CCNP 2010? Anyone pass this test?

[lowrider69]

I had a project I needed to hire a bunch of temps for about 3 weeks. I was looking for A+ to PC hardware literate. Ended up with one guy that had passed 6 of the 7 MCSE exams, yet when I gave him the task of adding RAM to some workstations, he didn't know where to begin.

He spent the rest of the day on the loading dock breaking down cardboard, and I had the temp agency replace him for the rest of the project.

I call them paper tigers.

I have met some guys with a MCSE who knew MS Server, AD, and that's about it. They knew nothing else, they were lost with basic things. Granted if they know MS Server and AD that's part of being a MCSE and that's great. IMO even if you're a admin, engineer, etc..you should know hardware and other basics, maybe i'm old school, I don't know.

 

[Agamar]

I have been in IT now for 12 years. I got my first certification 4 years ago. It was the combo MCSE / MCITP + messaging. I then got my CCNA, then my SEC+ and Net+. I like to go once a year to a boot camp and meet other IT people. They usually last about a week and it also gives me a chance to find out what direction the industry is going..

 

[alkemyst]

It may be cheaper to go to something like Networkers going on in Las Vegas now to get direction rather than a Boot Camp.

Failed SWITCH yesterday spent 2 months studying...3 weeks were trainwrecks (16 hour days and the like)...to top it off google maps put me 30 mins north of where I should be for the testing center (I did call ahead and asked are they just south of that intersection...apparently they thought I said "just south" meaning a 30 min trip).

I then arrived and parked. I was then told I couldn't park there since those are for employees only (no signs)...I then was told parking was across the street at a major intersection with no proximal crosswalks. All freaking meters and I only had enough for 45 mins of time. The test was two hours. Most of the local businesses didn't want to give change...finally found one.

I don't think I would have passed anyway, but my plan was to arrive at least 30mins early and commit to memory some basic configs then hit the test running. I ended up starting my test 1 hour after I should have, all sweating and flustered (I am in S. Florida..it's hot even in the morning now).

I am going to shoot for two more weeks.

 

[drebo]

What were the most difficult subjects for you?

 

[Agamar]

I have tried to go to Las Vegas but never have been able to swing that. Dallas is closer and doesn't have the same "I am going on a boondoggle" vibe. Bootcamps are fun if you take the time to talk to the other guys in the class. Plus, it is the only way I can find time to study anything without kids!

 

[alkemyst]

The whole test I screwed up..in study SPAN stuff and viop were stumbling blocks...on the test some of the material was presented very abstract and different.

I still don't get why they don't allow real "help" and real "? completion".

I couldn't even write mem/copy run start on the test: "invalid command".

 

[spidey07]

The whole test I screwed up..in study SPAN stuff and viop were stumbling blocks...on the test some of the material was presented very abstract and different.

I still don't get why they don't allow real "help" and real "? completion".

I couldn't even write mem/copy run start on the test: "invalid command".

On the simulations they only give you the commands you need to do the task. If they let you use help it would defeat the purpose of showing you know how to do it.

 

[alkemyst]

On the simulations they only give you the commands you need to do the task. If they let you use help it would defeat the purpose of showing you know how to do it.

not really...I doubt anyone is going to be able to use help to set up authentication and VRRP just using help unless they know how to do it first.

 

[Tommouse]

I passed the new and update CCNP:Switch in early Feb, and I studied a ton for it. I had read the previous Cisco BCMSN study guides, and failed the BCMSN and was happy to find out they reworked the test and cut out much of the VoIP, and Wireless stuff. I then grabbed the Official Cisco SWITCH Studyguide and read that cover to cover, and did the Boson tests. I found that the Boson tests were worth their weight in gold (if downloadable software could weight anything that is). The PPIDOO stuff was a nightmare, and the Boson test highlighted this, so I read up even more on that. For me knowing the material isn't the issue, it's more knowing how to answer their questions and knowing the "Cisco" answers to very broad questions.

Glad to hear the Route exam isn't as bad, as after a few months off I just cracked that book open and am getting back to it.

 

[mcmilljb]

I was doing some research on the Cisco's learning website, and I happened to come across some information that should be of interest to people who need to take the TSHOOT exam. If you go here https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/docs/DOC-6738 , you can get the topology for the TSHOOT exam. It even says on the website "Before attempting the TSHOOT exam, please familiarize yourself with the TSHOOT network topologies and exam instructions. These are the network topologies that you will be tested on." Plus they have a tutorial so you can get a feel for the exam.

