Studying for CCNA Update...

Studying for CCNA Update

It has been a while since I have written a post about studying for Cisco's CCNA IT certification.

To be honest, progress has been slow.

However, there are reasons for that.

Back in late December 2024, I had just completed the reading the following chapters in the CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, Volume 1, Second Edition by Wendell Odom, CCIE No. 1624.

• Part One: Introduction to Networking
• Chapter 1: Introduction to TCP/IP Networking
• Chapter 2: Fundamentals of Ethernet LANs
• Chapter 3: Fundamentals of WANs and IP Routing
• Part Two: Implementing Ethernet LANs
• Chapter 4: Using the Command-Line Interface
• Chapter 5: Analyzing Ethernet LAN Switching
• Chapter 6: Configuring Basic Switch Management
• Chapter 7: Configuring and Verifying Switch Interfaces

I also completed the exercises for Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 in Pearson Vue's CCNA Network Simulator training program. Furthermore, I even completed all of the exercises for Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 on Wendell Odom's CCNA Skills Blog. Do you need to use Pearson Vue's CCNA Network Simulator while studying for the CCNA IT certification? No, you don't. However, the CCNA Network Simulator does come with A LOT of guided practice exercises to get you experience using Cisco's IOS command-line interface for configuring switches and routers. In other words, using Pearson Vue's CCNA Network Simulator is completely optional. However, I believe that the money spent on Pearson Vue's CCNA Network Simulator is money well spent.

For CCNA study, Wendell Odom's CCNA Skills Blog is also entirely optional. The CCNA Skills Blog contains a lot of good resources for studying CCNA. Moreover, the CCNA Cert Skills Blog also features Wendell Odom's own CCNA practice exercises. While Pearson Vue's Network Simulator is a simulation, Wendell Odom's networking exercises require you to use Cisco's Packet Tracer program. Unlike the Network Simulator, Wendell Odom's networking exercises are entirely free. Plus, Cisco offers Packet Tracer as a free download from its website. You do have to create an account with Cisco to download Packet Tracer, however. It's irritating, but Packet Tracer is an invaluable program to have in your CCNA study.

What was the problem?

Despite reading the first seven chapters in the textbook and completing all of the exercises, what was the problem?

Since I had recently earned four training badges from Cisco Networking Academy (see previous post here), I was probably feeling a little too high and mighty when it came to basic networking. Thus, when it came to reading Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 in the CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, I just read through the chapters without taking any notes. I was about to start Chapter 8: Implementing Ethernet Virtual LANs, when I realized that I probably committed a mistake by not taking any notes while reading those four chapters.

Chapter 4 from the CCNA Official Cert Guide

Chapter 5 from the CCNA Official Cert Guide

Chapter 6 from the CCNA Official Cert Guide

Chapter 7 from the CCNA Official Cert Guide

Thus, I made the decision to RE-READ all four chapters and TAKE COPIOUS NOTES. After re-reading each individual chapter, I went back to the Pearson Vue Network Simulator and completed the exercises for each chapter. To be sure, it was A LOT of work and required a lot of extra time. However, it was a necessary review to complete.

Chapter 8 from the CCNA Official Cert Guide

After all of that hard work, I was ready to start reading Chapter 8: Implementing Ethernet Virtual LANs. This time, there would be a difference, however. I would take notes as I read through the chapter. Predictably, taking notes while reading prolonged the amount of time it would have taken to complete the chapter if I had just read it. In the Introduction to the CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, Wendell Odom mentioned that he tried to write each chapter so that it would take approximately an hour to read. That was an interesting comment, I thought. Whenever I read something technical, I tend to read slowly as I try to absorb all of the information. At over 30 pages, Chapter 8 is one of the longest chapters in the CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide. 

