Compras Nikon Bluetooth |
Weak Areas -
It talks about IOS and DOS trouble shooting commands but does a poor job at showing you what the outputs looks like. There are some frame-relay commands in the book, but the book does not go into enough about show and debug commands. You should know these cold!!
Negatives-
My opinion is that this book only covers 65% of the exam. The other 35% of the exam material that is not covered by this book is: In-depth detail about show and debug outputs. You need to know IOS TCP/IP Commands. PPP debug commands in relation to ISDN call setup and tear down. Be familiar with set/clear switch show commands, and how spanning tree works in relation to port cost, bridge priority, Mac address and STP timers. Know how VTP works. Most Important is your Hands on experience!!
In conclusion-
The author claims that this book is a complete study guide, however I disagree. It is my opinion that this book does not mention this material because he expects you to either have Á´hands onÁ? experience or have studies the other Cisco press books for CCNP. This is an oversight by the author that makes this book a weak choice as a complete study guide, but I still feel you will need this book to study for this exam. itÁ?s an easy read but lacks the technical detail. I also feel that Cisco press is the best way to get the knowledge you need you pass any Cisco exam.
If you know all of the stuff mentioned you will have no problems. Hope this review sheds some light on the problems with this book.
BookÁ?s I used to self-study. Cisco press 642-831 CIT, Exam cram 2 and Cisco Press 640-506 best for all the show and debug commands. (Exam cram 2 Use chapters 4,5,7,8,9,10, 12.) I donÁ?t know what they where thinking about when they published this book for this exam, it covers old test 640-506 and does not cover the Cisco guide line for the new exam, but is Good for commands.
I was blown away by some of the questions on the test. There was no information whatsoever in the book to prepare you. The practice exams are so easy, practically all the answers are show ip route. Plus, some of the answers are wrong (someone else already mentioned that)!
Any suggestions for another book to study with?
NOTE TO AMAZON: Would you please NOT include reviews for past versions of the book that have nothing to do with the current exam?
(1)After properly studying this book you CAN NOT walk in to the exam with the absolute confidence that you will pass. You may pass, you may not. In my opinion this is unacceptable for an "Exam Certification Guide".
(2) Several items on the exam were not covered even briefly in the book. Aka, you will be blindsided by topics on the exam that the book doesn't mention.
(3) The included quiz CD-ROM has several defective questions. ie. the answer that is right in the book is wrong on the CD-ROM, the question asks you to view exhibit 1 where there isn't any, etc... Did no one at Cisco Press proofread each question at least once before finalizing the CD?
(4) The quiz CD-ROM supposedly contains 225 unique questions. In taking the 50 question practice exam 10+ times, I encountered only about 100 unique questions. It seems the same questions get asked again and again, making your answers more reflex than knowledge.
(5) The questions in the book and on the CD-ROM are much much simpler than those on the exam. They don't provide any indicator at all of if you are ready for the exam.
Please note that most of the reviews here contain the disclaimer, "This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title". The Exams and books do change drastically between versions, not always for the better.
The book is clearly written with many well-done figures and examples to help explain concepts. The table of contents and index sections are useful and a glossary of terms also is provided. The text is gratifyingly devoid of misspellings and typographical errors. Several suggested study strategies and useful tips for taking the real exam are discussed in the introduction.
To help save the time of more experienced users each chapter begins with a set of "Do I Know This Already?" questions. These questions allow readers with different experience levels to quickly focus on the specific parts of a chapter where they may be weak.
At the end of each chapter is a "Foundation Summary" that summarizes and reinforces the key concepts and commands. These sections make good exam notes and are a great way to review a day prior to taking the real exam.
Also following each chapter is a "Q&A" section. The questions found here are more difficult than the ones on the exam. They probe your understanding of a topic and don't depend on the multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank formats that encourage guessing at answers. All questions and their answers are grouped into an appendix that makes another good review tool.
The scenarios presented in the final chapter are a little different from those found in some of the other Cisco Press guides. Rather than presenting scenarios as problem exercises to be worked out by the reader these scenarios are recounts of how a real problem was solved. I tend to prefer the problem exercises because they require one to think more than does reading a recount.
The companion CD-ROM contains practice questions and the full text in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. A total of 225 test questions are available including 125 questions taken directly from the text and 20 lab simulations. The practice tests contain multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank and list-in-order style questions.
The practice questions contain some obvious errors, evidently a result of publishing deadlines taking precedence over sufficient editorial review. And a few idiosyncrasies exist - for example, each test question has a button that displays the relevant section of the PDF. But when a wrong answer is entered this button is disabled, forcing one to first advance to the next test question and then hit the Back button before the reference can be displayed.
The lab simulations are simplistic, most requiring only that a single show command be entered. And 15 of the 20 simulations are exactly the same as those found on the Cisco Press CCNP Flash Cards Exam Preparation CD-ROM. This could be a bit disappointing for those that purchase both the flash cards and the CIT exam guide.
