CCNA Datacenter first test next week. Whos got some tips to share

[Langly]

Finally getting back into networking world again after playing get tons of storage certs for my current gig. I'm in a position I'll be doing a ton more VMware and Cisco work again which I'm excited about.

Sitting the 640-911 CCNA DC next week. I have my CCNA R+S but  it expires in Sept and I've been in the storage world since.

Just finished Odom and Hintz's book. I'm going to be labbing out at home and cramming the different syntax and features differences from NXOS and IOS. I'm also going to be practicing fast subnetting again as well as keep reviewing my IPV6 Local, Global items.

I also have the Bosom practice test that came with the books I'll be going through.

Anyone have any helpful pointers of something I should go study harder? Any places you've purchased lab time through to practice on a Nexus box? I don't have any access to a Nexus box or MDS to play with right now, just have my pile of IOS routers and switches.

As always (and I wish this could go unstated but I've had people PM me to try to sell me that crap), no brain dumps please. Point of certs is to show what you know and to help you learn and grow in your career. Cheaters ruin the value of certs for the rest of us that take the time to learn and grow. Been studying off and on for 6 months

[deanwebb]

What, you're not going to lab on your employer's production network? 

[Langly]

I'd love to lab on my employers equipment . But yeah we all know thats a no go. I'm checking if some of my partners may have a lab I can use for free.

I did find some good information. Apparently Lammle and Odom's books miss some key portions of the test and even fails to mention them completely depending on the book. Theres a blog post that has a really good study guide and links to the Cisco learning network forums for this test. Always check the test blueprint out to make sure you know the topics .


http://jensd.be/665/network/how-to-prepare-for-cicso-ccna-data-center-640-911-dcicn

[wintermute000]

I've heard its a brutal exam and has a ton of legacy technology questions. And like all the specialties, the CCNA level cert and material is kinda useless in real life, the real 'meat' starts at the P level, but its an unavoidable roadblock if you want to get to CCNP level. Good luck.

[Dieselboy]

The knowledge you gain from real-world, hands-on "labbing" is invaluable. I'm not saying go and start mucking about with your company network, but if you can get in there, hunt around, run commands and may be set stuff up in an non-intrusive way then this will help ingrain that knowledge into your head.

PS - you can spot exam cheats pretty easily. They're the ones who are CCIE and don't know how to do a basic static NAT in IOS. Unfortunately, the emplyers still seem to employ these people and let them make it through past probation.

[icecream-guy]

Unfortunately, the employers still seem to employ these people and let them make it through past probation.

Those are the VAR's, they're just hiring letters, so the can get higher partner status, and steeper discounts, so they can make more money, and use some of that to pay the letters salary.  money in their pocket = i don't care

[Langly]

I'm just doing the CCNA DC to recert my R+S since I don't have time to study for a CCNP test. I'm actually going to start on the CCNP DC next.

I've done a bit on nexus but its been a few years since I did it daily, just rusty and gotta shake off those cobwebs.

I'll let you guys know how 640-911 goes! Hopefully I don't get too tripped up, I'm not a very good test taker but I feel I know the material OK. Should be testing in the next week

[icecream-guy]

oldie but a goodie

http://www.networking-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=9249

[deanwebb]

oldie but a goodie

http://www.networking-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=9249

Until it ends in a pair of gravedig spams...

[Langly]

Test scheduled next week Tuesday. Glad I started studying the hardware and licensing items because I probably would fail if I didn't see that addition to the blueprint.

Quizlet has been fantastic to make my own flash cards and tests to study. I'll update on how I do!

[deanwebb]

Best of luck!

[NetworkGroover]

You don't want my advice.

[Langly]

Took the test twice since last I posted. Failed with an 800 the second time.

This is the first time I've gone to open a case to contest the results with Cisco. Multiple items on the test that are not in the blueprint, official study guide books, Lammles book or even mentioned in the videos on the Cisco learning center. The test itself is disappointing as a test. A test should not be written for an individual to fail when they've done more than their due diligence in researching off the blueprint and official study material. Quiz me on the material and I can tell you what you need to know.

Seriously this 640-911 was so poorly outlined, written and study materials created that I'm tempted to not take any further Cisco exams. If paying $250 per test to be setup for a fail is the new norm, then they can die in a fire. /rant off

CCENT and CCNA R+S were great tests to study for and learn the material. And surprise the material in the test was properly outlined and put in the study guides!

Can't win them all, thank goodness I can write these test fees off on my taxes.

[deanwebb]

My take: Cisco will say that all the material in the book will be tested, but not all of the test is material in the book.

Translation: take the class for this test and you get all your answers after you pay your money.

[Langly]

AKA Here Pay us oodles of money for this class so we can give you the test answers directly .

Company I work for right now does the same thing but their tests are just super poorly written in general (and you can't go really indepth on the topics so they do tests off the individual products)