Why is Chapter 8 so long? Well, the chapter covers two topics. The first topic concerns what are known as virtual LANs. What is a virtual LAN? A virtual LAN is created when you essentially subdivide a switch into smaller segments. A typical switch has 24 ports. For example, let's say you have a small business with several departments, but you only have several departments, such as accounting, operations, sales, human resources, and so on. To improve security and network efficiency, you decide to group all of the devices used by the accounting department into a specific range of ports. Then, you do the same for all of the other departments. There is a problem. When you create a virtual LAN, the switch recognizes each virtual LAN as a separate network. You can't just send a message from a device on VLAN 1 to another device on VLAN 2 even though you are using the same switch. It just won't work. To send a message to another device on another VLAN on the same switch, you need a router. After all, the VLANs are located on different networks. That's where trunking comes in. Essentially, trunking identifies what VLAN the message is being sent to. Thus, you have to adjust the settings on the switch and the router to enable trunking, which will then allow devices on separate VLANs to send messages to each other. 

Yes, it's A LOT of information to digest as you are taking notes. However, I eventually made it to the end of the chapter. When you take notes while reading, the process makes you concentrate on what you are reading.   

Pearson Vue Network Simulator Chapter 8 Exercises

Now that I have completed reading and taking notes on Chapter 8 in the CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, I have been slowly completing all of the Network Simulator exercises for Chapter 8. The Network Simulator contains three types of exercises for Chapter 8. 

• Skill Builders
• Configuration Scenarios
• Troubleshooting Scenarios

So far, I have completed all 13 Skill Builder exercises. I recently completed all three Configuration Scenarios. Now, I just need to complete the remaining four Troubleshooting Scenarios. Once all of the Network Simulator labs are complete, it will then be time to either move on to Chapter 9: Spanning Tree Protocol Concepts or head on over Wendell Odom's CCNA Skills Blog and work my way through his VLAN exercises. 

Sounds like fun, doesn't it?  

Restarting the Pearson CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator...

Restarting the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator

Last night, I re-acquainted myself with the Pearson CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator.

Pearson CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator

When I started studying for the CCNA certification a couple of years ago, I went ahead and bought a copy of the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator. The CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide from Cisco Press came with a demonstration copy of the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator on an included DVD. The author of the Official Cert Guide, Wendell Odom, recommended trying out the Network Simulator.

After trying out the sample exercises on my Dell laptop, I was impressed enough with the product to download my own copy from Pearson's website.

Creating Your Own Computer Networks

As you study for the CCNA certification, you will eventually want to try to make your own computer network diagram, also called a logical topology diagram, consisting of switches, routers, desktop computers, laptop computers, cell phones, printers, and so on. In addition, you will also want to try using Cisco's command line interface (CLI) program, known as the Cisco IOS, to configure all of those switches, routers, desktop and laptop computers, cell phones, and printers for your computer network. The Cisco IOS looks and feels quite similar to the Command Prompt for Windows. Creating your own logical topology diagram and then properly configuring every device on the diagram are both very important skills to know how to do.

Fortunately, there are several computer programs available that will assist you with both tasks. Just know that there are things to know about each program.

CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator

The CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator from Pearson Vue, the program that I recently re-started using, is probably the program to get if you want experience with using the Cisco IOS. Beginning with Chapter 4 of the CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, you get several exercises per chapter that focus on using the Cisco IOS to accomplish various tasks. For the most part, the exercises guide you step-by-step until completion. The idea is to get the user comfortable using the Cisco IOS. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of commands for the Cisco IOS, so you might as well just jump in headfirst. With each succeeding chapter from the CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, the exercises get a little longer and a little more complex. One thing that the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator does not do is let you create your own logical topology diagrams. The program does have logical topology diagrams; however, the diagrams are to illustrate what the network looks like. You cannot make any changes to the diagram. The main focus of the Network Simulator, based on my experience, is getting comfortable using the Cisco IOS. I highly recommend buying a copy of the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator, which will cost you approximately $100 to download from Pearson Vue.