On the upside, nothing prevents one from installing the practice test on a second computer. This is great for those that want to install the product on a laptop for use when traveling in addition to installing on a desktop computer. The single-computer, single-user license enforced by some other publishers precludes this legitimate use. Let's hope that Cisco Press continues to allow products to be registered and used on more than just one computer.
Overall the author presents a sound and practical approach to building an essential base of network documentation along with using structured problem solving strategies. Anyone involved in supporting and troubleshooting a network should benefit from employing the methodologies described in this guide.
On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest rating, this guide rates a 4.
The book itself is a bit light, at around 300 pages and the author acknowledges this in the book's intro. He states that the book is intended as a condensed exam preparation book and only presents what he feels is absolutely essential in order to pass the exam. As a book intended for someone with CCNP level skills, I found it to be a little too light on technical info, presenting only the basic troubleshooting commands. The author addresses this, as well, stating that the new CIT exam has a lessened emphasis on technologies and more emphasis on the troubleshooting methodology. I suppose this is because the other 3 exams have some fairly in-depth troubleshooting command questions that are technology-specific and there was no need to duplicate.
Lack of sheer volume aside, the book is quite well written and clearly mapped to the exam objectives. Chapters 1 through 6 focus on the documenting and troubleshooting methodologies that I bought the book for. A lot of them are common sense things we should all be doing, but probably aren't. I actually learned quite a few things that I'll be applying to my own troubleshooting and documenting techniques. The book has improved me as a technician, so I guess the mission is accomplished. Chapters 7 through 12 focus on isolating and correcting problems at different layers of the TCP/IP model. These chapters have commands aplenty, but they're very basic commands and nothing new if you're taking this as the final exam of your CCNP. In hindsight, I should have taken this exam first and that's what I'd recommend to anyone wondering in what order to take the CCNP exams. To finish up, lucky chapter 13 is a capstone chapter that walks you through several troubleshooting scenarios.
The CD that comes with the book contains the test bank and an electronic copy of the book, which is actually how I did the majority of my reading. I love having the PDF, because I can read it on my computer while at work and it looks so very official, as opposed to sitting around reading a book, which can raise eyebrows of V.P. types looking for people who don't have anything better to do. I used the test bank a lot, as well, since all of the "Do I Know This Already" quizzes are there and can be taken individually. It saves a lot of flipping back and forth in the book checking your answers. The full test bank is also pretty good, with some useful simulations. There were a few questions that didn't work right, but it was better than a lot of test banks I've used.
All in all, I have to give kudos to the author for a well-written and accurate book. I noticed something was distinctly absent from this book that had bothered me immensely the last time I read a Cisco Press book... the misspellings. The last book was littered with them, but this book had none that I noticed. I don't know if this is attributable to the author or the editor, but I have to say that it would certainly contribute to me looking for titles by Mr. Ranjbar in the future. In addition to the good spelling, the author gives very clear examples and diagrams. It's a small thing, but I like that he names his routers and switches with names that resemble names of real routers and switches (i.e. Columbia, Columbia_SW, Washington, etc). Seeing routers named R1 and R2 then trying to follow those names through a 2-page example makes the example harder to read. The author avoids this and I appreciate it a lot.
The book has a suggested retail of $49.95, which is a little off on the weight-to-price ratio, but since it's a certification book, I guess you have to take it to get the anointed Cisco info. I read the book in 3 days and feel very prepared for this exam, so using my rating scale from one to five pings, I give this book a 4. Mission accomplished.
! ! ! . !
I used this book. I read it 3-4 times, solved the Q/A parts, used boson tests and at last passed the real exam.
Book is very well written, easy to read. While reading it you'll understand the knowledge level of the author. He is a CCNP but he seems to be more than a CCIE when it comes to troubleshooting. He gives sample outputs of the commands and focuses on the vital parts. Those outputs will be very useful if you do not have equipment to play with.
Be careful! The exam will be pretty hard if you do not have enough work experience. It needs a little knowledge and a LOT of troubleshooting experience.
CD has been prepared carefully and has valuable questions.
Thanks to Ranjbar for his efforts.
This book is superb! I especially enjoyed the Frame Relay and ISDN sections.
The author points out inaccuracies in the CIT course notes e.g. Pg 325/326 he shows that debug frame-relay VERBOSE = incoming packets, debug frame-relay PACKET = outgoing packets, debug frame-relay EVENTS = frame relay arp events. He states that the CIT course training manual confuses the debug frame-relay command (apparently no longer supported) with the debug frame-relay events command (in the CIT manual this is shown as the command to monitor incoming packts - it should be verbose). I for one am glad to have these things pointed out. What good is it learning inaccurate material?
