Inc. Cisco Systems | Stephen McQuerry | JOHN KANE
Here's a book that clearly and concisely explains the low-level internetworking concepts that make the Internet go. If you read
Internetworking Cisco Network Devices and come to understand its subject matter, you'll be well prepared to pass the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) exam (640-507) and do a bang-up job at most any networking job you choose to pursue. This book explains Internet-standard data communications protocols (the TCP/IP suite and routing algorithms particularly) in terms of their implementations on Cisco routers, switches, and software systems. By doing so, it prepares you to install, configure, manage, and troubleshoot Cisco equipment.
If you're starting from near zero on the networking knowledge scale (and even if you're not), you'll likely want to read this book from beginning to end. The authors lay down a conceptual foundation (including excellent coverage of the Open Systems Interconnection reference model) in early chapters, and subsequently proceed to place Cisco-specific knowledge on top of that base. The text frequently seems dry, but it's clear that the authors and editors went to considerable trouble to get their facts right and drive home the big concepts with illustrations. Test-preparation aids are limited to a dozen or so review questions (with brief, minimally annotated answers at the back of the book), so it's clear that this book is about knowing the material, not preparing for an artificial test. It does readers a service. --David Wall
Topics covered: The contents of the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) exam (640-507), which verifies knowledge of interconnections among networks as implemented with Cisco equipment running Internet-standard protocols. Coverage spans selection of hardware from the Cisco line, cabling, configuring Internetwork Operating System (IOS), setting up switched networks with Catalyst 1900 switches, and establishing virtual local area networks (VLANs). Plenty of coverage goes to TCP/IP under Cisco gear, including routing protocols, the configuration of routes, and point-to-point communication over wide area network (WAN) links of various kinds.
1 EXACT SAME book as ICND for 640-507
The book didn't change, except for the cover. I compared the 640-507 book with the new one for 640-607 and the info is, page-for-page, exactly the same. You can turn to page XX in one book and the exact same info is on page XX of the other book. See, the ICND material didn't change. The only thing that Cisco changed was the format of the test (640-607 has the material weighted differently; Cisco.com might explain this better) and (I think) the passing score is higher. So, if you want to study for the new test, use the same ICND book, but the NEW Cisco Press study guide for 607 instead of the old 507 guide.
2 Careful if you think this is the v3.0 exam book...
There is a new version of this book being advertised by Cisco Press under the same ISBN number for exam 640-607... this is *not* it!!! Still useful, but it's plain as day on the cover, this book is for 640-507, not the new exam.
What do you use for 640-607? Dunno since Cisco Press is giving the wrong ISBN... tell the world when you find out :)
3 Pretty basic book on Cisco.
The information contained in this book is fairly basic for anyone but a complete beginner. There is no coverage of IP routing protocols. If you want to take it a step (or two) further, check out "Cisco IOS for IP Routing" by Andrew Colton. That book will get you up to speed with dynamic IP routing and should give at least the CCNP level information on Cisco routing.
4 tedious
Take a decent user manual, remove 3 scoops of details, add 1 scoop of errors, 2 scoops of ambiguities, and puff to 5 times its volume with repetitions, disorganization, and verbosity, and you've got this turkey.
See _The Switch Book_ by Rich Seifert if you want to know how switches work. See _Upgrading and Repairing Networks_ by Terry Ogletree for a good general primer.
5 YOU CAN'T MISS WITH THESE BOOKS
Took the test yesterday and it was a breeze!Cisco books ,no holds
barred,made it so easy!OoPs!Some hands-on with Cisco Routers can
help really get you pass that interview too !Good Luck!
6 From the horses mouth
If your preparing for the CCNA why not hear it straight from the horses mouth, Cisco press goes into great detail, so not only will you know the stuff to pass the exam, but it will stick with you for a long time, a must for any CCNA.
the output of commands are great, however one thing that it lacks are LABS, this isn't a Test-Prep type book, so dont expect, Labs, and extended exercises and that sort of thing, a powerful combination are this book and the Sybex Press CCNA prep book.
armed with these two, you'll pass the exam for sure.
