Cisco CCNP Preparation Library (2nd Edition)

Diane Teare | Catherine Paquet | Karen Webb | Laura Chappell | et al

Fine for the experienced professional (or an intermediate who's willing to do his or her homework), this densely written, sometimes obtuse set delivers the goods when it comes to technical specs.

But first, dear reader, note that the name of this book set: it is the Cisco CCNP Preparation Library, not the Cisco CCNP Certification Library (which is a separate set). If you're looking for something that will help you pass the exam easily, this isn't the place for you: the text in these books requires intense study, and it isn't always forgiving when it comes to learning tough concepts. If, however, you're looking to gain a solid understanding of how to build, maintain, and troubleshoot networks the Cisco way, this is an excellent place to start. And, when you're done, you'll have the nice bonus of being within a hair's breadth of passing anyway.

You'll start off with Cisco Internetwork Troubleshooting, which teaches you the fundamentals: basic maintenance and problem-solving methodologies. Along the way, it also goes into some good ground-level detail on how the Cisco technologies work. This book is extremely good and probably the best written of the bunch, although technically speaking it's also the weakest: there are a couple of glaring technical errors, some occasional illustration glitches, and the section on switching is slightly confusing. But the topics all mesh nicely, it's packed with examples that will come in handy in the real world--and most importantly, it provides you with a skill set of troubleshooting skills that will come in handy when you're reading all of the other books.

Building Scalable Cisco Networks delves into detail on routing and switching, and makes up for some of the lingering confusion that you may still have after Internetwork Troubleshooting. Routing concepts are always a headache, requiring both visual and intellectual skills to properly process, but this book does a workman's job of walking you through the various routing protocols in easily digestible detail.

Building Cisco Remote Access Networks is technically accurate, but it's definitely the hardest slog in the entire set in that it's dense and oddly structured, and it lacks the solid flow that Internetwork Troubleshooting has. The information's all there, of course, but you'll have to ferret it out yourself, and if you're a beginner to dialups you may well find yourself wandering in the woods.

Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks is almost as good as the Internetworking Troubleshooting guide: it's thorough, thoughtful, and well written. The concepts are fairly heavyweight, of course, but upon diligent study you'll find them all coming clear.

Of course, this is a problem with all of the books. Most people will be buying them to pass an exam, but they're not written as exam-prep guides--even if some of them are official coursework. These books ladle out information in great heaping spoonfuls, but none of them tell you, for example, which of these topics are heavily tested and which are usually ignored. It could be easy to lose the signal among all of this noise--and it doesn't help that all of the end-of-chapter test questions are open-ended, essay-style quizzes as opposed to the multiple-choice monstrosities you'll find on the actual exams. This turns the nature of this set into an all-in-one exercise: either you slurp down enough information that you can successfully pass, or you don't get anything.

Some might say that's the very problem with certification exams, anyway: students cram to learn a simple set of answers and then forget everything when they're in the real world. That's not possible here, since the text lacks any sort of friendly chat--every sentence means something, and the lack of waster verbiage means that if you skim a paragraph you may miss something vital. You've got to read everything in the book.

But once you get through this sometimes-grueling set, you'll be well prepared for the real world and probably set up nicely to pass the exam too. Much like real tech work, this isn't always easy--but it does come with some nice rewards. Recommended. --William Steinmetz

1 Everything for the CCNP Exams
Cisco has updated the CCNP exams with new material as well as new questions. Studying for the exam(s) requires the most up to date material available, that's why Cisco Press has taken the lead and given you a preparation library that is both complete and up to date with all the changes.

The four book set is tailored made for the classroom and is listed as Cisco Official courseware. Covering the BCMSN, BCRAN, BCSN and CIT exams this sets of books also works to help in the study for the CCDP exams.

Once thing that impressed me the most is the fact that information is so detailed and written by CCIE's and CCSI's giving you the benefit of years of experience. The books had very few errors in the grammar department. The information does exceed what the objective call for and the author(s) knowledge is evident throughout the books.

Overall this is both a great set of book for the classroom and could with the certification library you have an unbeatable combination to work with. I do not see the price being an issue but with future release there should be some simulator included

2 If you must pass CCNP exams, here's what you need
This collection of 4 texts, a complete preparation guide for the four core CCNP exams is an absolute must-have to pass all 4 exams with high score. Everything you would need to pass the exams is contained here.