Pearson Vue's CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator

Cisco Packet Tracer

You can also use Cisco's Packet Tracer program. Cisco Packet Tracer will let you create your own logical topology diagrams with Cisco-approved icons. With Cisco Packet Tracer, you don't have to use the Cisco IOS to configure devices. Cisco Packet Tracer will let you click on radio buttons and/or manually enter items like IPv4 or IPv6 addresses or default gateways without entering into the Cisco IOS. You can pick and choose what icons you want to have on your diagram and then choose how to connect the devices with the click of a mouse. However, if you want to manually configure a device in the Cisco IOS, you can do that to. In fact, if you configure a device without using the Cisco IOS, Cisco Packet Tracer will automatically generate the appropriate commands in the Cisco IOS. I kid you not. The idea of Cisco Packet Tracer is to replicate the experience of having phyiscal networking equipment on a computer without having to buy networking equipment. Cisco Packet Tracer was designed for users with ZERO netowrking experience. In case you didn't know, many of those home networking kits that you can buy on the internet from vendors can be quite expensive depending on the equipment and the options you want. Best of all, Cisco Packet Tracer is F-R-E-E from Cisco. Yes, Cisco doesn't charge a penny for Cisco Packet Tracer. However, you do have to register with Cisco Networking Academy to download the program. With all of the great things that Cisco Packet Tracer does, do you need to buy your own home networking equipment to experiment with? No, you don't. I have a friend who passed the CCNA certification exam by only using Cisco Packet Tracer. On the other hand, if you can afford to buy a home networking kit, then more power to you. Buying a home networking kit consisting of a router, a couple of switches, and so on is an interesting idea. Perhaps I will write about this topic in another post. Another possible downside to Cisco Packet Tracer could be that if you already have networking experience, you might find Cisco Packet Tracer to be on the simple side of things.

Cisco Packet Tracer Screenshot

Cisco Modeling Labs

In addition to Cisco Packet Tracer, Cisco also offers Cisco Modeling Labs. From what I can tell, Cisco Modeling Labs is a more advanced version of Cisco Packet Tracer. Cisco Modeling Labs apparently gives the user more options and greater flexibility in creating networks than what is offered by Cisco Packet Tracer. I have got to admit, the user interface for Cisco Modeling Labs looks pretty slick. There is a downside to Cisco Modeling Labs, however. The downside is that Cisco Modeling Labs is not free. A one-year license for personal use will cost you around $199. Still, that's cheaper than buying your own networking equipment. I have never met anyone who has used Cisco Modeling Labs, so I don't know if the application is worth the money. When the time comes to kick Cisco Packet Tracer to the curb, I might give Cisco Modeling Labs a try.

Cisco Modeling Labs Screenshot

The GNS3 Option

Don't want to use the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator, Cisco Packet Tracer, or Cisco Modeling Labs? Well, GNS3 just might be the networking application you have been looking for. From what I can tell, GNS3 will let you create complex networking topologies with the best of them. It also helps that the graphics definitely catch the eye in a way that Cisco Packet Tracer doesn't. According to the documentation, GNS3 is free and open source. Not only that, GNS3 will provide you with all kinds of options that are not provided by Cisco Packet Tracer. There is an important caveat to mention about GNS3 before you might consider using it. GNS3 does not use the Cisco IOS. If you want to use the Cisco IOS, or any other vendor's CLI, with GNS3, you will have to install Cisco IOS into GNS3. That means either getting a license to use Cisco IOS or copying it from another device. On their website, there is a proclamation that GNS3 is "by network pros for network pros". That statement is a good indicator that GNS3 might not be the best program to use if you are brand new to networking. I see that GNS3 is used by at least 20 high profile organizations for network planning and testing. As a result, you might want to wait until you get some networking experience under your belt before downloading GNS3 onto your laptop. Did I write that GNS3 looks really cool?

GNS3 Networking Diagram

In Conclusion

For now, I will be using both Cisco Packet Tracer and Pearson Vue's CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator for studying for CCNA. At some point, I would like to try out Cisco Modeling Labs.

Studying for CCNA and the Pearson Vue Network Simulator...

I'm still studying for CCNA.

