An Overview of exam 640-802 CCNA

In a fast paced environment, being a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) will not only bring you great opportunities for entry level networking jobs in the IT field, but also give you the information that you need in order to do your job competently.

The exam 640-802 is conducted to award the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification to successful candidates. The syllabus for the exam includes a wide range of topics, such as WAN connections, network security implementation, types of network, details of network media, basics of routing and switching, understanding the TCP/IP and OSI models, IP addressing.

It is highly recommended that candidates should develop their skills and knowledge in the following areas prior to attempting 640-802 exam:

Thorough understanding of the purposes and functions of different network devices;

Practical knowledge of components required for specific networks;

Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) and TCP/IP models along with their protocols in a network;

Understanding of networking and web applications;

Interpretation of network diagrams;

Identifying and troubleshooting common problems in networks;

Knowledge of network segmentation and traffic management;

Verification of network status and usage of basic utilities like ping, telnet, SSH, and ipconfig;

Routing concepts and operation of routers; CLI basics;

Good knowledge of VLANs, VTP, RSTP, VLSM, LAN, WAN to name a few.

It is recommended that candidate must have at least around one year experience, in the networking field before he attempt to take the CCNA certification test. This experience will not only allow you to learn more about the hardware involved, but it will also allow you to learn about the different information that you will need to know on the test.

The process of getting the CCNA Certification test is complex, but it is manageable and many people are doing it every year. However confident you may be, it is not possible for you to master the entire syllabus without proper guidance.

The following practice exam questions are for the Cisco CCNA 640-802 exam and will definitely help you towards your certification efforts.

Q1. Which statement about MAC addresses is correct?
a. The MAC address can never be changed.
b. A MAC address is represented by binary digits that are organized in pairs.
c. A MAC address is a number in hexadecimal format that is physically located on the NIC.
d. It is not necessary for a device to have a unique MAC address to participate in the network

Q2. Which of the following is an IOS command that can be used to increase the security of unused switch ports?
a. Port security
b. Mac-secure
c. Firewall
d. Shutdown

Q3. IP addresses are represented by ?
a. 16-bit decimal numbers
b. 32-bit binary numbers
c. 8 sets of 4-bit decimal numbers
d. 8-bit binary numbers

Q4. What does the command IP route 192.168.50.0, 255.255.255.0, 10.2.1.3 specify?
a. The router should use network 192.168.50.0 to get to address 10.2.1.3.
b. Both 192.168.50.0 and 10.2.1.3 use a mask of 255.255.255.0.
c. You want the router to trace a route to network 192.168.50.0 via 10.2.1.3.
d. The router should use address 10.2.1.3 to get to devices on network 192.168.50.0.

Q5. Which of the following protocols is an example of an exterior gateway protocol?
a. BGP
b. RIP
c. EIGRP
d. OSPF

Cisco Learning Partner Award Winners

Cisco has recently announced the Fiscal Year 2009 Learning Partner Award Recipients. These were revealed on June 10th, 2009 during the Cisco Partner Summit in Boston . Cisco Learning Partner Award is an initiative to highlight the remarkable efforts in the areas of Excellence in Acceleratrion, Collaboration and Innovation.

Winners in the Excellence in Acceleration Category:
APAC – NIIT, Ltd.
Emerging Markets – Global Knowledge-Synergy
European Markets – ExperTeach GmbH
United States & Canada – World Wide Technology
Worldwide – NIIT, Ltd.

Winners in the Excellence in Collaboration Category:
APAC – Global Knowledge ASIA PTE LTD
Emerging Markets – CTT Corporation
European Markets – Global Knowledge
United States & Canada – Global Knowledge
Worldwide – Global Knowledge

Winners in the Excellence in Innovation Category:
APAC – Dimension Data Learning Solutions
Emerging Markets – NIL Data Communications
European Markets – Fast Lane Institute for Knowledge Transfer
Japan – Fast Lane Institute for Knowledge Transfer
United States & Canada – Sunset Learning Institute
Worldwide – Fast Lane

Winners of Learning Partner of the Year by Theater:
APAC – Training Partners Ltd.
Emerging Markets – Fast Lane Dubai
European Markets – Fast Lane
Japan – Global Knowledge
United States & Canada – New Horizons

And the Worldwide Learning Partner of the Year:
Global Knowledge Training LLC

Congratulations to all winners!

Say No to Brain Dumps

In common parlance, transfer of important information from one person to another on a piece of paper is called a “brain dump”. In IT terminology, copying material from any set of data is referred as “brain dump”.

This is a well renowned term in IT certification industry today. Exactly copied exams or questions in certification exams is called brain dump. There are people who deliberately memorize all the questions which appear in the exams. After they are through with exam, they transfer the questions to other aspirants for a token amount.

Why brain dumps?
IT certification exams are very costly and are high stake exams, most often leading to coveted jobs in the industry. These exams are relatively difficult to crack as well. Approximately 60% of people who are preparing for certification exams, go for brain dumps, because they are relatively cheaper and sometime you can get them completely free on the Internet. These come significantly cheaper than the authorized study material in the form of books and online training courses.

In my opinion, brain dumps are very bad, both for the candidate as well as the industry. They are not useful, if you are aspiring to carve out a real career in IT. Using these dumps shows that you are not being honest towards your career. The questions given in brain dumps are not very helpful, because the pattern of certification exams keep on changing. Also the learning is practically zero. One must understand that only what we have really learnt well will help succeed in our career.

Say no to brain dumps!
Brain dumps devalue the certification itself and even the genuine certification holders loose out because of a few who clear exams just based on their rote learning from dumps.