 

[alkemyst]

The TSHOOT is considered pretty easy once you pass the SWITCH and ROUTE and more or less a test to make sure someone hasn't braindumped on the first two tests.

 

[alkemyst]

Took down and passed CCNP 642-813 SWITCH this morning. Second attempt. First one was a nightmare in my map being wrong to get to the site, metered parking only and I had to find someone that would give me change...ran out of time.

I can't really discuss specifics but there are bugs on the sim. I could not set encapsulation dot1q on one side of a trunk nor could I do any write mems/copy run starts

It did not seem to affect the score on that.

Two questions were exactly the same as my first test HOWEVER, they slightly changed the old 'right' answer to be wrong. I didn't want to run out of time and missed those two by rushing. I slowed down and ended the test with 35 mins to spare.

On to ROUTE, need to pass by July 15...then TSHOOT and CCNA Wireless by Sept 15. I already have 3 weeks of travel booked for work between now and Aug 1.

So far I have used both the Cert and Learning books by Cisco Press...a little of the Cisco Cookbook by O Reilly and I watched CBT nuggets (I don't think it goes in depth enough, but it's a good primer prior to diving into the books).

I haven't done much with packet tracer or sims yet nor lab gear.

What I do is type what the CLI would look like and the command I need...probably a lot harder than just taking time to learn GNS I plan on trying to fire it up this weekend for ROUTE.

 

[mcmilljb]

Took down and passed CCNP 642-813 SWITCH this morning. Second attempt. First one was a nightmare in my map being wrong to get to the site, metered parking only and I had to find someone that would give me change...ran out of time.

I can't really discuss specifics but there are bugs on the sim. I could not set encapsulation dot1q on one side of a trunk nor could I do any write mems/copy run starts

It did not seem to affect the score on that.

Congrats on passing.

Yeah they have bugs in the sim. I used the interface range command on the previous version, and it only showed the changes in the running config but not on the actual interfaces. Go figure.

Two questions were exactly the same as my first test HOWEVER, they slightly changed the old 'right' answer to be wrong. I didn't want to run out of time and missed those two by rushing. I slowed down and ended the test with 35 mins to spare.

Nothing new really. When the question pool was smaller, it happened more. The number of reused questions has gone down and probably refreshed more often. However there are only so many ways to ask a question. I believe their new approach is to have multiple variables so you can't brain dump as easily. If you can change something in the question that results in a different answer, you still have to know how to figure out the answer even if you knew the question was coming.

On to ROUTE, need to pass by July 15...then TSHOOT and CCNA Wireless by Sept 15. I already have 3 weeks of travel booked for work between now and Aug 1.

So far I have used both the Cert and Learning books by Cisco Press...a little of the Cisco Cookbook by O Reilly and I watched CBT nuggets (I don't think it goes in depth enough, but it's a good primer prior to diving into the books).

I haven't done much with packet tracer or sims yet nor lab gear.

What I do is type what the CLI would look like and the command I need...probably a lot harder than just taking time to learn GNS I plan on trying to fire it up this weekend for ROUTE.

Good luck getting all that done.

 

[alkemyst]

Tell me about it, just got another week of travel thrown at me. I leave Sunday.

 

[alkemyst]

passed ROUTE 642-902 today. Still have a headache from not sleeping much this week (about 2 hours last night due to setting my alarm equal to my wife's and she shut them off...I was just targetting 1 hour of sleep, glad I got almost 2).

My review of the ROUTE test is that the sims are not as bad but the general questions are a lot more memory based than SWITCH. Which makes sense since it's a lot more material...I feel so lost even though I passed. I wish they could tell you what you missed.

That said my study habits are probably a lot more intense than most. Probably averaging 8 hours a day, most of my weekends and days off are spent reading, listening, researching.

On to TSHOOT.

 

[pwnagesarus]

Be careful. There is some bad information in the CCNP ROUTE CBT Nuggets series. Specifically as it relates to EUI-64 IPv6 addressing (he forgets that you invert the 7th bit of the MAC address).

Overall, I was underwhelmed by the CCNP ROUTE CBT Nuggets series. It was missing a lot of information, and he recycled a lot of nuggets from the previous BSCI series, some of which did not really apply.

The CiscoPress certification guide has everything you need, and more.

