How to pass CCNA: 6 Steps to Success

CCNA is one of the most respected Associate level Certification in the world today.

Getting a CCNA will definitely help you to get a better job or at least get your foot into Professional Networking Field. When you meet a person that has CCNA degree you will notice that he or she knows something about Networking.

This article will describe and give you some tips on how to achieve CCNA.

I did it so can you, so lets get started.

1. Getting ready mentally

First thing you need to do is mentally prepare your self. What I mean by that is that you have to seriously think about on why are you getting CCNA and why do you want to be CCNA certified. You have to firmly decide and believe that you will get CCNA within next 3-6 months or so.

Try to budget your study time well. If you a very social person (like me) you will have to give up some of your social time for the next couple of months.

Your friends and family will understand. Trust me: it is well worth it. Once you get that cert you can make up for the lost social time.

2. Getting the right study material

Second thing you need to do is to get proper study material.

There is lot of controversy around this and some people go overboard with study guides, books, simulators and such.

I believe that two Cisco Press books INTR and ICND by Wendell Odom are enough as far as the books go. They are really well written and easy to follow. So sign up at http://www.ciscopress.com and get those two books. Make sure you got the latest version.

You will also want to get some kind of a simulator that will let you practice commands and that will also build up your confidence.

You can buy real equipment but that could get expensive. I highly recommend that you become member of Cisco Certification forum.

Forum is huge and you will get lot of helpful answers, tips and advices pretty quick. (I know I did)

3. Approach and diving deep

There are many different approaches to studying from books but I will tell you about mine. This step will take the most of your studying time.

- Before you even start reading any of the books I suggest learning binary math (really easy) and subnetting so you can do it in your sleep.

- Read both books casually once from front to cover (make sure you cover introduction and practice questions too). This will give you good overview.

- Install both CD’s that came with books and practices some of the questions. Don’t worry if you get lot of them wrong.

- Now, you will ready both books again but this time you will have to read it to truly understand the concept and how things work. Master one chapter and do questions from just that chapter until you sick of it. Then move to the next chapter.

- Once you mastered all chapters do lot of questions and labexercises. Those two CD’s will give you ability to do that.

4. Schedule the test

You’re not done yet with studying but it is really good to schedule the test after you completed step 3 in this article. Here is why:

If you schedule the test a month in advance right after you completed step 3, you won’t be able to slack and make excuses not to study hard until tests and it is also good to give your self a headline. I have seen people working on their CCNA for 2 years. They master one or two chapters, then they rest for 2 two months and right when they think they are ready for the next chapter, they forget what they have learned in the first chapter.

5. Read both books one more time to refresh

This is optional, but I highly recommend reading the both books one more time. If you read both books in a three week that will give you one more week before the test to cram which is subject of the next step. So by now you should’ve read both books three times over. I also suggest re-reading questions and answers from both books one more time.

6. Cram, Cram and Cram

- This is the last part of your study and there is no turning back.

Deadline is hanging around your neck like a noose. You should cram Q&A for no more then 10 days before you take the test.

At this point it is really important that you get fresh and different questions then those included with your CD’s. Some people claims that brain dumps or Q&A are bad and evil. I tend to disagree with that. At this point you already firmly grasped the whole CCNA concept and Q&A will only help you. So get some Q&A exam question and cram, cram and cram them for a week.

- Don’t use books or CD’s anymore.

There is no looking back. No worries, material from the books will return to you at the right time.

- Don’t do any studying a night or a day before the test.

Go out with your wife or significant other to a dinner and a movie. Relax. It is very important to relax and get a good night sleep since one of those testing boots could really be intimidating. If you did all the steps above and read books with intention to understand the topics and how stuff works (no pun intended), and not just to pass the test you should be more then ready by now.

We came to an end of this short tutorial. I hope this article give you at least some ideas on how to approach studying for CCNA.

If you fail CCNA first time, don’t get discouraged. You will have more knowledge and confidence when you attempt it the next time then the person who passed it on the first try. Whatever approach you take I wish you good luck and prosper career.

CCNA exams list: 640-802, 640-816, 640-822, 640-811, 640-821.

About the Author:

Vanja Buric is Network Engineer, and works for Charter Communication Business Engineering Department, and also owner of the http://www.vanjaburic.com website, where you can get latest networking news, articles,tips, free e-Books, virus alerts and lot more… as well as purchase IT Exam study guides.

1:28 AM - 5/12/2008

Don't Buy Tiffany On eBay Until You've Seen This!

I won an auction for a Tiffany bracelet. But before I even bid, I emailed the seller, asking her if this was authentic, even though in the auction details, she stated that it was.

I know there are A LOT of fakes on eBay, but with 100% feedback from 65 people, I thought they were legitimate. I was wrong.

Anyone who's bought/received Tiffany's jewelry from Tiffany's website KNOWS what to expect in the mail. A heavy polishing cloth/carrying case, a turquoise box, and an authentic piece.

