Product Description

Two bestselling CCNA study tools--one value-priced set

Here's everything you need to prepare for the CCNA certification exam, including in-depth coverage of all exam objectives, CCNA Virtual Lab, Titanium Edition simulation software that lets you to practice on a virtual network--complete with over 250 hands-on labs--leading-edge testing software, and over an hour of additional video and audio instruction from Cisco expert Todd Lammle, and much more.

Prepare with confidence with the very latest edition of this consistent bestseller from top Cisco networking authority Todd Lammle. The book includes a CD with Sybex's leading-edge exam-prep software.
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In-depth coverage of all objectives for exam 640-802
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New material on switching, network address translation, IPv6, and more
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Practical hands-on exercises and labs to reinforce critical skills
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Sybex custom test engine
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Real-world scenarios so you learn in the context of actual job roles
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Supplemental video and audio instruction from Todd Lammle

Sharpen your hands-on skills on a virtual network with this unique CCNA lab simulation software. It's the perfect companion to the CCNA Study Guide.
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Create a virtual network of unlimited devices for unlimited practice
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Practice using 2621 Cisco routers and the 1900, 2950, and 3550 Cisco switches
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Test your knowledge of over 470 commands
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Run problem-solving scenarios and test your troubleshooting skills
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Hone your skills with over 250 hands-on labs from Todd Lammle
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Save time and money with this affordable learning alternative

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #781122 in Books
• Published on: 2007-11-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 2
• Binding: Paperback
• 1008 pages

Amazon.com Review
One purchase. Expert training on limited hands-on experience. A near-guaranteed pass. Does it get any better? Not really.

Like your peanut butter in my chocolate, the combination of Sybex's bestselling CCNA Study Guide and the e-trainer network-simulation software mesh wonderfully. In fact, if truth be told, they always were intended to be sold as one unit; the book contains a lot of rote exercises that is a jumble of instructions if you're not sitting at a terminal, and the CD comes with practically no instructions at all. Put together in the CCNA Certification Kit, however, they create a force to be reckoned with.

But first, let's list for you what's in this little bundle of joy. The CCNA Study Guide is a densely written but comprehensive tome; the writing can be intimidating at times, but Lammle is to be commended for trying to show the reader the reasons that certain networking topics work, instead of merely providing you with lists of items to memorize. The concepts become particularly daunting during the chapters involving TCP/IP subnetting and VLAN trunking--but meticulous rereading will reward you not only with exam-passing knowledge, but with a deep understanding that will serve you well in the corporate world. There are only two slight disappointments: one is the chapter on WAN networking, which is a trifle light compared to the fact-packed density of the rest of the book; the other is that this book is not for absolute beginners, as it skips very quickly over such essential concepts as Ethernet networking and cabling types.

There is a third flaw here--fortunately, it's nonexistent in this bundle. A large portion of the Guide consists of simple exercises to be run on Cisco routers--which normally is a problem for the CCNA student. Most people don't have access to, and cannot afford, the roughly $2,500 in equipment that it takes to set up a sample lab. But that's where the CCNA Virtual Lab e-trainer comes in; it's a software package that emulates a network that consists of three Cisco routers, a Catalyst 1900 switch, and a couple of WAN links.

For what it does at the price, it does it well. It's not, by any means, a full-fledged simulation, but it does emulate most of the basic commands well enough for you to pass--and the amount of learning you'll get from the "hands-on" experience is exponentially better than any amount of book learning. Tinkering around with your own setup will help you remember the oft-cryptic Cisco commands and password levels better than anything else, and the exercises given to you in the study guide will suddenly become full-fledged workshops that expand your learning.

Now, there are those who have criticized the Virtual Lab for many, sometimes valid, reasons: not all the basic commands are adequately supported, the interface is clunky, there are known bugs, and it's useless beyond anything but the CCNA level. (If you go on to the next level of the Cisco exams, most of the advanced commands aren't supported.) But there is a saying in the industry that should be well taken here: "Close enough for horseshoes and hand grenades." Yes, there are better Cisco simulator programs. Yes, there are cheaper ones. No other offering, however, has the range of features and depth that you'll find at this price--more importantly, it's enough to pass. Must you have perfection when you can have a passing grade?