7 All you will Need
What strikes you about this book immediately is the well-illustrated diagrams and explanations, including a systematic build up of the body of knowledge.
The book is easy to digest, and coupled with the diagrams, you won't feel lost or have an instant urge to run to your test router/switch to guess what the author is driving at, or to see what the output will be.
The questions are well thought out, but the only shortcoming is a lack of a Glossary of so many acronyms which the author can use lavishly in the beginning, especially when there is sometimes no corresponding explanation of the terms used until much later.
8 A good source for quality material
Instead of taking courses for the CCNA, I decided to configure the self-study route (ha ha) and studied from a few books, including this one. Just passed CCNA with 94% marks! The trick is to find a good book like this one, study well and take lots of sample tests. Good Luck!
9 Worth reading
I took the class and used this book (same as one issued in class). I passed the exam on first try. While this book contains a lot of good information that any CCNA should know. There was some information on the test that was not in the book.
This book gives you a basis for understanding how to figure out problems given on the test. It doesn't just give you all the answers.
It's worth reading and studying but don't look for the book to pass the test for you.
10 One of the Best for ccna
I used this book and the Routing and Swithching Exam Cram (640-507) by Coriolis Group and passed with flying colors.
11 A hard read, but worth the effort.
I read this book twice in a month. I passed the exam first time with a score of 968/1000. It was harder than I expected but this book prepared me well. Cisco Press books aren't the easiest books in the world to read, however in my opinion they are the most comprehensive. I would recommend this book to anyone studying for the CCNA exam. If you're prepared to put in the effort, this book will reward you. Apparently, it's a direct port of the ICND 5 day training course. I've just finished my first read of BSCN from Cisco Press which is equally good.
12 Working Toward CCNA
I took the ICND class and the coursebooks that are provided cover exactly the same material as this book. I bought this book anyway because the ICND coursebooks are too cumbersome to study from due to the way they are manufactured. The covers are slightly thicker than paper and they tear easily. They are also spiral bound.
So I bought this hardback and I am happy. The size is convenient to hold and read from. Its also easy to write in because of the hardback cover.
For those that say this book doesn't cover everything...you are right. HOWEVER, most of the material is covered and if you look at the intro chapter of the CISCO CCNA Study Guide, it tells you exactly what you need to study if you have ICND under your belt.
This is a good book and I'm glad it was released. Now I can put away my torn covers and spirals.
13 Great Conceptual Review
The binding of this book, which struts the CCNA #640-507 label, is slightly misleading. A beginner will not pass the test studying this book alone. That being said, this is a great book to start with. The topics covered, from Spanning Tree Protocol to VLANs and Access Lists, are explained in detail with steps for implementing the technology thrown in. More comprehensive configuration examples and having those examples grouped logically would be a plus, and would have raised my rating to 5 stars. It is important to get a good grasp on the subjects presented in the book for taking the test and for performing the job. If an individual does not have much hands on experience, reading about the same technologies from more than one author (in a variety of books) will help greatly to understand networking concepts from all angles. I would definitely suggest reading the book... But for those in a hurry to get the knowledge and get on with the test, you should check out other options.
14 Exactly what you need..... the only source you need for CCNA
I am a beginner that has just step into the networking world of Cisco. With only some knowledge of networking I gained from MCSE and have absolutely no hands-on on Cisco product I passed the test in the first attempt with the help of this book.
I have to say this book really help a lot in my preparation for CCNA (I used to study in Sybex CCNA book, but I find that some of the information is incorrect and some and too shallow).
The book might be very difficult to digest, the author assumed you're quite knowledgeable on most of the networking concept and some area you need to read over and over to get the idea right.
Overall the book covers every single thing that you need to know to pass the exam, but be careful on some of the important point that is not emphasize enough and you might miss it if you're reading it only once. (I would advise you to read from cover to cover for at least 2 times and look at the Cisco command summary at end of every chapter a few times before the exam).
Although it has several minor problem, I would say no other CCNA book can beat this one and I am giving it a Full (5) stars!!!
