James Jones | Sheldon Barry
1 You WILL fail if this is your only study source
-Nothing on configuring Static Routes
-Nothing on configuring Default Routes
-Nothing on configuring OSPF
-Nothing on OSPF Neighbor Discovery/Neighbor Relations
-Nothing on OSPF Designated Router Election
-No coverage of Spanning Tree commands
-No coverage of NAT/PAT [Inside/Outside-Private/Public]
-Utilizes the NativeOS 1900 commands; the exam objectives on cisco.com SPECIFICALLY state that the exam NO LONGER COVERS 1900 commands, but now has been updated to the 2950/3550 IOS syntax
-Substandard coverage of Remote Access configuration
About the only positive thing I can say about this book is that it would probably be enough for ONLY the 821 INTRO exam, BUT NOT sufficient for the 801 Comprehensive or 811 ICND.
2 Jones - Barry & Ed Tittel Should BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES !
B U Y E R B E W A R E !!!!
This book is LOADED WITH FLAT OUT MISTAKES ! I just can't believe that a book could have this many MISTAKES! Practice Questions with the WRONG answers! Text with spelling and technical errors! Obviously this book never went through a Technical Review before publishing. It says "Edited by Ed Tittel" I think Ed was asleep when he edited this book! I have used the Exam Cram Books for A+, Network+ and they are on the money for someone like me that has experience and just wanted review. STAY AWAY FROM THIS ONE !
3 Exam Cram Sucks
Normally, I do not write reviews about books. Unfortunatley, this book was so weak that I have too. Do not use this book for the 640-801 exam. It contains nothing on OSPF, or EIGRP configurations. That in itself will make you fail the CCNA exam. I passed the exam only because I knew how to configure those routing protocols. I think Exam Cram went out of business anyway. Remember Cisco is the Gorilla in Networking and there is no easy way to pass the exam. Buy the Cisco Press or Sybex Study Guides they may be dry but at least they will help.
4 Not recommended....
There are errors in this book.
Not enough - indeed any - attention is paid to important parts of the CCNA exam, particularly router configuration, WAN configuration, NAT etc, which feature a heavily in the exam itself.
It may be OK if you are doing INTRO (821), rather than ICND (811) or the CCNA itself (801), however the book does claim to be for all three.
If you get it "for free" from Safari, it may be worth reading as a primer. Some "real" books however are recommended instead.
5 Dont depend on this book.
This book is strong on theory and enumerating the specifics of the OSI model. It functions well as a dictionary and thesaurus for the exam. However, it falls flat in that it covers virtually nothing in regards to routing configurations - which make up the critical portion of the exam. Cisco makes ROUTERS after all - routing is amost half of it.
If you want to pass the CCNA:
1. Get practical experience doing routing and ISP work with Cisco routers. If you can't get that, buy lab time and get the experience there. If you cant buy lab time, get simulation software. NetSim or the venerable RouterSim would be a good start. There is no substitute for practical experience, but extensive lab work might come close.
2. Get another book for the CCNA because this one wont get you anywhere. The official Cisco press books are much better, or the
ones from McGraw-Hill. But for god's sake, dont bet the farm on this one.
6 For Two-Test Option Only!
I want to make a comment about the EXAM CRAM2 books for the CCNA tests. The book titled EXAM CRAM2 CCNA by James Jones and Sheldon Barry is the book for people who are taking the 821 and 811 tests. The book titled EXAM CRAM2 CCNA Practice Questions by Jeremy Cioara and Chris Ward is the book for people who are planning to take the 801 test.
Both books are good for their intended target audiences. EXAM CRAM2 books are relatively inexpensive, and they always provide good value for your dollar.
This review is of the EXAM CRAM2 CCNA book by James Jones and Sheldon Barry. The book has ten chapters. The first chapter is an overview of certification testing in general, and Cisco tests in particular. The next six chapters cover the Intro test (640-821), and the last three chapters cover the Interconnecting test (640-811). Then, there is a practice test (55 questions) for the 821 Intro test, followed by a 60-question practice test for the 811 Interconnecting test. Finally, there is a 55-question practice test for the 801 CCNA test. The correct answers, with explanations, are given for all questions.
If you are planning to take the 801 test, you probably shouldn't bother with the Jones and Barry book. You need to get the EXAM CRAM2 CCNA Practice Questions book by Jeremy Cioara and Chris Ward. Also, if you are planning to take the single-test option (640-801), you should get the CCNA: Fast Pass book by Todd Lammle, and also the CCNA: Cisco Certified Network Associate Study Guide Fourth Edition which is also by Todd Lammle. The Lammle books are published by Sybex.
If you are planning to take the two-test option (821 and 811), then you should get the Jones and Barry book. Also, if you are going to take the two-test option, you should get the two Odom books and the two McQuerry books. The Odom and McQuerry books are all published by Cisco press.
Whether you are planning to take the one-test option (640-801) or the two-test option (640-821 and 640-811), I think the Flashcards book by Rivard and Doherty can be very helpful.
7 *sigh* Failed the test...come on, Exam Cram 2!
I'll try to be fair. CCNA by Exam Cram 2 is a pretty good introduction to Cisco networking and WAN/routing network in general...but you should not rely on it to pass the CCNA exam.
This book has many strengths and weaknesses. It does a wonderful job describing router hardware, WAN functionality, and routing protocols.
However, this book fails miserably on the topics of IP addressing, subnetting, and CIDR. The bulk of the CCNA exam revolves around these topics. Additionally, the book could be better in the area dealing with router commands.
The practice questions and the Prep Logic practice exam on the CD are useful.
Your best best is to buy two other CCNA books from other publishers, and use the Exam Cram 2 as a supplementary text.
8 I failed because of this book!!!
I made the mistake of trusting this book to prepare for the CCNA. The authors owe me $125.
The outdated sections of the book should have given me a hint. I really got slammed on routing protocols during the test
DO NO TRUST THIS BOOK. Alone, it is useless.
9 An Intelligent Droid Reviews!
Well if R2D2 had properly read and therefore reviewed this book he would have discovered that:
1) It covers 3 exams.
2) One of the exams is slightly more complicated than Network+ and is 50% of the CCNA Certification.
3) That the other half of the CCNA qualification covers thru to specific Cisco related matters.
The book helps you either with the two stage approach to the CCNA Certification or the single exam. Which ever way yo go to get your certification it covers both avenues.
Unless of course you are C3PO whom does not need to read or properly think what the book actually covers which is a bit of a pity since it tells you on the cover. Doh!
10 Not a CCNA but a Intro To Networking Book
I thought that this book might be something like a last minute revision before taking the test, more like cram-session as the name implies, but it is anything but that. The order of the chapters is way tooo weird. WAN protocols in Chapter 4 followed by TCP/IP and then switching and routing... WOW!! The author also goes into great details to explain things that arent required for a "Exam Cram", fails to provide any real examples and overall the material provided in the book is very trivial. This book is for someone who wants to learn a few basics about networking, NOT for someone who plans to tackle the CCNA.
I recommend CCNA Fast Pass by Todd Lammle as a last minute revision ONLY after reading Cisco's CCNA Companion Guide (2 books) and Todd Lammle's CCNA Study Guide.
