Despite the debatable value of certifications, I decided to use my two week school break to study and test for my Cisco CCNA certification. In this article I’ll discuss why technology leaders should consider getting the CCNA (even if you can’t login to any of your equipment), and I’ll share how I prepared for the exam with links to all the tools I used. After reading this, I hope you’ll be motivated to get your CCNA, and you’ll feel confident that you have the tools you need to pass it.
Why Get a CCNA
I’m in management and don’t even have authorization to log into any of the equipment we operate, so why get a CCNA? Believe me, I asked myself this several times over the last few days when I was tired of studying.
The CCNA is not super tough but the time, effort and knowledge required to pass the exam demonstrates a commitment to your profession and to your people. I think your engineers will appreciate it if you put in the time and effort it takes to get the CCNA. They know what it takes, and they’ll respect your commitment if nothing else.
I decided to get it because as the manager of a group of network engineers, I thought I should have at least the associate level certification. If we’re asking our folks to get certified, shouldn’t we have at least a minimum level certification?
Does the CCNA make me any smarter or validate me in some way? Well, I did learn a few things that I didn’t know before, time based ACLs for example. I also gained a real appreciation for the effort required to get the certification. All of us in the tech industry have to learn continually, but there is a difference between self study with no test versus study followed by a $250 test.
How to prepare for the CCNA?
Preparation
I’ll share my preparation for those who are interested in getting their CCNA.
- I read Exam Cram via my Safari Books subscription and reviewed weak areas multiple times.
- Used the iCOD (see video below) and accompanying books to review ICND2 material. I connected the iPod to my Mac Book Pro so I could view it on a bigger screen. The iPod is good for portability, but given a choice I prefer to watch it on my laptop. Contact the folks at CCBOOTCAMP to get one of your own – you’ll even get lab rack time.
- Review modules on The Cisco Learning Center. There is a ton of good, free information on this site.
- Used GNS3 / Dynagen (on my Mac Book Pro) to practice routing, NAT, Frame Relay and DHCP pool configuration. I love this software and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to be a network engineer or even those who are engineers.
- Took practice tests using Self Test Software and Pass For Sure
Are You Ready to Go For It?
What do you think, is it worth it for someone in management to get their CCNA? I’ve listed several tools here to help you; are you willing to get your CCNA?
Do you think it’s enough or should mangers go for their CCNP, CCDP or <shudder>CCIE</shudder>?
