CCNP Remote Access Exam Prep (Exam: 640-505)

Barry Meinster | Richard Deal

Looking for work at an Internet service provider (ISP) or other connectivity center? The Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) rating, with its remote access requirement, is bound to get you in the door and into the interview room. CCNP Remote Access Exam Prep contains the information you need to get ready for the Remote Access exam (640-505). The book's focus is more on long- to middle-range exam preparation than on last-minute fact-snarfing, so readers will find lots of explanations of concepts and technologies.

The authors of this hardback volume--both decorated Cisco experts--favor text explanations of general concepts, followed by bulleted lists that dig into low-level specifics. For example, in explaining the concept of lines for asynchronous communication, the authors discuss the general purpose of lines, then they itemize and define the four line types in a bulleted list. The listings of Internetwork Operating System (IOS) sessions reveal details as well. Because it is a study guide, this book incorporates a selection of labs--you're given challenges, which are then solved if you require help--and sample questions. Buy this for study; keep it for reference. --David Wall

Topics covered: All subjects that Cisco Systems says you have to understand to pass the Remote Access exam (640-505), a milestone you have to achieve on your way to Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) status. Coverage includes Cisco's range of remote access products, the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), and X.25 and Frame Relay in remote access situations.

1 it is a pity that it's too late to send it back!
Yes, I have passed the exam with the 1st attempt. My thanks to Cisco press and my experience.
The only valuable chapters in this book: PPP, Frame-Relay and x.25. The rest is not to understand and not to figure out what the authors mean. Many mistakes through the whole book regarding commands and configurations.
The CD is useless.
Switch to Boson tests and Cisco press!

2 Good Book, Weak Test
The book was excellent in preparing me for the exam. It was really well written and had excellent detail on the Remote Access Technologies. The practice test was lacking. It really didn't have enough questions, but the accuracy of the question were better than most books.

3 Remote access complete.
Working from home has become a new trend in the world of computers. Making sure the users can log in and access information is vital to your company's overall success. So as the network manager you have to ensure the most reliable connection possible and this book will help you in that task.

The 600 page book starts off with an overview of the WAN and WAN technologies. Moving on to configuring the modem and PPP and the configuration required for that protocol.

You then learn about remote access with Windows 95 and 98, ISDN and DDR access, the 700 series router, Protocols like x.25 and frame relay. Setting and working with WAN redundancy and finally NAT and PAT.

Included in the book is a sample test, which I found to very challenging. Also include in the book is review questions at the end of each chapter. The cd rom included has over 50 questions in practice format and a free download for more questions.

4 Excellent
This book is excellent. There are a few typos/errors but, nothing significant. It covers everything that is on the 640-505 test in great detail. There are practice tests at the end of every chapter. The "Real World Projects" at the end of each chapter did not always fit well but, if you called them example configurations, rather than projects, they are fine.

I scored 920 on the test. If you thoroughly read and understand this book you cannot help but do well too. The book will also make for a good quick reference in the future.

Also, see Richard Deal's Switching Exam Cram. It does an even better job for the 640-504 test. Truely outstanding work.

5 Great book by Barry and Richard
I just got this book 3 days ago and was very happy with it. I've already passed the routing test and decided to tackle this one next. I also bought the Cisco Press book on Remote Access, and found that it didn't explain a lot of topics very well. So I ordered this book. What the Cisco Press book either doesn't explain well, or is lacking in, this book picks up the slack. I also like the questions on the CD--it's the first thing that I tried. I will be taking this test next Friday, so wish me luck!!! Thanks again Barry and Richard!!!

6 A little information from the author...
This book will prepare you for Cisco's CCNP Remote Access Exam (640-505)

This book contains all of the information that you will need in order to pass Cisco's Remote Access exam (640-505), a stepping stone for your CCNP certification. As a certified Cisco instructor for five years, I have helped many students in their struggle for certification. Besides teaching the BCRAN class, I teach the ICND, BCMSN, BSCN, CATM, DCN, CID, BSSC, and MSSC classes. I also bring a real-life perspective to not only my teaching, but to this book. I have been in this industry over a decade, have my own consulting company based in Orlando, FL, and have written two books on Cisco's Catalyst switches entitled "CCNP: Switching Exam Cram" and "CCNP: Cisco LAN Switch Configuration Exam Cram". I also have a variety of CDROM testing products with the Coriolis book, all geared to helping you pass various CCNA and CCNP Cisco certification tests. This book will explain the fundamental ABC's of Remote Access with Cisco's products and the tools available to you to design, implement, and configure remote access solutions in very large WAN environments. All of the objectives outlined by Cisco's BCRAN class as well as other important remote access topics are covered thoroughly in this book. These topics include: a thorough discussion of Cisco products for remote access; serial communications and cables, including console and modem access; modem configuration and dialing on both Cisco routers and Microsoft Windows machines; the PPP protocol and its implementation; ISDN implementation and configuration; dial-on-demand (DDR) routing and dialer profiles for router dial-up solutions; X.25 and frame relay WAN solutions; backup solutions using dial-up; managing bandwidth using queuing and compression; address translation with NAT and PAT; security and AAA configuration; and many, many more. Besides an overview of these subjects, I explain the necessary configuration commands to implement these features in your WAN network.

You will be presented with detailed configuration examples as well as many example test questions following each chapter, reinforcing the material that you covered. At the end of each chapter, you are presented with a configuration case study that you can use to practice your knowledge of router commands in implementing Remote Access solutions. The last two chapters contain a sample test along with answers and explanations for each correct and incorrect answer, similar to the Exam Cram format. To assist you in your studies, the sample test questions have not only a detailed explanation of why a specific answer is correct, but also explains why the other answers are incorrect. When preparing for the test, it is not only important to know why a specific answer is correct, but why the remaining answers are incorrect: I have found that by providing readers and students with this type of tool, it greatly facilitates their learning and definitely enhances their test-taking skills. Counting each chapter's 20 to 25 questions, the 70 questions on the sample test in the book, and the 100 questions on the CD-ROM, there are over 450 questions to assist you. With this book and the sample questions, you will be more than prepared for tackling the Remote Access test and give you a strong foundation for implementing Remote access solutions for your network.

I wish you the best on the long read to achieving your CCNP and CCIE.

Richard Deal