The CCNA certification was the first in the new line of Cisco certifications, and was the precursor to all current Cisco certifications. Now, you can become a Cisco Certified Network Associate for the meager cost of this book, plus $125 for the test. And you don’t have to stop there—you can choose to continue with your studies and achieve a higher certification, called the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP). Someone with a CCNP has all the skills and knowledge he or she needs to attempt the CCIE lab. However, because no textbook can take the place of practical experience, we’ll discuss what else you need to be ready for the CCIE lab shortly.
Why Become a CCNA?
Cisco, not unlike Microsoft or Novell, has created the certification process to give administrators a set of skills and to equip prospective employers with a way to measure skills or match certain criteria. Becoming a CCNA can be the initial step of a successful journey toward a new, highly rewarding, and sustainable career. The CCNA program was created to provide a solid introduction not only to the Cisco Internetwork Operating System (IOS) and Cisco hardware, but also to internetworking in general, making it helpful to you in areas that are not exclusively Cisco’s. At this point in the certification process, it’s not unrealistic to imagine that future network managers—even those without Cisco equipment—could easily require Cisco certifications for their job applicants. If you make it through the CCNA and are still interested in Cisco and internetworking, you’re headed down a path to certain success.
What Skills Do You Need to Become a CCNA?
To meet the CCNA certification skill level, you must be able to understand or do the following:
The way to become a CCNA is to pass one little test (CCNA exam 640-801). Then—poof!— you’re a CCNA. (Don’t you wish it were that easy?) True, it’s just one test, but you still have to possess enough knowledge to understand what the test writers are saying
Why Become a CCNA?
Cisco, not unlike Microsoft or Novell, has created the certification process to give administrators a set of skills and to equip prospective employers with a way to measure skills or match certain criteria. Becoming a CCNA can be the initial step of a successful journey toward a new, highly rewarding, and sustainable career. The CCNA program was created to provide a solid introduction not only to the Cisco Internetwork Operating System (IOS) and Cisco hardware, but also to internetworking in general, making it helpful to you in areas that are not exclusively Cisco’s. At this point in the certification process, it’s not unrealistic to imagine that future network managers—even those without Cisco equipment—could easily require Cisco certifications for their job applicants. If you make it through the CCNA and are still interested in Cisco and internetworking, you’re headed down a path to certain success.
What Skills Do You Need to Become a CCNA?
To meet the CCNA certification skill level, you must be able to understand or do the following:
- Install, configure, and operate simple-routed LAN, routed WAN, and switched Virtual LAN (VLAN) networks.
- Understand and be able to configure IP, IGRP, EIGRP, OSPF, serial interfaces, Frame Relay, IP RIP, VLANs, Ethernet, and access lists.
- Install and/or configure a network.
- Optimize WAN through Internet-access solutions that reduce bandwidth and WAN costs, using features such as filtering with access lists, bandwidth on demand (BOD), and dial-on-demand routing (DDR).
The way to become a CCNA is to pass one little test (CCNA exam 640-801). Then—poof!— you’re a CCNA. (Don’t you wish it were that easy?) True, it’s just one test, but you still have to possess enough knowledge to understand what the test writers are saying