study guide

Aug 31 2009   2:28PM GMT

Preparing for the ISCW

Posted by: Raj Perumal
ccnp, ISCW, 642-825, Bryant's Advantage, Cisco, self-study guide, study guide

Hello again folks! So this time I’m getting ready to write my 3rd exam in the CCNP series of exams. The next exam is called the ISCW ( Implementing Secure Converged Wide Area Networks).  This is exam # 642-825.

The ISCW exam material seems to be smaller to me. I’ve also heard it is easier than the BSCI and the BCMSN. It covers topics such as

• Basic configurations for Cisco routers when you’re configuring them in a teleworker scenario such as with DSL or Cable Internet.
• IPSec VPN
• MPLS
• Mitigation of Common Network attacks
• IOS Firewall
• IPS
• Hardening of Cisco Devices

Now that does sound like a lot of material but it shouldn’t be too bad considering how crazy the BSCI exam was. I figure if I wrote the BSCI successfully the rest should be comparitively easier (not easy, but just in comparison). So since I was so successful with the last two, I’m not going to abandon my strategy. A combination of the learning from my boot camp combined with the Cisco self-study guide, more lab time and the Bryant’s Advantage study guide should allow me to pass the exam.

-RP

Jul 31 2009   4:31PM GMT

The Bryant Advantage

Posted by: Raj Perumal
Chris Bryant, ccie, Cisco, ccnp, CCNA, training, study guide, labs, Rack Time, preparation, exam, exams, The Bryant Advantage

So now that I’ve been at the bootcamp and it’s time to buckle down and get ready for the exams, I was looking for some extra training material. I wanted to find some good study guides and labs that would help me prepare. I was also looking for some rack time (renting Cisco hardware and logging on to it remotely to do labs on) since I don’t own enough equipment myself.

Well I was doing some digging and I came across this thing called The Bryant Advantage. Chris Bryant is a certified CCIE and he created his own study material which is 100% legit and is great for studying for the exam. He also provides rack time if you need it.

So I figured I’d take the plunge and I bought the Bryant Advantage materials with the rack time. I have to say the material is just great! I’ve been reading his ebook and he really does a great job of explaining everything. Also Chris is extremely helpful for any questions you might have. I can highly recommend buying his material to prepare for the CCNP.

-RP

Jul 21 2009   1:10PM GMT

CCNP Boot Camp

Posted by: Raj Perumal
Bryan Baize, CCIE 16139, Boson Boot Camp, ccnp, study, train, prepare, study guide, instructor, class, classroom, Cisco Certified Network Professional, Cisco, exams, BSCI, ISCW, ONT, BCMSN, 642-812, 642-825, 642-845, 642-901

Hi folks, so for the last week I’ve been in Florida at a CCNP boot camp studying and training day in and day out. I have one more week to go and I have to say it has been quite intense. The CCNP ain’t anything to take lightly. This certification will chew you up and spit you out!

Luckily the great folks at Boson have a boot camp available and i’ve been lucky enough to get a great instructor, Bryan Baize. Bryan Baize (CCIE 16139) is a CCIE (the PHD of network certifications in my opinion) and a fabulous instructor. His ability to recall the most obscure facts and answer all of your questions and his ability to convey concepts to the students is just great.

As a former IT instructor myself, I can wholeheartedly recommend using the Boson boot camps as part of your training regiment for the CCNP. I will keep you guys up to date on my progress in my quest for this certification. One more week to go!

-RP