This is it.
The last module before the full CCNA certification. I sure would like to think that each module gets easier as time passes but there is no such thing an easy certification and I wouldn't like it any other way.
This time we've moved outside the LAN world and dived into the WAN galaxy. I never cease to stay completely amazed with the dimension of this big networked universe.
The technology of this chapter is approaching a lot of history regarding the solutions that were developed during the 60's and 70's. Strangely enough is how one can notice that these concepts are still current when applied to today's standards with the obvious exceptions for bandwidth differences and a few other improvements. A good engineered solution can really last a long time.
We've just started last week but I've already learned to value the use of a good serial connection and started understanding with some depth the WAN protocols that are used inside frame relays and long distance networking.
These classes gave me a glimpse of old memories. When I was a small kid, I've once visited a small office where it was possible to start a video-conference with the room next to us.
The presenter of the tour mentioned that one day it this feature would become an affordable technology for everyone. I just thought "amazing" and look how right he was indeed.
This CCNA module is certainly not so easy to grasp, it deals with a lot of new concepts that I've never heard about but at the same time I'm really curious to see and learn how people solved some of the issues raised at the time. Funny because I think that nowadays people are getting lazy (including myself).
When there was no Internet (for everyone), most people would need to think the solutions by themselves or perhaps try, try and try all over again until it's done right. How disappointing it is to google and to find a solution that we consider 100 times better than ours and quit even before engaging into action.
A lot of competition is demoralized this way - this is good for popular community guided developments but at the same time promotes the stagnation of technology. If a monopoly is raised by any given product then we might be sure to expect that it's evolution will be far slower than it would occur if a competing product presented better features, but I digress and I'd better get back on topic..
This is the last module and probably the last time that I get a chance to study in the Azores, it's been a very interesting year without doubt - I'll miss it here.
Showing posts with label CCNA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CCNA. Show all posts
CCNA 3 - Switching and Wireless
This week was marked with the start of the third CCNA module that is dedicated to learn all about switch devices and wireless technology.
And just like in other modules, we began the week learning things on a very fast pace.
I've got to admit that two monts after the last module I barely remembered any of IOS command line functioning. Can this be a sign of old age?
Well... was a bit rusted but quickly refreshed the memory with the required skill level necessary to program the CISCO machines from command line just like before.
It also helps to write all these commands down on plain paper, at least this way I can have a quick cheat sheet to look whenever things fail to remember quickly.
Of course that practice leads to perfection and the simple fact of not working directly with CISCO equipment also promotes the progressive degradation of my knowledge on this networking field as time passes.
Nevertheless, it's so intellectually stimulating to enjoy live classes about some IT technology that I can really say that I'm happy to use my free time to learn something new.
---------
This third module is also very promising, we have a WIFI based LAN that has a considerable dimension on my workplace and I never had any formal education on this field.
One of the interesting points is the study of the possible security holes that might be exploited and respective counter-measures to protect the network from intrusions.
So far I can't complain, already got a lot of new ideas to put in practice next week.
Things are really looking good and I'm really glad to be studying again.
:)
And just like in other modules, we began the week learning things on a very fast pace.
I've got to admit that two monts after the last module I barely remembered any of IOS command line functioning. Can this be a sign of old age?
Well... was a bit rusted but quickly refreshed the memory with the required skill level necessary to program the CISCO machines from command line just like before.
It also helps to write all these commands down on plain paper, at least this way I can have a quick cheat sheet to look whenever things fail to remember quickly.
Of course that practice leads to perfection and the simple fact of not working directly with CISCO equipment also promotes the progressive degradation of my knowledge on this networking field as time passes.
Nevertheless, it's so intellectually stimulating to enjoy live classes about some IT technology that I can really say that I'm happy to use my free time to learn something new.
---------
This third module is also very promising, we have a WIFI based LAN that has a considerable dimension on my workplace and I never had any formal education on this field.
One of the interesting points is the study of the possible security holes that might be exploited and respective counter-measures to protect the network from intrusions.
So far I can't complain, already got a lot of new ideas to put in practice next week.
Things are really looking good and I'm really glad to be studying again.
:)
CCNA part 2 - Completed!
Yesterday completed the final round of exams for this portion of the CISCO certification.
It was no easy deal, the written exams took 2 hours to be completed and was composed with 56 questions that ranged from the first chapter exams all the way up to the 11th exam. Ranged expertise questions about RIP, OSPF, EIGRP and all sort of routing hazards that might occur on everyday WAN activity.
The other part took 4 hours and was composed with two laboratory examinations where one needs to setup a network from scratch. Well, not scratch in the sense of building from the ground up since the equipment and the connections are already in place, but you still need to do all the calculations for the network ranges and then implement these calculations where they belong.
It wasn't easy, I'm mentally exhausted.