If you or your company has money to shell out for the CCNP certification courses (which costs somewhere around $2,000+ per course, multiply that to 4), you would have the privilege to work on the lab hands-on, plus receive 2-volume spring-bound textbooks.

But, if you cannot afford to spend that fortune or your company is such a cheap skate, bless you... this book set contains the exact contents, word-for-word, of each of the required course. Main difference is that it is more convenient than the 2-volume spring bound official text. Errata given by class instructors also apply to these books. Some certified training center might hand you a separate lab book which has a different setup than the one contained on these books. Although the actual lab setup and hardware used from Cisco CEC is different from these books, the actual lab scenarios and practices are somewhat similar with these books' content.

I have not used any other reviewer but these sets to attain my CCNP certification (I got rid of the spring-bound text given to me at certified training center, yup, sold it to ebay). I strongly advised to go through the lab scenarios/exercises, either on a piece of paper or actual hardware (don't bother with Sybex CCNP Virtual lab, it's a great disapointment). You can grab yourself some used routers/switches from ebay (some companies on the internet offer a timed lab practice for a fraction of the cost where you FTP on their site and allow you access on their hardware) or you can follow along and do the exercises on a piece of paper.

If you must pass your CCNP, you will, and these book set is all you need. I'll give it a 5-star as the errors you will find are not really major one...bv the lab exercises & exhaustive information are awesome! Superbly illustrated throughout. The Book set is not only highly useful for the exam, but would also come in super handy as a great reference tool for the job.

3 Extremely painful.
For all of the lauding these books get, I think they are extremely overrated. They are some of the driest, most poorly organized and difficult-to-read technical books I've ever trudged through. I swear by Odom's Cisco Press CCNA Guide (probably one of the best networking books I ever bought, though it's been awhile), but these were a sore disappointment, and made the road to the CCNP much more painful than it needed to be by far. You'll often get the impression that the authors were intentionally trying to make fundamentally simple concepts and learning, overly complex and obscure. It's very frustrating. I've been doing this (networking) for almost 10 years now, and have come across plenty of tough studying over the years in the neverending hamster wheel of staying technically current, but I can think of few books that were as difficult and outright painful to study as these.

These books may be comprehensive (and that is very arguable), but they are very poor, difficult reads, and in my opinion, that doesn't make them an effective investment in either time or money. Now that I've finished them, I can definitively say I was disappointed overall. They're seriously overrated.

4 Best study guide plus reference materials
You'll definitely want to spend the money on purchasing this set. It contains everything you'll need to pass the CCNP. Unlike a dedicated study guide, however, this set contains books that will continue to serve you in the future as you work with Cisco switches and routers. Every successful network administrator I know has this set. The materials are written in a clear manner with plenty of diagrams by excellent technical authors. If you have only one set of books for Cisco materials, this is the set to have.

5 A big failure to explain well
Some reviewers claimed it's a good book (in fact 4 books in a set). However, while its technical contents are accurate and in-depth, it fails to help readers to understand the topics so that people can one day pass the CCNP exam.
The wording, organization are just odd. They're hard to read, and boring. If you can only last for merely 10 min. on these books, what is the purpose of buying them ?
Those authors must be good engineers/instructors, but the editors failed big time to make these books good enough to justify the price tag.
My 2 cents, buy some other CCNP books. They're better ones.

6 Excellent for Preparation and for Reference
These books are great for preparing for the CCNP exams. They are dense books, a lot of information, they are not written just for passing the exams. I have read them and I passed the exams, but I also use them in my everyday work . I have checked some CCIE books also, and most of the information is in these books, so I think I might use them in the future if I decide to prepare for the CCIE. Highly recommended.

7 Very Comprehensive
These books are excellent reading material, very informative and easy to understand. Don't read it at bed time though, you might end up falling asleep sooner then you had orginally planned.

8 switching book
I have passed the switching and remote access exams using this material. There is no better source than this one for the switching exam. 5 stars for switching, 4 stars for remote access.

9 Cisco CCNP Preparation Library, Second Edition (Cisco Career
These books continue the excellence and thoroughness we have become accustomed to from ciscopress, and most definitely written for the 500 series tests. However, what is also quiet clear is probably the source of the contradictory "reviews." The books sent are not the 2nd edition--though written for the 500 series, they are not the 2nd edition, which has not been released (sometime in January). Therefore, if you cannot wait for the 2nd edition, go ahead and get this most impressive set. Otherwise, you must wait for the 2nd edition, which by the way, is trade paperback.

