1

Hi,

I want to make a career change into the field of Networking. I am looking for a good starting point to start learning. I know there are a lot of books out there, which makes it over whelming to decide which one to get. I have looked at a couple and wanted to get some feedback. I have looked at, Networking/Cisco Networking for Dummies and the CCENT/CCNA ICND1 100-101 Cert book from Cisco Press. Basically I need a starting point for learning and I am not sure which route what be the best or maybe both of those books are good starting point? I am also considering the IT University online Cisco course which I have read about within this group. Thanks in advance for any help.

Michael Koss

@Cisco

38 Spice ups
2

CCNA is a good start, but I would tell you if you are just starting out that maybe looking at the CompTIA Network + exam or one of the Microsoft Technical Associate exams for networking would be better to start with first and then go with the CCNA.

23 Spice ups
3

I agree with Bill Kindle. Buy a CompTIA Network+ book and read it, a few times. Concepts probably won’t sink in until you start playing with some networking equipment however.

YouTube is an amazing resource. Look at CBTNuggets and Keith Barker in particular.

If you can’t afford to purchase a few switches and routers to play with, you can download Cisco packet tracer which emulates various routers and switches. Also look at GNS3 which is a platform that actually vituralizes real router images. You just need to provide the image (found in a lot of places online).

If you’d rather use real routers and switches, I’d go on Ebay and pick up one or two Cisco 2950’s, and a 2611 or two. Keep in mind these are older switches and routers but are prefect to learn on. It’s like learning how to fly in a Cessna 150 before you hop into a 737.

I don’t mean to necessarily promote Cisco (I work on Adtran equipment mostly), but it’s easily accessible stuff, and is the norm in most corporate settings. It’s important to get exposure to other Brands like Adtran, Dell, and HP.

AFTER you’ve had a little experience, start looking at a CCNA course. It will then make much more sense and you’ll hit the ground running.

10 Spice ups
4

If you are a member you can download packet tracer. If not you will have to find an alternative source.

5

Cisco Network Academy (NetAcad)—

http://cisco.netacad.net/cnams/redirect?key=locator

It is a series of four in-person classes with equipment provided designed to be over four semesters, but often combined to 2 one semester classes. Successful completion with satisfactory scores on all the test will grant a CCNA test voucher.

NetAcad is widely available at Community Colleges, which will give college credits (nice side benefit, matriculated or not). NetAcad 1-2 ought be straightforward, NetAcad 3-4 do require study & diligent performing the practical exercises.

4 Spice ups
6

The book “Network Warrior” is pretty awesome (Network Warrior, 2nd Edition [Book]) as is “The TCP/IP Guide” (The TCP/IP Guide -- Ordering Information). From here I would also recommend putting together a small test lab (ebay is awesome for picking up old gear) and actually put something working together. Wireshark and tcpdump are your friends (once you know how a packet is put together).

Hth,

3 Spice ups
7

Network+ is always a good start. I am not personally qualified in Network+ but everybody I know that is says its a brilliant first step.

2 Spice ups
8

I’d start with Network + then move on to CCENT. That will give you great foundational knowledge on networking.

1 Spice up
9

Good books after passing the CCNA.

Cisco’s CCNA is the gateway to the other Cisco certs, should one choose to go that way. The aforementioned books are for real-world scenarios & information.

For general network knowledge, noticing Coursera has a course starting today—

2 Spice ups
10

Professor Messer also has a ton of free instructional videos applicable to current CompTIA Network+ Curriculum. They are very thorough in covering the material and do a good job of hitting every topic covered in the testing. Network+, as stated by several others above, covers all of the basics and gives you a good foundation to move forward.

9 Spice ups
11

Michael - Not sure what your networking background is, but there are a ton of great free online courses. If you’re looking for a bootcamp-type training then I’d probably go for Net+, but if you have some time, I’d consider a class offered by Edx, Coursera, Venturelab, etc. For instance, here’s one that just started last week: https://class.coursera.org/comnetworks-002

2 Spice ups
12

Like others have mentioned, EBay is where I got my switches and routers for my home lab. Probably spent around $200-$250 for 3 switches, 3 routers, 3 WIC cards, and serial cables for connecting them. Nothing beats hands on experience imo. Network+ is the more logical route to go cert-wise if you are a beginner, but when/if you move on to Cisco certs, CBTNuggets offer tons of videos that break down CCNA material in a very easy to understand way. I signed up this past month to touch up on some of the CCENT material that has drifted to the back of my mind from when I was in college. Jeremy Cioara instructs the series, and does a great job doing it. I feel pretty confident that I will pass the exam when I sit for it in August. Good luck!

13

I started out with CCNA to learn networking and I gotta say between subnetting and the IOS Reference Model, it seemed like quite the information overload to start out with. That was just the beginning.

I don’t know how Network+ compares but if it’s easier to grasp as others seem to indicate, I’d say give that a shot first. The book is like $30 on Amazon.

1 Spice up
14

Another thing to consider, if you have the money and do well in a classroom environment, see if a local community/state/technical college has a class you can take on the subject. I took a class geared to Net+ as part of my AS degree. And to second Will224 above, my teacher told me about Professor Messer, helped clarify some of the subject matter at 2am when I didn’t want to wait for the teacher to wake up and answer my question. :slight_smile:

15

HA! I love a good networking pun.

But seriously, the best/quickest way to learn is simply by doing. If at all possible, try to find an entry level job in networking and someone to help mentor you. It is really hard to retain networking knowledge without using it. Lower level certs, like network+ and CCENT probably won’t really help you get a networking job. CCNA should help you get in the door and allow you to continue with your CCNP, then you will have some opportunities to work on some great networks.

Learning networking without being able to see the practical application in an enterprise or ISP would be like learning to cook without having been in a kitchen. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but it makes learning so much easier when you can see why and how things are done in the real world.

16

Net+ and CCNA

17

I would start with CCNA course, it explains a lot about networking and concepts. You will not learn just about Cisco, but about networks in general and its protocols. I would recommend this:

http://www.amazon.com/Routing-Switching-200-120-Official-Library/dp/1587143879/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1372703376&sr=8-4&keywords=ccna

There are two books for ICND1 and ICND2 exams. If you complete ICND1 - you will get CCENT, and CCNA after passing ICND2. I would recommend going 2 exam path if you are new to networking. You can always get CCNA by passing 1 composite exam.

18

If you can find a router/switch emulator such as Cisco’s PacketTracer program and a networking textbook that would be a great way to get some virtual hands on experience. That’s how I learned to use Access Points. I kept using the ? command to list commands I could use and drilled down all of them until I had a good handle on things. Tinkering is your friend… until you break it.

1 Spice up
19

Groupon has this $99 deal for cisco training it may be worth checking in to

20

definitely CCNA for a starting point. i did mine on Cisco Netacad. very well designed course. half online and half in the lab.

also i agree with a couple posts above. if your new to tech field definitely take the CompTIA/A+ courses.