When studying for your Cisco CCNA, CCNP, or CCIE exam, you've got a powerful online weapon at your disposal. It's Cisco Connection Documentation, found at www.cisco.com/univercd. This site contains product, code, and protocol documentation for all Cisco products.
Many exam candidates really don't start using this powerful tool until they're studying for their more advanced exams. However, it's important for CCNAs, CCNPs, and candidates for these certifications to learn their way around this site. It comes in handy for finding default values that Cisco really enjoys asking about on exams, and the protocol documentation found there can help you study as well.
The site can be a little overwhelming for newcomers, but it's actually easy to navigate. On the site's homepage, you're presented with a list of products and several drop-down menus. To get started, I suggest you choose Cisco IOS Software? in the top-right drop-down menu, and select a code version. 12.2 is a good one to start with. From there, select the IOS Release 12.2 Configuration Guide and Command References.
You're then presented with a list of technologies, and each has a Configuration Guide and a Command Reference. If you're studying Interior Gateway Protocols at this point (such as OSPF, RIP, and EIGRP), select -IP Configuration Guide and then -IP Routing Protocols-?.
You then have the official Cisco documentation on how to configure RIP, IGRP, OSPF, EIGRP, ISIS, and BGP. Reading this documentation is invaluable. Many study guides skip the details to give you an overview of the protocol. This documentation doesn't skip anything. The documentation shows how and when to use any command for that protocol. There are also real-world examples and notes on when to use each command. I've always learned something new when reading the online Cisco documentation.
You can then back out and go through the same steps for the Command Reference. For those studying for Cisco exams, this section will quickly answer any question you have about a command's syntax or default values. Instead of trying to remember which book you saw a value in, just zoom out to this site and you'll have your answer in seconds. Real-world examples of command usage are prevalent as well.
As with anything, the more you use the online Cisco documentation, the better you get at it. The Configuration Guide for the various Cisco switches give you a great picture of how switches work. I highly recommend reading at least one of their switches' config guides.
Beyond any exam value the online Cisco documentation gives you, it serves another valuable purpose. The more you use it now, and the more comfortable you get with it, the better you'll be with it when the day comes that you need it on the job. And trust me - that day will come!
Chris Bryant, CCIE (TM) #12933, has been active in the Cisco certification community for years. He has written several books that have helped CCNA candidates around the world achieve the coveted CCNA certification, including several concentrating on binary math conversions and subnetting questions that the average CCNA candidate will need to answer on their CCNA exams.
He is the owner of The Bryant Advantage (http://www.thebryantadvantage.com) where he teaches affordable world-class CCNA courses via the Internet, and sells his popular Cisco certification books. He???s proud to have helped CCNA candidates around the world achieve their career goals. Mr. Bryant???s books and courses are sold on his site, on eBay, and on several other major Cisco certification sites.
rental limo Atlanta .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareIf you ask most people what frustrates them most about... Read More
In my humble opinion nothing makes a long trip easier... Read More
What is a Refurbished Computer?Refurbished Computers. Remanufactured Computers. Reconditioned Computers.... Read More
Get started creating web pages using text files and HTML... Read More
Flow Text Around a GraphicQuestion: I have inserted a photo... Read More
Spyware is the software that collects information about your online... Read More
The basic language of the internet is html. If you... Read More
Unless you place your faith in internal search engine software... Read More
Most people think that all you have to do to... Read More
In the 1950's and 1960's Polaroid's instant cameras were all... Read More
Microsoft Certifications are one of the most widely acclaimed, pursued,... Read More
This tip is on sharing files and folders on a... Read More
BIOS - Basic Input Output SystemThe central processing unit of... Read More
One of the most common questions computer users ask is,... Read More
File permissions are one of the strengths that the Unix... Read More
While most small businesses really do need to find a... Read More
Heading off on vacation soon?Then perhaps you're tempted to take... Read More
Good Morning Mr. Sampson. Please type in you Personal Identification... Read More
Buying a receiver is one of the most important decisions... Read More
The best way to get the gaming computer that you... Read More
Are you thinking of buying an Apple iPod? Or have... Read More
If you use a computer, you need to know more... Read More
I have a love-hate relationship with my computer.In fact, often... Read More
Having two operating systems is not as difficult as many... Read More
Yes, it's true. You may have inadvertently invited a spy... Read More
Bedford Park taxi to Midway ..It seems like fast never quite rates fast enough.No matter... Read More
The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Certification is meant for... Read More
Computers are available in different shapes, sizes and weights, due... Read More
The following practice, if done regularly, may help you to... Read More
I have always been interested in computers, but in the... Read More
MMC and SDFlash memory is available in so many formats... Read More
A friend told me: "My computer startup seems to be... Read More
Step 1:Open WinRAR and browse to the folder with your... Read More
Are you frustrated with your PC?Is it feeling sluggish or... Read More
Microsoft Certifications are one of the most widely acclaimed, pursued,... Read More
This is not your typical lost data story. I was... Read More
I'm eighty-one years old and I bought my first computer... Read More
Your first step in removing dangerous infections from your computer... Read More
Flow Text Around a GraphicQuestion: I have inserted a photo... Read More
The basic language of the internet is html. If you... Read More
Perhaps not yet, but the handwriting might be on the... Read More
Spyware is the software that collects information about your online... Read More
When I first started studying for my CCNP, some of... Read More
Stop Getting LostOne of the greatest uses for a pocket... Read More
Has This Ever Happened To You? OK.. it's Friday night,... Read More
There are plenty of articles out there about how to... Read More
World War II - Germany decided to attack Poland. Poland... Read More
Surf the 'Net for about 10 minutes and chances rate... Read More
With a little tweaking and with proper tools, you can... Read More
If you utilize a computer at home or work it... Read More
Personal Technology |