10 The best prep for the CCNP 2 exam
Ok folks, I am going to settle this once and for all. This is definitely for the lastest CCNP exams, and I am in the middle of my third book. What an outstanding product. It's helped me beyond expectations, and I really can't believe the value. ..., this bundle for studying for the latest exams from Cisco is the best way to prepare. Thanks again Cisco Systems.

11 Second Edition covers version 2 exams
Ignore Cathy's remark the second edition covers the new version of CCNP exams (2.0)

12 The are the right books!
I have not ordered these books yet, but was taken for a moment by another reviewers writing and did a little research. Unlike that other reviewer, I believe that these are the correct books for the CCNP 2.0 exam. Cisco's web site lists the 640-4xx exams as being retired and the description for these books refers to the 640-5xx exams. The 640-5xx exams are the ones, according to Cisco's web site, that are currently in use as of July 2000. Though to be sure, make sure to get the latest edition of these books which as far as I can tell is the 2nd Ed. from Nov. 2000 (ISBN 1587050137). Just off the hat, I'll give the books 5 stars. Cisco Press's other books helped me to pass the CCNA 2.0 and I'll stick with them for the CCNP!

13 Written by Cisco for Cisco exams - what a concept.
Okay you have completed the CCNA exam and are now certified and then what? What is your next objective? CCNP? There are several tests and where do you find books to cover the exam? Cisco Press has taken the trouble to give you the perfect prep library for passing the CCNP Exams.

Written by CCIEs, CCSIs and CCNPs, this four volume set is the official course books used by Cisco. The four books cover the following exams, Building Scalable Cisco Networks (BSCN), Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks (BCMSN), Building Cisco Remote Access Networks (BCRAN) and Cisco Internetwork Troubleshooting (CIT). Book 1 - BCMSN - you work with and learn about campus networks Vlan and Inter Vlans. This book can be used for both the CCNP and CCDP exams. There are hands-on tasks to perform to help you learn as you go.

For book 2 - BSCN - You take on the routing principles, OSPF, VLSM, EIRGP, 150-page coverage of BGP. This book gives hands-on and case studies, which is a nice addition. The book is very detailed and is written to the more advanced level technician.

In book 3 - BCRAN - the world of remote access is put at your fingertips. From topics like DDR and ISN to modems and the 700 series router. Added to the case studies and hands-on is troubleshooting and management techniques.

Finally book 4 - CIT - you get to learn Cisco 8-step problem solving model in great detail. You also get extensive coverage of protocol characteristics. There are diagnostic tools and you learn to troubleshoot protocols.

The books come with chapter test to measure your learning as you go. I think that a routing simulator application could have been included for those people without direct router access. Overall an excellent purchase as your money is definitely well spent here.

14 Don't Miss the excellent CCNP Library!!
From CCNA to CCDA, I have great confidence in the book of Cisco Press. After I bought the CCNP Library, I found that the content of the books can provide enough information for preparing the new generation of CCNP Exam. Don't try to purchase another reference books from non-Cisco press because the Library already gives you more than 100% CISCO's technology knowledge to be Network Professional. I highly recommend for everyone who is preparing the CCNP Exam!!

15 Really great books but be careful with exam versions!
I've just got CCNP 1.0 using this books only (and questionsamples... to be precise).

Books are reallygreat. Everything is there. But they were written for CCNP 1.0 trackand it'll be retired in the July 2000. I used last two books to pass BCRAN and CIT from CCNP 2.0 track and it was easy. These books include all required information. As far as I know new Routing exam is also pretty close to ACRC and probably you can use book from this set too. But new switching is very different and the CLSC tutorial may be not enough to be prepared for the new test.

Moral is easy. After 31 July, you can use BCRAN and CIT books for new tests without any problems, I'm not sure about ACRC and you should find something instead of or in additions to CLSC. Of course, it's just my personal opinion.

16 Great books
This is all I used to pass these tests on the first try. Very comprehensive.

17 Good enough
Good enough to prepare for CCNP exams but don't expect to pass them if your only preparation are these books. Also I would say don't expect to pass them all on first try.