Over this week with the nerves of getting a good grade I've tried to study as much as possible about everything that could be related to networking until I could reach a point of confidence regarding what I needed to know.
Is CCNA worth all this trouble?
Yes it is, no doubt about it.
------------
At each part that is completed I evaluate what I knew before and after the classes begin and let me tell you that it's an enjoyable condition to look back and know that networking makes a lot more of sense now.
Some time ago I wondered about the possibility of working full time as a WAN administrator for CISCO equipment at some company but the idea was a bit frightening once I got around to consider the scale, impact and costs that solely depend on the network engineer.
It's a job to be taken quite seriously with little permission to mistakes and that is likely the reason why I see my teacher so committed in constantly refreshing his own knowledge about routers.
A good professional will always need to keep studying in order to keep track of the changes and how to get things done.
I might indeed follow a career as network engineer one day since it is a quite interesting lifestyle, but for the moment I prefer to gather more knowledge, experience and confidence before I look for another employer.
-----------
These have been a quite a few very interesting weeks, will certainly be looking forward for Part 3 in the future.
:)
It was no easy deal, the written exams took 2 hours to be completed and was composed with 56 questions that ranged from the first chapter exams all the way up to the 11th exam. Ranged expertise questions about RIP, OSPF, EIGRP and all sort of routing hazards that might occur on everyday WAN activity.
The other part took 4 hours and was composed with two laboratory examinations where one needs to setup a network from scratch. Well, not scratch in the sense of building from the ground up since the equipment and the connections are already in place, but you still need to do all the calculations for the network ranges and then implement these calculations where they belong.
It wasn't easy, I'm mentally exhausted.
Over this week with the nerves of getting a good grade I've tried to study as much as possible about everything that could be related to networking until I could reach a point of confidence regarding what I needed to know.
Is CCNA worth all this trouble?
Yes it is, no doubt about it.
------------
At each part that is completed I evaluate what I knew before and after the classes begin and let me tell you that it's an enjoyable condition to look back and know that networking makes a lot more of sense now.
Some time ago I wondered about the possibility of working full time as a WAN administrator for CISCO equipment at some company but the idea was a bit frightening once I got around to consider the scale, impact and costs that solely depend on the network engineer.
It's a job to be taken quite seriously with little permission to mistakes and that is likely the reason why I see my teacher so committed in constantly refreshing his own knowledge about routers.
A good professional will always need to keep studying in order to keep track of the changes and how to get things done.
I might indeed follow a career as network engineer one day since it is a quite interesting lifestyle, but for the moment I prefer to gather more knowledge, experience and confidence before I look for another employer.
-----------
These have been a quite a few very interesting weeks, will certainly be looking forward for Part 3 in the future.
:)
Cisco - part 1of CCNA was completed
I finally completed yesterday my final exam on the first part of the Cisco Certified Network Administration (CCNA) course.
This was a bit more difficult than expected, I was prepared for the questions and had studied everything that was expected to be asked but there were some topics that simply escaped my attention or didn't made much sense to be the correct answers but after some careful research I always ended up concluding that the exam reply was accurate even thought at first it cause confusion (guess they do it on purpose, right?).
In either case, it's finished. I had a score on this exam of 95,7% that came as my second attempt on this exam.
On the first one I got 75% and the minimum required to pass was 80%, on the second try they increase the difficulty level and you needed to have at least 85% to succeed. There was still a third and final attempt in which you'd have to get at least 90% - if you failed for the third time then you'd be excluded permanently, so it was not easy having this sort of pressure to get good grades.
I can also say that at this precise moment I feel much more confident to work as a LAN administrator and understand a bit better how a LAN works and how to diagnose the everyday occurrences.
It's an amazing world out there. Servers, Routers and Switch's become much more friendly and understandable. I really recommend going to one of these courses if you're serious about a career in the networking field.
Well.. this was part one. Let's see what's reserved for the upcoming classes next October.
:)
This was a bit more difficult than expected, I was prepared for the questions and had studied everything that was expected to be asked but there were some topics that simply escaped my attention or didn't made much sense to be the correct answers but after some careful research I always ended up concluding that the exam reply was accurate even thought at first it cause confusion (guess they do it on purpose, right?).
In either case, it's finished. I had a score on this exam of 95,7% that came as my second attempt on this exam.
On the first one I got 75% and the minimum required to pass was 80%, on the second try they increase the difficulty level and you needed to have at least 85% to succeed. There was still a third and final attempt in which you'd have to get at least 90% - if you failed for the third time then you'd be excluded permanently, so it was not easy having this sort of pressure to get good grades.
I can also say that at this precise moment I feel much more confident to work as a LAN administrator and understand a bit better how a LAN works and how to diagnose the everyday occurrences.
It's an amazing world out there. Servers, Routers and Switch's become much more friendly and understandable. I really recommend going to one of these courses if you're serious about a career in the networking field.