From my personal experience, I have seen people who used brain dumps for preparation for certification exam and then were eventually stripped off their certification credentials. Oftentimes, the material specified in dumps is obsolete, inadequate & you can’t trust those questions.

People, who are selling brain dumps, don’t care about a student’s future and their career. Their only aim to make money. Students who are not serious about certification and don’t want to work hard, go for brain dumps. Only when they fail do they realize their folly!

Non-Disclosure Agreement

Brain dumps are a clear violation of the certification Non-Disclosure Agreement. Many certification vendors are using Non- disclosure Agreement (NDA) to prevent examinees to go for cheated material. It’s necessary for participant’s to sign the agreement before going for the exam.

Microsoft’s Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and General Terms of Use (the "Exam Agreement") is made and entered into as of the electronic signature date below by and between Microsoft Corporation, ("Microsoft") and the examinee (the "Examinee").

Cisco also maintains a record of participants who sign the Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA). If you are found searching for brain dumps or going for them, you are committing a legal offence.

Bottom Line
The bottom line is that brain dumps hurt everyone, whether you are going for it or not. I suggest that you should not go for brain dumps, rather start studying as we all do in our schools. They are strictly illegal & waste.

There are certain other ways to prepare for certification. There are affordable alternatives such as e-learning, where an aspirant can get all necessary material for preparation. Try out websites such as HyperLessons.com for a very holistic way to prepare for IT Certification exams.

Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) - Specializations Available

CCNP Certification focuses on routing & switching of scalable networks including intranets & campuses. It includes building scalable CISCO networks, securing converged wide area networks. It is used by Cisco certified professionals as a step between CCNA & CCIE. This article goes beyond CCNP (Routers and Switches) to the other specializations in the area of design, voice, internetwork & security. We discuss what is involved in each, the career options and the demand trends for these certifications.

CCDP – It is a professional-level certification designed to reflect advanced knowledge in network design. After you successfully complete CCNA or CCDA certification, you are eligible to give exams CCDP. It is a direct entry into the professional world and a certificate that is recognized by the industry. It is crucial for you to invest your time and money in this certificate, by appearing for the CCDP exam. After you get CCDP certified, you can find jobs in the domains of network design and implementation, or optimization network performance.

CCVP - There is growing demand for CCVP (Cisco certified voice professionals) in the global market to integrate the VoIP (voice over internet protocol) system into the existing networks. To be eligible for CCVP, you must first pass the CCNA certification. VoIP system is integrated into the IP-based networks. CCVP is the worldwide recognized IT certification in IP-based networks.

CCIP - This is for those professionals who want to work, or are working in a service provider organization with competencies in infrastructure IP networking solutions. CCIP certified individuals must have a thorough knowledge & understanding of network technologies in the service provider arena. Demand for CCIP is great in the current scenario, and CCIPs command high salaries as compared to other professionals.

CCSP - It is designed for IT Professionals who are responsible for delivering self-defending networks that are integrated & adopted. CCSP ensures that a network professional should be actively involved in designing and delivering multiple levels of security departments. A CCSP can secure and manage network infrastructure to protect productivity and reduce costs. Either the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) or CCIP (Cisco Certified Internetwork Specialist) are prerequisites for CCSP.

Source: CCDP, CCVP, CCIP, CCSP Jobs

Related to: CCNA

How to prepare for IT Certification exams

Generally speaking, what are the best resources to use when studying for your certification exams? This quick guide to study will help you organize your thoughts and decide what resources to use when preparing. We have considered various factors including your budgetary constraints as well as the amount of time you can devote towards training for IT Certifications.

Case I: You are quite comfortable with the technology in question and you have some finances to spare

Being comfortable with the technology you do not require hand holding class room sessions. You can do really well with online training such as that provided by Hyperlessons.com. This not only has authorized courseware but also provides expert chat sessions to clarify your doubts, virtual labs for hands-on practice as well as practice tests from Brainbench. To get more exam tips from other fellow learners you can supplement your learning by frequenting forums such as Microsoft, Cisco, Sun, Oracle, ProProfs. Top this up with authorized practice tests from MeasureUp (authorized by Microsoft) and you are on strong footing. If online learning is not your cup of tea, go in for O’Reilly and Amazon to purchase books on IT Certifications. Books are relatively cheap and some are specifically geared towards examination preparation. One piece of advice here would be to use authorized courses as these are updated constantly and with these you can never go wrong.

Case II: You are NOT comfortable with the technology

Here the recommendation would be combine some online learning with instructor led classes such as those from NIIT. For students outside India there are other instructor led training options available. Also, there are options such as video lectures offered by players such as Testout. This combination ensures clarity in concepts and helps you succeed with certainty. All supplements help – for example, knowledge gained through forums, mock tests etc.
After learning online or from books depending on your preference it is advisable to keep abreast of exam changes by visiting popular forums for certification preparation, maintained by top experts & certified people, Hyperlessons, Microsoft, Cisco, Sun, Oracle, ProProfs. There are some general forums also like Cert Guard. Several sites offer chat rooms geared towards helping students with their certifications. Visit these chat rooms, Microsoft chat rooms, Hyperlessons, Cisco and Test Out.
Supplement these with authorized mock tests and you are prepared to take on the certification exams!
It is always important to keep abreast with general knowledge on IT Certifications. You can have these on general certification forums where experts and fellow learners share their knowledge on certifications. Handy links to some common ones are here - Cert Cities, ProProfs

Following the steps above with concentration and honesty will ensure that you do well on the D-Day. A general advice – never reply on brain dumps. First and most important, it does not lead to actual skill development and second you can be deceived (more often than not) when questions you have mugged up do not appear.