Right now, I at Chapter 7 Configuring and Verifying Switch Interfaces in the Official Cert Guide CCNA 200-301 Volume 1 by Wendell Odom.

In addition to that, I have also been making my through the Packet Tracer exercises, known as Config Labs, for Chapters 6 and 7 that are available on Wendell Odom's own Cert Skills website. For the Config Labs, you can work through the exercises using a piece of paper and a pen, Cisco's Packet Tracer, or Cisco's own Cisco Modeling Labs.

Using Config Labs...

Since the Config Labs were designed to be used with just a pen or pencil and a piece of paper, most of the labs that I have worked through really don't require using Packet Tracer or Modeling Labs. So far, the Config Labs involve tasks like setting up passwords for access to the switch and inputting the commands required for setting up the switch for use. So, yes, all you really need is just a pen and a piece of paper. Plus, the Config Labs require a lot page flipping through the textbook.

Using Packet Tracer...

Since I tried working through Cisco's online class for using Packet Tracer when I was studying for CompTIA's Network+ certification, I already had Packet Tracer downloaded and installed on my computer. According to several sources on the internet, Packet Tracer is a really good tool for studying for the CCNA certification exam. The caveat with for Packet Tracer is that there are parts of the CCNA certification exam that you cannot do with Packet Tracer. That said, I do have a former co-worker at SSA who told me that he was able to pass the CCNA exam using just Packet Tracer. As a result of working through the Config Labs, I know more about Cisco's IOS that I did when I started studying for CCNA.

Thinking about using Cisco's Modeling Labs...

I must say that Cisco's Modeling Labs does look really interesting. Cisco's Modeling Labs apparently gives the user a nearly identical experience as if you had physical netowrking equipment right in front of you. Whereas Packet Tracer is a free download, a license for personal use of Cisco Modeling Labs costs $199. However, that $199 for a license from Cisco is A LOT more affordable than buying one of those CCNA exam kits that includes a router and a couple of switches among other equipment. For example, my current apartment is 550 square feet. I don't have any room in my tiny apartment to have a rack of Cisco networking equipment for learing.

Using Pearson Vue's Network Simulator Lite...

On top of that, I have been steadily working my way through the exercises available on the free version of Pearson Vue's CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator Lite, Volume 1. So far, my experience with using Pearson Vue's network simulator has been quite positive. On the labs that I have worked through, Pearson Vue guides you a helping hand by telling you what you need to type into the switch's command line interface. In other words, Pearson Vue's Network Simulator Lite focuses on learning by doing. Thus far, I would say that is probably the best way to learn how to set up a switch for use. According to the Introduction in the Official Cert Guide CCNA 200-301 Volume 1, many people have successfully passed the CCNA certification exam just using Network Simulator Lite for study.

However, there is just one caveat for using Pearson Vue's Network Simulator Lite. The caveat is that the Network Simulator Lite contains ONLY 21 labs. If you want the other 380 labs, then you will have buy the remaining labs from Pearson Vue. The list price for Network Simulator Lite is at least $150. However, Pearson Vue will cut down the price quite a bit if you use the Network Simulator Lite that comes with Official Cert Guide CCNA 200-301 Volume 1.

Final Thoughts...

For now, I will be working my way through the exercises available on Wendell Odom's CertSkills blog with Packet Tracer. Once I get through 21 free labs for Pearson Vue's Network Simulator Lite, I will probably end up purchasing the remaining labs. One thing that I recently did was search through YouTube for Packet Tracer exercises for the CCNA certification exam. I found Keith Barker's 26 video series for Packet Tracker and the CCNA certification exam. That was a really interesting find. I'm planning on watching the first video in the series as soon as I can.

Career Planning and CCNA...

As I have mentioned in other posts, I am studying for the Cisco CCNA certification.

After getting nowhere studying for CompTIA's Network+ exam, I gave that up and switched over to studying for Cisco CCNA instead.

Right now, I just completed reading Chapter 5: Analyzing Ethernet LAN Switching in Volume 1 of the CCNA 200-301 cert guide book.

