Customer Reviews:
 Thorough Coverage of CCNA Topics, and a Great Value May 2, 2008
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I'm a full time instructor of Cisco courses and a CCIE. My students sometimes ask for book recommendations for further study and review. So, I hope that this review of Wendell Odom's "CCNA Official Exam Certification Library, Third Edition" will provide some insight for CCENT and/or CCNA candidates considering the purchase of this library. Following are my observations:
-The "library" contains two separate books: (1) CCENT/CCNA ICND1 Official Exam Certification Guide Second Edition and (2) CCNA ICND2 Official Exam Certification Guide Second Edition.
-Unlike some competitive titles you might come across, this CCNA library cleanly divides the topics of the 640-822 (CCENT/ICND1) exam and the 640-816 (ICND2) exam. So, if a candidate wanted to achieve their CCNA certification by taking the individual exams, they could study the corresponding book from the library. Alternately, if they wanted to take the composite 640-802 CCNA exam, they could study the entire library.
-Cisco Press' "Official Exam Certification Guide" series contains several features that readers can benefit from:
oIcons identifying key topics
oA "Do I Know This Already?" pre-test at the beginning of a chapter
oMemory tables
oIdentification of key terms
-Each of the two books in the library contains a DVD and a CD. Each DVD contains personal Video Mentor-style demonstrations of topics by the author.
-Each CD allows you to install a corresponding practice exam from Boson, which has a nice testing engine supporting simulation and testlet questions, in addition to the traditional multiple choice questions found in many competing products.
-The author doesn't just hit the high points, but rather provides in-depth treatment to the myriad of topics on the CCNA exam.
-Binary math and subnet masking are major CCNA topics, and one of the CDs contains a binary math game, which plays much like a video game.
The think I find most striking about this library is the price. It includes a total of two books, two DVDs, and two CDs for a list price of $59.99. As an owner of many Cisco Press books, I consider this to be one the best values out there for CCNA prep.
CCNA Official Exam April 27, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This 2-volume book is exactly what I was looking for.
That is an excellent one about 640-802 exam or if somebody is interested to know about Cisco networking technology.
Great New CCNA Study Guides April 25, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Having taught the Cisco Certified Network Associate Certification class at local community colleges, I am always interested when new Exam Certification material is published. This new CCNA Official Exam Certification Library, which is in its Third Edition, provides the individual who does not have the time or the funds to take an actual class (like I occasionally teach), a complete, step by step approach to studying and passing the current CCNA exams (ICND1-640-822 & ICND2-640-816 or CCNA-640-802). These volumes provide a solid explanation of networking fundamentals and provide a logical progression of topics and understanding, focusing on building an overall solid technical foundation and, of course, passing the CCNA examinations. The current CCNA exams are much more detailed in scope than in past tests, requiring the student to have specific concept and configuration knowledge encompassing internetworking fundamentals and progressing into routing protocols, switching, including Spanning Tree, WAN protocols, Wireless, IPv6, Access Lists, etc. Because the course material has grown in depth and breadth, the book strives to simulate, in some ways, a class environment by having pre-chapter quizzes to allow the student to assess their current knowledge on the chapter's topics as well as a syllabus or foundation topics to review as a roadmap. Included in each chapter are key topic reviews, lists of key terms and command reference tables. These are critical for the self-study individual since there is no teacher to ask questions - and this is where the other features of the book come in handy.
Since I teach, I wanted some true `students' opinions, so I handed off my copy of this Library set to a number of individuals who had either just passed their test or were studying with other materials. I asked them their opinion of this new edition, asking them to look at all the new study materials and features included in these volumes. The comments I received back were very enthusiastic. They really liked the fact that the books contain both DVD and CDrom resources. The DVD has a series of videos on IP addressing and subnetting, while the CD has several practice scenarios with excellent step by step of explanations how the answer was achieved (just like in a class room). There is even a companion book website that assists the student in further clarification of questions in the book and new postings by the authors on relevant topics. One response back on the book especially liked that it spoke clearly to what is on the CCNA exam and the fact that there was an exhaustive table of Exam topics and where in the book the subject was covered. Other feedback from my small group referred to the testing engine from Boson that provides the student a chance to test just like the real thing. Suffice to say, my little group students wished they had had these great resources when studying for the CCNA.
As for my opinion of the book, I think that the writing and clarity of the composition, in logical progression and consistent format, is what I strive to deliver when I teach, so I really appreciate the effort that went into the creation of these books by the authors. I understand the amount of work it takes to create solid educational materials. Lastly, there is a good last chapter that goes into final preparation, including study plans, relating how and what to practice and how to approach the CCNA testing. This is the same advise that I give students when I teach. This new CCNA Library is a great resource and I would recommend it to anybody who is looking for a self-paced, study program or as supplemental material in addition to other CCNA learning materials.
Gary Roesler, CCIE #11451
Excellent info, read these for total insight into CCNA topics April 23, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Well I have read both of these books, and have taken the 802 exam and passed (thankfully!) and thought i'd share my thoughts with you on these books.
Wendell Odom not only prepares you for the real world using real world examples, but compiles the material to be easy and enjoyable to read. It helps if you're actually interested in networking of course!
I found the CD's great value, but one thing i have noticed is that the practice exams on the CD's are harder than the real thing! Excellent if you want to prepare properly, but this can be demoralising.
The CCENT book gives a great theory outline to most of the topics, and the 2nd book covers a lot of the command line entries.
They are good books but you will want to also use the internet to practice subnetting.
(It was nice not to have to pay $50 per book, the pair I got for $60).
Go get these and read them cover to cover if you're serious about passing and gaining a career in internetworking.
CCNA Official Exam Certification Library (CCNA Exam 640-820) April 22, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
The CISCO subject over all is dry. This book, by far, is the best I have received to date. It was well written. You can follow along. With some formal training and this book you should be able to get your CCNA.
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