Took down and passed CCNP 642-813 SWITCH this morning. Second attempt. First one was a nightmare in my map being wrong to get to the site, metered parking only and I had to find someone that would give me change...ran out of time.

I can't really discuss specifics but there are bugs on the sim. I could not set encapsulation dot1q on one side of a trunk nor could I do any write mems/copy run starts

It did not seem to affect the score on that.

Two questions were exactly the same as my first test HOWEVER, they slightly changed the old 'right' answer to be wrong. I didn't want to run out of time and missed those two by rushing. I slowed down and ended the test with 35 mins to spare.

On to ROUTE, need to pass by July 15...then TSHOOT and CCNA Wireless by Sept 15. I already have 3 weeks of travel booked for work between now and Aug 1.

So far I have used both the Cert and Learning books by Cisco Press...a little of the Cisco Cookbook by O Reilly and I watched CBT nuggets (I don't think it goes in depth enough, but it's a good primer prior to diving into the books).

I haven't done much with packet tracer or sims yet nor lab gear.

What I do is type what the CLI would look like and the command I need...probably a lot harder than just taking time to learn GNS I plan on trying to fire it up this weekend for ROUTE.

Who was the instructor for the CCNP CBT Nuggets? Jeremy Cioara?

Also, congrats on passing.

 

[alkemyst]

Jeremy was the CBT Switch and Route instructor at least.

On to TSHOOT today.

 

[alkemyst]

TSHOOT crushed!

Bosons TSHOOT sim is great prep

 

[alkemyst]

CCNP nao!

 

[mammador]

In most exams, no matter what the subject, I usually find my own material. To me it doesn't matter, as most good textbooks would have the basic information in any subject. as long as the textbook matter covers the syllabus, i don't really get any problems.

 

[TreyRandom]

TSHOOT crushed!

Bosons TSHOOT sim is great prep

Worth every penny, eh? Glad it helped, Alkemyst!

Be sure to let me know if you need anything in the future.

 

[alkemyst]

Yeah, while the TSHOOT was definitely the easiest of all the tests I have taken since CCNA...it would have been a hard pass the first time around without something more than the 4 question demo Cisco has.

 

[TreyRandom]

Yeah, while the TSHOOT was definitely the easiest of all the tests I have taken since CCNA...it would have been a hard pass the first time around without something more than the 4 question demo Cisco has.

It's certainly not easy for those who aren't expecting that style of exam. Imagine my shock when I took the TSHOOT beta!! Totally wasn't expecting what I saw. Real-world experience certainly helps.

 

[alkemyst]

It's certainly not easy for those who aren't expecting that style of exam. Imagine my shock when I took the TSHOOT beta!! Totally wasn't expecting what I saw. Real-world experience certainly helps.

Yeah I agree whole-heartedly...I'd have definitely probably not passed out of time constraints if I didn't go through the full Boson TSHOOT sim.

After about the 6-7th question, my times were way down and I had my methodology sorted out.

IMHO the fastest way is to ipconfig immediately.

If you have a valid IP, try to ping the gateway...if that's bad try the access and distro switch. If that works try to ping 10.1.1.1, if that doesn't go for 10.1.1.2 and then back down the chain until you get a good hit. If you don't have a valid IP, I immediately go for the DHCP router and verify there....that's an easy config to hash out. If it's good I check neighbors/neighborships...then access lists and ports on the access switches...you want to narrow your looking to the relevant ports that apply to the clients. I think that's a big part of the test and knowing the topology perfectly so you don't waste time on all the parts of the config that are not applicable.

Traceroute is another option, but I found pinging manually works out faster.

Also I kept one good IPv4 and IPv6 question that I definitely knew the answers too, unanswered. I wrote the proper responses on my dry-erase sheet.

I was able to nail 6 questions right off the bat. They I came back to the other 7 that were harder. 1-2 I knew the answers after working through the first 6, then the last 3 fell into place with some time. The last 2-3 I did a stare and compare and one I really wasn't sure on still, but my guess must have been right.

On my exam it listed 13/12 questions for the tshoot section. I am not sure if they only count your best of 12 out of the 13 or it was typo.

I finished the exam with about 30mins left...even an extra 3 minutes per question would have cost me finishing on time.

 

[TreyRandom]

That's a great review, Alkemyst. Hopefully it will help others who are preparing for TSHOOT!