The author of the book is Wendell Odom.

Wendell Odom has a website that can be used in conjunction with both volumes of the CCNA 200-301 cert guide book. The website, Wendell Odom's CCNA Skills Blog, has a lot of really good information about studying for CCNA and networking. I should geat around to reading the supplemental material on his website for each chapter of the book.

Now that I am at Chapter 5, I will DEFINITELY take a look at what he refers to as Config Labs, which are meant to be short exercises about using the command line interface for Cisco networking equipment.

Speaking of the command line interface for Cisco networking equipment, I really should try using the exercises on Pearson Vue's network simulation tool that came with both volumes of the CCNA 200-301 cert guide book.

The Pearson Vue network simulation tool that is included with the CCNA 200-301 textbooks is meant to be an abridged version. If you want all of the exercises, you have to buy the complete version of the network simulation tool from Pearson Vue. That said, Cisco has a rather interesting program called Packet Tracer. Packet Tracer is Cisco's version of a network simulation tool. Unlike Pearson Vue's product, Packet Tracer is free from Cisco. A couple of years ago, you could freely download Packet Tracer from Cisco's website. Now, you have to create an account with Cisco IOT download Packet Tracer. Can you study for CCNA using Packet Tracer? It certainly looks like you could. I have a former co-worker at SSA's Tier 1 IT help desk who told me that he only used Packet Tracer when he studied for CCNA. Over on Amazon, I did find a book that contains 101 labs for Packet Tracer for those studying for CCNA. However, the authors assume that you already know how to use Packet Tracer.

Another interesting feature on Wendell Odom's blog is the section about career planning for networking. Thus far, I have completed the first step of six in constructing my own career plan. Like many people, I just assumed that earning the A+, Network+, and Security+ certifications was the way to go. Since I ran into a roadblock with Network+, I have had to make some adjustments. I can see earning the CCNA certification. I can also see earning Cisco's CyberOps Associate, which is Cisco's version of CompTIA's Security+ certification. Speaking of Security+, I see that ISC2 now offers their own cyber security foundations certification, which looks pretty interesting. Speaking of ISC2, the CISSP certification is rather interesting. A few years back, I had a roommate that was trying to study for the CISSP. He didn't get very far as he gave me his copy of ISC2's CISSP Study Guide. A couple of years ago at my company's Christmas party, I met a GS-12 who works in SSA's Security Operations Center. He told me that the only IT certification that he has is the CISSP. All he did, he said, was to study, study, and study for the CISSP until he could pass the exam. However, from what I can tell, the CISSP certification is meant to be an advanced level IT certification for an individual that has been working in IT for several years. Lastly, I can also see earning the certification for Microsoft's Azure, Google's Google Cloud, or Amazon's Amazon Web Services.

Career planning is a sensitive subject for me. When I graduated from New Mexico State University back in 1995 with a bachelor's degree in Economics from the College of Arts and Sciences, I didn't know what I wanted to do. No one asked. I found myself in Liberal Arts Purgatory. I was one of those people that graduated from college with no idea on what I wanted to do. If I could go back and redo college, I should have been a computer science major. When I was in the Army, I had ZERO career planning. Someone should have councelled me about giving up the dream of attending Officer Candidate School and give serious thought about what I needed to do about becoming a Warrant Officer instead. Now that I am working in Information Technology, it is very easy to get overwhelmed and frustrated with all of the various things that one can do with the various certifications that are out there. Plus, there are those IT certifications that have a high demand (CCNA, Azure, AWS, CISSP, Security+) and those that do not (A+, Server+).

For now, my main focus is to earn the CCNA certification.

My other goal is to get a new IT job. Given all of the competition here in Maryland for IT jobs, I might have to go back to Arizona and look for a new IT job out there. There are all kinds of IT jobs both in Phoenix and in the Maricopa County area. Many of those jobs do not require a security clearance. For someone that no longer has a Top Secret clearance, that is definitely music to my ears.