15 I would recommend this book if you have
taken ICRC earlier, but never got around to taking the CCNA test. This was exactly my situation, and I wasn't excited about having to take the ICND course, so I decided to buy the book and see if it would fill in the blanks. This is a well written book, and one that allows the reader to learn the new material that was added to the ICND course, such as switching and bridging, without having to take yet another expensive course. Cisco is improving their books, and this book closely parallels the $2000+ ICND course, thus providing the reader with many of the benefits of attending the course without the cost. Having said that, this book will not completely prepare you for taking the CCNA 2.0 test. I recommend reading this book and then the Todd Lammle Sybex CCNA book to help prepare for the test.
16 the official course book
This book is excellent as the first stage of study for the CCNA 2.0 exam. After you take this book, I recommend you get the Cisco CCNA Exam #640-507 Certification Guide (With CD-ROM), which is slightly more advanced. Finish the study by purchasing a few vLabs from Mentor Tech, or if you prefer, buy some routers and get some practice configuring them.
17 Pass the CCNA 2.0 using this book as stage one?
...in a self-study regimen that costs a few hundred instead of thousands. I recommend this book as the first stage in self-study.
Go through this book chapter by chapter, one pass just reading and looking at the figures and diagrams, the next pass taking notes. There are only 10 or 15 review questions at the end of each chapter and no companion CD with test questions so just learn the material before moving on. The writing and layout makes that easy though, as this book is very clearly written and makes heavy use of figures and examples throughout to reinforce the concepts in each chapter.
Don't take the test yet though. After this nice introduction do the same thing with the Sybex/Todd Lammle CCNA Study Guide. Read it, then go back and really read it and take notes. You will find much-needed additional coverage of subnetting and CLI commands here, as well as an excellent sample test engine. Review your notes and really work this test engine before taking the real test.
Finally, the Cisco CCNA Study Guide by Wendal Odom is worth running through at least once just to work your way to the extensive sample questions and CD, but by now you should be more than ready for the test anyway so you could use it as a lookup resource alone if your eyes glaze over on some chapters.
Of course, get all the hands on experience you can. Touch it and feel it as much as possible. I have a friend who says he never really understood access lists until he held a router in his hands, but if you want to pass this test, just absorb a large percentage of what is in these three books and when you can pass the sample tests on the CDs consistently, go take the real test and pass.
The CCNA 2.0 test is hard but it wasn't all that tricky to me; it just covers a lot of ground. The ICND book goes over that ground quite well as a starting point to earning your CCNA certification. Even though I complained to myself about it costing too much compared to the other guides on the market, overall it is well worth the investment if you are just getting started and want to pass.
CCNA 2.0 training classes can cost thousands of dollars, but if you just invest a few hundred on books and some serious study time you can pass this test. You know you can, do it.
18 ICND Course in a nutshell
This book is not only well written but it helps ensure you understand and retain what you are reading through concept reiteration and questions at the end of each chapter. It is filled with excellent networking information that can certainly help groom you for taking the CCNA test.
Unfortunately many readers of this book are under the impression that you can simply read it then pass the CCNA test. The ICND book and course are not designed for that specifically, they are to give you a good overview of Cisco technology and networking concepts, which they do quite well. You really should have access to at least a Cisco router or some sort of networking lab, whether in real life or online if you are interested in applying what you have learned.
For those of you interested in going further and taking the CCNA test, I highly recommend the CCNA Exam Certification guide written by CCIE and networking guru Wendell Odom, also by Cisco Press. ISBN: 0-7357-0971-8
19 Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices
Just passed the CCNA exam with help from this book. The biggest problem with this book is the typographical errors that are very frustrating and some very wrong and confusing examples (ipx access lists). The material covered in this book is very good and very helpful. You have to look past the errors.
20 For CCNA exam or not, good material
While most novices find this book too technical, those who are in networking industry will enjoy this book. If you're taking CCNA exam, it's better to read Todd's CCNA guide first and read this book. That'll make things easier for you. This book covers more details and gives you insight about networking. If you really want to be a networking pro, this level of reading is necessary anyway. I recommend even after you passed CCNA exam, reading this book will be beneficial.
21 Good Material for CCNA 2.0 Exam
I used this book as the sole source of information for the CCNA 2.0 exam. While I do work with Cisco routers on a day to day basis I found that this book filled in a lot of the pieces of information I was missing. I felt it also covered the major topics tested in the exam well and there was nothing in the exam that I had not seen covered by the book. Very clear and well structured.
