What is thr Best for CCNP?

Question

What is the best for CCNP.. Meaning is it a good idea to setup a home lab... or go to classes... or study on router simulators...

Answer 1

If you have the means to do so, absolutely set up a home lab or set aside a couple routers and switches at work for example. For CCNP you don't necessarily need the latest and greatest equipment, like ISR routers with the newest 12.4 IOS code, but you could use some older 2600 series routers and 2950 series switches for example and still be able to do most of the labs in the Cisco Press study guides. Even if you can only come up with one router and one switch, at least you could do basic configuration practice.

Note that the exams are changing next week for all four required exams for CCNP. BSCI is going from exam # 801 to 901. BCMSN is going from 811 to 812. BCRAN is going from 821 to 825 and is now called ISCW. CIT is going from 831 to 845 and is now called ONT. If you want to combine routing/switching together in one exam, the composite exam # is changing from 891 to 892.

I suggest reading through the 4 associated Cisco Press books for exah exam, they cover all the material, in depth, with good labs. See the 2nd link below and the section "Which book is right for me?" to decide.

Also check out http://routersimulator.certexams.com/ as well.

Also check out the Boson NetSim CCNP tool here:
http://www.boson.com/Product/CIS-NS-CCNP-01.html

Answer 2

well when i did ccna i had a mixture of all three i know ccnp is alot more difficult but from what i learned its alot of theory work so your own lab would be advantageous so you can mess around with it as much as possible but still use ciscos packet tracer for the basic etc