Well.. this was part one. Let's see what's reserved for the upcoming classes next October.
:)
Cisco certified Network Administrator - phase 1
Almost the end of the first step for achieving the CCNA category.
Been 5 weeks on classes and doing exams and now the final exam approaches with some fearsome 50 questions where the minimum grade is forcefully 70% of valid replies to pass the exam.
I'm not worried at all about the number of questions or how hard they might be.
For me, the biggest worry is really the amount of time made available to answer the whole exam.
It's one of my biggest flaws, simply take too long to understand and read back everything to ensure that I am doing the right calculations or properly organize my sketches instead of looking at the clock.
For this big exam on wednesday, I can't afford to skip the lengthy questions and start first with the quick ones.
We have to answer one question separately from each other and have no chance of returning back after a reply is left.
--
No problem. I know everything should work out more or less fine since I am sort of comfortable with the questions and usually know the right answer. Just a bit worried that I feel over confident and don't really analyze deeply those questions that might hide some trick that people often fall.
Let's see how it goes.
This week I'm incredibly busy at work that another of my fears is not being able to be present on the exam at all and I'm my recent luck this wouldn't come as a surprise so I'm already taking some precautions to ensure everything is done on schedule.
Wish me luck.. ;)
Been 5 weeks on classes and doing exams and now the final exam approaches with some fearsome 50 questions where the minimum grade is forcefully 70% of valid replies to pass the exam.
I'm not worried at all about the number of questions or how hard they might be.
For me, the biggest worry is really the amount of time made available to answer the whole exam.
It's one of my biggest flaws, simply take too long to understand and read back everything to ensure that I am doing the right calculations or properly organize my sketches instead of looking at the clock.
For this big exam on wednesday, I can't afford to skip the lengthy questions and start first with the quick ones.
We have to answer one question separately from each other and have no chance of returning back after a reply is left.
--
No problem. I know everything should work out more or less fine since I am sort of comfortable with the questions and usually know the right answer. Just a bit worried that I feel over confident and don't really analyze deeply those questions that might hide some trick that people often fall.
Let's see how it goes.
This week I'm incredibly busy at work that another of my fears is not being able to be present on the exam at all and I'm my recent luck this wouldn't come as a surprise so I'm already taking some precautions to ensure everything is done on schedule.
Wish me luck.. ;)
End of exam season and beginning of CISCO certification
I'm very happy because the exam season has finally been finished. Last exam was dedicated to programming in C and I can't say that I'm very confident about passing with a good grade to this discipline.
Maybe because I didn't slept much or because C is not my favorite sort of language at all, I did the exam mostly with the intention of just passing by this one, let's see how the grades turn out.
Just as I'm finishing the exam season, another sort of education is also on the start - CISCO certification as a network administrator - more explicitly - the CCNA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisco_Career_Certifications
I've spent the last 4 years doing administration tasks and I think that now is a good time to invest in professional certifications in order to help constructing a better career for the future while learning more about networking.
Hope to reach an expert level some day, I know it takes a lot of time and commitment to make it possible but I'm also very motivated to move forward with my professional life and seek out new challenges.
Unfortunately, commitment also means no summer holidays with my family this year - CISCO lasts throughout all summer vacations and I'm left with little over 4 days this month to go outside and visit other islands near by.
One fun fact - the teacher on the introduction lesson began speaking about commonly used industry standard tools for network tasks and guess what?
TFTPD32 from Philippe Jounin, our friend on boot land is well recommended by Cisco - what a small world indeed.
To complete the four levels proposed by CCNA should last a few months until the end of February 2009, let's see how this goes.
-- Nuno Brito
:)
Maybe because I didn't slept much or because C is not my favorite sort of language at all, I did the exam mostly with the intention of just passing by this one, let's see how the grades turn out.
Just as I'm finishing the exam season, another sort of education is also on the start - CISCO certification as a network administrator - more explicitly - the CCNA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisco_Career_Certifications
I've spent the last 4 years doing administration tasks and I think that now is a good time to invest in professional certifications in order to help constructing a better career for the future while learning more about networking.
Hope to reach an expert level some day, I know it takes a lot of time and commitment to make it possible but I'm also very motivated to move forward with my professional life and seek out new challenges.
Unfortunately, commitment also means no summer holidays with my family this year - CISCO lasts throughout all summer vacations and I'm left with little over 4 days this month to go outside and visit other islands near by.
One fun fact - the teacher on the introduction lesson began speaking about commonly used industry standard tools for network tasks and guess what?
TFTPD32 from Philippe Jounin, our friend on boot land is well recommended by Cisco - what a small world indeed.
To complete the four levels proposed by CCNA should last a few months until the end of February 2009, let's see how this goes.
-- Nuno Brito
:)
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