22 Excellent book for beginner or CCNA 2.0 prep reference
This book is really great reading material and an excellent source of info for passing the exam. I passed my exam the first time I took it with the help of this book and Todd Lammle's.
The layout and the order of how the information was presented was very helpful in bringing me up to speed with Cisco technology. A++
23 Worked for me
One of the first things you read when you open this book is that you can read the book from cover to cover without problems. The other use is to be able to use it as a reference. All topics covered with easy to understand english. The best book I've run across no doubt.
24 Works well for what it is
I have tried several CCNA/CCDA books and this one has been one of the best. It's clear and consise. If you are looking for a book to hold your hand, do not go further but if you are will to use the package as it's intended ( Cisco Exam Certification Guide and Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices) it works well. The information while dense is presented as clearly as it could be with the exception of VLSM. VLSM is tough anyways and I have yet to see anyone write it down clearly. The book does expect you to have some background and access to a router or two.
I used this to pass the newest CCNA V2 test which has a higher pass score then the V1 test. For the record, my pass was 946 with these books. They work *IF* you put in the effort you need to. These books will NOT spoon feed you the test answers.
25 good book
I was very impressed with this book. The figures used for the examples were very helpful. the section that went over how to convert ip address and figure out subnet was great- best ive seen so far. It makes it very easy to understand. The only little complain I have was the organization of the material. seemed to jump around a bit. otherwise it is very very good!
26 Does cover the course, but I failed the exam.
I failed the CCNA exam wtih this book. You need another study guide to go along with this book or instead of this book to pass the CCNA exam.
27 ICND - A half part to guarantee your CCNA Success
I have been using this book beside the exam prep to pass my CCNA. While exam prep gets you to the exam but it has lost many details, This book provide you unabridge knowledge you need to pass the CCNA.
Buy this and the exam, you're set to pass.
28 Not a single page wasted
I used this book as well as Odom's Certification Guide (another excellent book!) and passed Exam 640-507 with 935. This book is an enormous improvement over its popular but poorly-written predecessor, ICRC. While ICRC is incoherent and opaque, ICND is written with a much better style and packed with almost error-free information on what you need to know for the exam. The author devotes the right amount of discussion to each topic, not too much but not little either.
ICRC usually beats around the bush when it comes to the most confusing part, such as routing loop and its remedies, IP subnetting, and access list wildcard. Intriguingly, wherever ICRC missed, the book makes up for it with an excellent explanation. Looks like Cisco is listening as attentively as their switches.
Plan enough time for this book. It will be an intensive reading project. I didn't highlight any page because, if I want to highlight anything, I would have to highlight the whole book. Good job, Mr. McQuerry!
29 Covers ICND Course Material Well
This book does a great job of covering the 5 day ICND course material. It's a great addition to the instructor taught course. The nice part about this text is that it also covers many of the additional comments that the instructor may add during the course but you forget because you're focusing in on the course material while listening to them. It will definitely assist you in preparing for the CCNA exam plus a very good future reference for an occasional "memory jogger" of the introductory material.
30 Adopted as official curriculum
The book has a nice flow to it, all of the key points that will be on the CCNA exam (version 2.0) are covered in enough detail to give the reader an idea of what to expect. Coupled with our hands-on labs, exercises and real-world simulations, which we provide at the University of Minnesota's CCIE Lab, this should be an ideal book for individuals seeking their CCNA certifications.
31 Excellent Book For Cisco Introduction !
This book gives you almost everything that you need to start the revolution of Wide Area Network with Cisco Hardware that includes routers, switches and hubs. It gives you the basic Cisco IOS commands as well as the hardware information. If you're new in the WAN area it will provide you a smooth transaction.
32 Excellent Book For Cisco Introduction !
This book gives you almost everything that you need to start the revolution of Wide Area Network with Cisco Hardware that includes routers, switches and hubs. It gives you the basic Cisco IOS commands as well as the hardware information. If you're new in the WAN area it will provide you a smooth transaction.
