket sold on Buses etc.)
- Planning/Designing an App for iOS, Android and Blackberry with Ticketing Option and relevant Push Notification from the Above system for Passengers

The Project will take around 2 1/2 Years ...... It's not that i'll lose my job once the Company will be merged with another but i think after Current Project there will be hardly any challanging Task that may come up

[babloos]

Re: Any CCNA or CCNP Here?

get GNS3

it would come really handy,it emulates router ios instead of simulators like boson.

you can really build complex topologies

[jaan leva]

Re: Any CCNA or CCNP Here?

GNS3 is crap, requires too much CPU, buggy... get Cisco L2/L3 IOU Rack (NO official release exists, some taiwanese guy released it, cisco uses it in their development labs and CCIE lab. Don't ask me about it or where to get it). You can run that as VM in vmware workstation or in ESXi, CPU hardly takes a hit (see attached image).




With 6 routers and 4 switches running!

[Roshni]

Re: Any CCNA or CCNP Here?

Any one doing CCNA or is about to do CCNA?

I am interested in how do you guys prepare for it?. any online resources available?

[babloos]

Re: Any CCNA or CCNP Here?

GNS3 is crap, requires too much CPU, buggy... get Cisco L2/L3 IOU Rack (NO official release exists, some taiwanese guy released it, cisco uses it in their development labs and CCIE lab. Don't ask me about it or where to get it). You can run that as VM in vmware workstation or in ESXi, CPU hardly takes a hit (see attached image).




With 6 routers and 4 switches running!

there is a option to keep idle pc value

also will try above mentioned

[jaan leva]

Re: Any CCNA or CCNP Here?

Even with idle PC values, its doesn't really help. A lot of factors need to be met otherwise things like idle pc do not work most of the time.

idle pc may reduce CPU usage from 70, 80, 90 % to 40, 50, 60%, still your hammering the CPU.

GNS3 works well for some, no doubt but not for majority of people.

[kamranhussain]

Re: Any CCNA or CCNP Here?

I've done both...I started my career with an A+N+, got into CCNA...then did CCNP. Networking is a very rewarding career, and is red hot at the moment. I'd say go for it. The guys in the link give a free practice test. Try the test, see where you stand.

After that, it depends on what kind of education do you prefer? Do you like classroom training? Then go for them. If you like to study on your own, then read the book:

http://www.amazon.com/CCNA-Cisco-Certified-Network-Associate/dp/0782126472

Hope it helps!

Any questions, feel free to ask

[babloos]

Re: Any CCNA or CCNP Here?

forget to mention

if ur doing self study

get todd lammle(7th edition) easy to understand or wendell odom (recent one 3rd edition) for more depth.before that i suggest you to go through CBT nuggets videos which would make easy to understand,then you can go in depth into books.
another highly recommend book is network WARRIOR which has lot of real world stuff from data centers which author faced in real world