In the ISDN chapter he shares a small exercise he did (with debug outputs) as he was curious about what conditions might cause an ISDN switch to ask a router to give up it's assigned TEI and request a new one - he shares his observations and simply states there may be other situations in which the same activity may occur, it's nice that he lets you know this is just his observations not something set in stone. It also helped me understand why such a function would be necessary from the Switch.
I noticed a couple of very slight errors e.g. Pg 365
"In Summary the SHOW DEBUG and the DEBUG DIALER commands..."
should be
"In Summary the SHOW DIALER and DEBUG DIALER commands..."
but these are easily spotted and there are far less of these errors than other books I've read from Cisco Press even including the (Excellent) Jeff Doyle TPC/IP vol 1 book.
All in all, this is definately the recommended book for CIT and I'm still referencing it afterwards for CCIE written study.
11 Chapters make up this book with coverage of the problem solving model, which is the first book I have seen to cover this topic. Also the book has extensive coverage of troubleshooting commands and tools.
You learn to troubleshoot TCP/IP, AppleTalk, 5000 series switches, VLANS, Frame Relay, ISDN and more. There should be more coverage of different routers and routing protocols. The cd rom included does have practice test questions, overall a few improvements and you have a real winner.
Even in the Introduction written by the author himslef, he stops short of saying 'i guarantee you will pass with this book' even though you can tell he wants to.
If you are taking the support 2.0 CCNP exam - then you must have this book.
1. I read Mr. Ranjbar's book cover to cover 11 Chapters. Second time around I read the Q&A in each section and the Foundation Summary in each Chapter. ( Excellent layout ). Third time around I just paid attention to the screen print out of all commands, there are many and Mr. Ranjbar has done a great job of explaining various sections of the output. Great diagrams of the ISDN, Internal architecture of 7000 & 7500 series Routers, and troubleshooting scenarios. These are actual printouts of the commands just visualize you are looking at a screen on a PC, and you will be fine. This book is GREAT !!! on the job too, it is practical.
2. Tear out the cram sheet on the Coriolis exam cram book. it has 103 commands and brief description of each, this is imperative to know,laminate this sheet at office depot for one dollar. Keep this laminated sheet with you wherever you go, good for rush hour commute, waiting at Dentist's office etc. Keep looking at it every day, it will make sense in a week or so.
3. 3-4 days before the exam, just read the Coriolis book 13 short and easy reading fun chapters, take the exam at the end of the book, keep in mind that the actual exam is much more harder than that, fill in the blanks are great.
4. Take the exam on the test engine provided by Mr. Ranjbar's CD that comes with his book, keep taking the exam until you start getting above 90% and close to 100%. If you fllow the above directions, with discipline, dedication and hard work you can pass this exam too. Good Luck to You.
Cisco other CIT book has more detail. I will have that instead of support book as a reference book.
Happy Reading
In the 475 plus page manual the Author walks you through the topics of Resources for troubleshooting and troubleshooting methods. The authors ability to simply the troubleshooting process is excellent, he is able convey his expertise in an easy to understand manner.
Also included are the areas of Cisco Troubleshooting tools and troubleshooting TCP/IP, AppleTalk and switch problems. Then you have troubleshooting techniques for ISDN, VLANs, Frame Relay and ATM.
You are given an extensive coverage of the Cisco IOS commands associated with troubleshooting process with a great explanation of why and when to use the commands. You have router screen shots, figures, diagrams, tables and end of chapter questions and answers to help in your studies.
The cd-rom included has practice questions and a practice test, which can be setup to focus on one topic or random coverage of several areas and topics. Overall this book would make a great classroom guide and is well worth the price.
I passed on the first try using only this book as a reference and just 10 days of studying. Keep in mind that this book is the official study guide for the CCNP Support Exam #640-506.
It is only about 400 pages long compared to Lammle's appproximatelly 800 page book for the same test.
Good job Ranjibar! Thank you, after passing this exam I am now a CCNP.
I challenge anyone to pick up this book and prove me wrong. Go into a book store if you are unsure, but be aware that this is the only book that helped me. I can't say enough good things about it (although it is a little dry). It's obvious that the author is very well connected in the Cisco community. I thought I had thought of everything, and then he gives some real world examples that blew me away. And I also have to give credit to Cisco Systems for creating this line of books. Every single exam, I have passed because of their books. I am also trying the Cisco Interactive Mentor (CIM) line of products as well and love them, but that's another story.
It sounds like the negative comments are coming from a disgruntled employee at Cisco (why would any be disgruntled??), or maybe another book publisher. That's unfortunate, because this book helped me in more ways than I can say thank you. I also think it was underpriced (for what that's worth, but that will be our little secret).
It is only with the heart one can see clearly; what is essential is
invisible to the eye.
-- The Fox, 'The Little Prince"
Ma Bell is a mean mother!