I knew IMMEDIATELY when I opened the box that I had been duped. The lime green box had Tiffany & Co. smudged on top. The polishing cloth/carrying case was hollow inside and made of some hardened material. Again, the logo was printed and smudged. To make it worse, the bracelet didn't even say Tiffany & Co.

I contacted the seller, and she denied it was a fake. Owning several rings and bracelets, I know what tiffany jewelry is supposed to look like. She refused a refund, and I was out $80.00!!!

Apparently this seller bought a fake box (lime green!)and cleaning cloth/carrying case off of eBay - and was passing off a fake bracelet as authentic.

I contacted PayPal - they asked that I return the package to her so that my refund was processed. I did exactly that, and added delivery confirmation to "cover myself". She then tells PayPal the package was empty, and no ring was shipped back. I contacted eBay, and thought they would cancel the auction, absolving me from responsibility. I was wrong again. I had already paid and received the bracelet so I was basically stuck with a fake bracelet and nothing else.

I was out $80.00 PLUS $4.00 to ship the item back. The seller received the bracelet & my money.

Be sure to read all of the fine print of a auction. She stated at the bottom of the auction that the buyer had to pay for shipping it back!! I buy something I think is authentic, and when I find out it's not, I'm out the return shipping charges!!!

As Buyer, you must protect yourself.

While there are some people selling their Tiffany & Co. jewelry (tiffany necklaces, tiffany pendants, tiffany bracelets, tiffany earrings, tiffany rings), be careful. You could end up with a fake peice like I did, and have to pay to ship it back, and STILL not get refunded.

Tiffany Mall is discount tiffany jewelry online store. We have added about 200 Tiffany & Co Sliver Jewelry and Diamonds to the site for our customers. Our mission is to provide the best products and service to our customers at the lowest prices possible.

1:14 AM - 5/9/2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Tiffany Diamond History

It was Tiffany & Co. that introduced the engagement ring as we know it today. The celebrated six-prong “Tiffany® Setting” lifts the diamond above the band and into the light. The result is a ring whose beauty has never been equaled.

In 1848 the New York City newspapers dubbed Charles Lewis Tiffany, “The King of Diamonds.” And with good reason. The quality of Tiffany diamonds was then, and remains, exemplary. In the spring of 1887, Tiffany shocked the world by purchasing the French Crown Jewels. From this time on, Tiffany became the world’s authority on the finest diamonds.

Soon Tiffany designers were creating brilliance of their own. From the glittering 1890s on, timeless Tiffany designs graced women from the finest families: the Astors, the Vanderbilts, the Morgans. Celebrities from the theater, sports, and ultimately European royalty and Hollywood stars began to prize Tiffany diamond designs.

Around the world, museums treasure the Tiffany design aesthetic, from the Art Nouveau period to Art Deco to today’s modern classics. Year in, year out, the passion for Tiffany diamonds is clearly demonstrated in the world’s auction houses.

Today, the world-famous 128.54-carat Tiffany Diamond is on permanent display in the New York flagship store"proof positive of Tiffany’s diamond legacy.

List of Tiffany & Co. products:

• Tiffany Necklace
• Tiffany Pendant
• Tiffany Bracelet
• Tiffany Earrings
• Tiffany Ring
• Tiffany Pocket Mirror

But nowhere is a Tiffany diamond more beautiful or more treasured than in its place of honor, on the hand of a woman.

You can get more infomation from www.tiffany.com.

Tiffany Mall is your best best Tiffany & Co sliver jewelry and diamonds provider. We have added about 200 Tiffany Jewelry and Diamonds to the site for our customers. Our mission is to provide the best products and service to our customers at the lowest prices possible.

12:42 AM - 5/6/2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Study Guides for MCSE Certification

How do you get a good mcse study guide? We all know that the MCSE certification exams are tough to pass. IT certifications are not easy. But not if you have the proper training resources with you. Browse from the following exams and buy your test practice today. Knowing the right material is the best way of becoming certified.

Earn the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certification and prove your expertise in designing and implementing the infrastructure for business solutions based on the Microsoft Windows 2000 platform and Windows Server System.

The demand for information technology skills brings MCSE into the forefront as the popular way to extend one's opportunities. When you choose to pursue your MCSE certification, you've got some decisions to make right at the beginning. Certay will be the best provider to help you to get any popular IT certifications!

If you prepare for the exams using our Exam4sure testing engine, we guarantee your success for MCSE certifications in the first attempt. If you do not pass the exam on your first attempt we will give you 100% Money Back Guarantee.

Exam4sure MCSE will certify that the successful candidate has knowledge and skills necessary to gather information from the technology basics to some of the more updated features and functions.

Some hot exam4sure MCSE exam list: 70-296, 70-292, 70-290, 70-291, 70-294, 70-293.

12:53 AM - 5/5/2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Help You Pass Cisco CCNP Exams On Your First Attempt

CCNP certification validates a network professional's ability to install, configure and troubleshoot converged local and wide area networks with 100 to 500 or more nodes. Network Professionals who achieve the CCNP have demonstrated the knowledge and skills required to manage the routers and switches that form the network core, as well as edge applications that integrate voice, wireless, and security into the network.