In short, the strengths of each item in this boxed set shore up the weaknesses of the other--and, as such, it's a vital tool in the arsenal of any CCNA aspirant. Highly recommended. --William Steinmetz

From the Back Cover
Two bestselling CCNA study tools—one value-priced set

Here's everything you need to prepare for the CCNA certification exam, including in-depth coverage of all exam objectives, CCNA Virtual Lab, Titanium Edition simulation software that lets you to practice on a virtual network—complete with over 250 hands-on labs—leading-edge testing software, and over an hour of additional video and audio instruction from Cisco expert Todd Lammle, and much more.

Prepare with confidence with the very latest edition of this consistent bestseller from top Cisco networking authority Todd Lammle. The book includes a CD with Sybex's leading-edge exam-prep software.

• In-depth coverage of all objectives for exam 640-802

• New material on switching, network address translation, IPv6, and more

• Practical hands-on exercises and labs to reinforce critical skills

• Sybex custom test engine

• Real-world scenarios so you learn in the context of actual job roles

• Supplemental video and audio instruction from Todd Lammle

Sharpen your hands-on skills on a virtual network with this unique CCNA lab simulation software. It's the perfect companion to the CCNA Study Guide.

• Create a virtual network of unlimited devices for unlimited practice

• Practice using 2621 Cisco routers and the 1900, 2950, and 3550 Cisco switches

• Test your knowledge of over 470 commands

• Run problem-solving scenarios and test your troubleshooting skills

• Hone your skills with over 250 hands-on labs from Todd Lammle

• Save time and money with this affordable learning alternative

About the Author
Todd Lammle, CCSI, CCNA/CCNP/CCSP, MCSE, CEH/CHFI, FCC RF Licensed, is the authority on Cisco Certification internetworking. He is a world-renowned author, speaker, trainer, and consultant. Todd has over 25 years of experience working with LANs, WANs, and large Wireless networks. He is president of GlobalNet Training, Inc, a network integration and training firm based in Dallas. You can reach Todd through his forum at www.lammle.com.

William Tedder is President of RouterSim and has expertise in the development of interactive learning applications.

Customer Reviews

This is a great CCNA 2 Test kit.
I have purchased the kit after reading the comments from other CCNA enthusiasts and they were right... this is defenitely the way to go to get your CCNA. Todd Lamme, wrote a good book! However, the Router Simulator had a few bugs in it that prevented me from entering free hand code to the router telnet simulation. It is still at version 1 and I think that it should be enhanced a little more. Moreover, like all tech books, there were a few minor typo mistakes that I saw in some illustrations, but nothing serious.

I passed the exam the 1st time with a 849/822 but it was because I did not study hard enough. What I used is this kit, Boson's CCNA exam Questions and Answers (that you get with the CDRom) and about 2 hours a day for 1 month of studying. Also, do go to the CISCO website to get some further reference.

Good Luck.

Next, CCNP!!!

Excellent source of information !
I bought this book and studied it for a month straight and it tought me everything that was needed for the CCNA. The sample questions were extremely close to the real test questions. It helped me pass the test on my first try. I highly recommend this book for anyone serious about the test.

Best Book / Teaser Trainer
I have looked at most of the available CCNA books. It isn't worth it, you just get confused. This book is enough to pass the test and learn about the basics of Layer-2 and 3 theory.

There are a LOT of mistakes in the first addition. The errata on the sybex.com website has all the mistakes, but whew!

The e-trainer is a frustrating tease. I was so fed up with it after the first lab that I was about to purchase a used router. Even the most basic lab(chapter 4) doesn't have all of the functions supported. However, like I said, it is a tease. The point of the e-trainer is to give you a path to Mr. Lammale's partner: RouterSim. If you have your invoice from this package, RouterSim will cost you $130 extra as an upgrade to e-trainer, or $230 without. So the minute you order this, I recommend going to routersim.com and picking up your updated copy because you won't have the annoyance of e-Trainer to deal with during the labs.

Buy this set, get the upgrade, make Sybex and Todd rich, pass the test, start your path to being 1% as rich as Todd!