Benefits of CCNP Certification

• In general, Cisco certification validates an individual's achievement, so it increases the holder's professional credibility by ensuring high standards of technical expertise.
• In particular, the Cisco CCNP certification indicates knowledge of networking for big enterprises. It also confirms the ability to work in organizations whose networks have 100 to more than 500 nodes.

How to prepare for CCNP?

You have identified your goal and are ready to prepare yourself for the highly recognized CCNP Certification Exam. You want to score high, the course is vast and the time is less. The question is:

• How to prepare fast and accurate?
• How to focus on important topics first, master them fast and retain what you've learnt?

Master the course and prepare scientifically with the help of Exam4sure CCNP Preparation Software.

Exam4sure Practice Exams for CCNP certifications are written to the highest standards of technical accuracy, using only certified subject matter experts and published authors for development.

They also offer free demo of each product. You can check out the interface, question quality and usability of our practice exams before you decide to buy CCNP exam simulators.

List of Exam4sure Cisco CCNP Certification Exams Practice Engine

» 642-812 BCMSN - Building Converged Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks
» 642-892 Composite
» 642-901 BSCI - Building Scaleable Cisco Internetworks
» 642-845 ONT - Optimizing Converged Cisco Networks
» 642-825 ISCW - Implementing Secure Converged Wide Area Networks
» 642-891 CCNP's Composite Exam
» 642-831 CCNP's Cisco Internetwork Troubleshooting (CIT)
» 642-821 CCNP's Building Cisco Remote Access Networks (BCRAN)
» 642-811 CCNP's Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks (BCMSN)

Exam4sure CCNP will certify that the successful candidate has knowledge and skills necessary to gather information from the technology basics to some of the more updated features and functions.

You can learn more about CCNP certification from Cisco Systems.

2:41 AM - 5/4/2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Resources Help You to Pass CCNA 640-802

Actually this article is for those who are familiar with CCNA exam although 640-802 exam is just an entry-level, single option exam for achieving the CCNA certification. For those who want to know the meaning for CCNA and 640-802, you can visit the following two addresses to get exact explanations.

» 640-802 infomation from www.cisco.com
» CCNA 640-802 from Webopedia

So many resources in the internet related to CCNA 640-802. I usually like to list information I think helpful when I seach in the internet and today I would like to share them here so that it can help those who need it.

1. Books

A. Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices, Part 2 (ICND2): (CCNA Exam 640-802 and ICND exam 640-816) (3rd Edition) (Self-Study Guide) by Stephen McQuerry

You can get this book from Ebay with price at $49.30

Features: It contains all the tools you need to fully prepare you for CCNA certification. There are two books in this package: CCNA INTRO Exam Certification Guide and CCNA ICND Exam Certification Guide.This package is organized in a modular fashion, segmenting larger chapters into smaller, more easily digestible components. Material is presented in a concise manner, focusing on increasing your understanding and retention of exam topics. Senior instructor and best-selling author Wendell Odom shares preparation hints and test-taking tips, helping you identify areas requiring further study and improve both your conceptual and hands-on knowledge.

B. Join http://safari.ciscopress.com to read more books there

This site is like an online library. Once you join, you can access to thousands of books.

2. Distant Learning Center

If you don’t have time to sit in a classroom, you can choose distant learning center to study it. You can choose to pay your course in 4 months payments. The course includes 20 Hours Access to Live Cisco Equipment, CCNA Practice Exams, and Free Updates.

3. IT Certification Exam Test Engine Software

Features: It is a specially designed 640-802 preparation kit to help you get certified effortlessly. You don’t need to spend your time and money searching for study materials, books, etc., this CCNA Certification: ICND1 and ICND 2 exam preparation kit contains everything you need to get certified. Just follow the instructions in the book, focus on the study material and getting certified will be easy.

It also provide trial version of the PrepKit now to get over 30 questions and 40 study notes, absolutely free.

You can get ccna 640-802 exam test engine from exam4sure with $90.99.

2:04 AM - 4/30/2008 - comments {0} - post comment

The Roots - Rising Down (2008)

If you listen hip hop you have to know The Roots, a legendary band from Philly. They’re just about to release a new album Rising Down and you can download it right now thanks to group RACEME which pred it one week before the street date. This is a must have for all lovers of ol’ good hip hop and RnB.

Grammy award winning hip-hop trailblazers The Roots are set to release Rising Down on April 29th via Def Jam Recordings. Known for their prolific lyrics and live instrumentation, the Legendary Philadelphia crew is composed of Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter (vocals), Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson (drums), Kamal Gray (keyboards), Frank Knuckles (percussion), Kirk “Captain Kirk” Douglas (guitar) and Owen Biddle (bass). Garnering critical praise throughout their career, The Roots have firmly established themselves as a band with uncompromised artistic control and integrity. With Rising Down, the band’s 10th album release, The Roots continue to take bolder steps adding new depths and range to their repertoire.

1:46 AM - 4/25/2008 - comments {0} - post comment