Todd Lammle Bonus Material and Labs Be sure to check www.lammle.com/ccna for directions on how to download all the latest bonus material created specifically to help you study for your ICND2 and CCNA Routing and Switching exams.
Full and demo versions of the CCNA and other Todd Lammle videos can be found at www.lammle.com/ccna.
How to Use This Book
If you want a solid foundation for the serious effort of preparing for the Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices 2 (ICND2) 200-105 exam, then look no further. I've spent hundreds of hours putting together this book with the sole intention of helping you to pass the ICND2 exam as well as really learn how to correctly configure Cisco routers and switches!
This book is loaded with valuable information, and you will get the most out of your study time if you understand why the book is organized the way it is.
So to maximize your benefit from this book, I recommend the following study method:
1. Take the assessment test that's provided at the end of this introduction. (The answers are at the end of the test.) It's okay if you don't know any of the answers; that's why you bought this book! Carefully read over the explanations for any question you get wrong and note the chapters in which the material relevant to them is covered. This information should help you plan your study strategy.
2. Study each chapter carefully, making sure you fully understand the information and the test objectives listed at the beginning of each one. Pay extra-close attention to any chapter that includes material covered in questions you missed.
3. Complete the written labs at the end of each chapter. (Answers to these appear in Appendix A.) Do not skip these written exercises because they directly relate to the ICND2 exam and what you must glean from the chapters in which they appear. Do not just skim these labs! Make sure you completely understand the reason for each correct answer.
4. Complete all hands-on labs in each chapter, referring to the text of the chapter so that you understand the reason for each step you take. Try to get your hands on some real equipment, but if you don't have Cisco equipment available, try the LammleSim IOS version, which you can use for the hands-on labs found only in this book. These labs will equip you with everything you need for all your Cisco certification goals.
5. Answer all of the review questions related to each chapter. (The answers appear in Appendix B.) Note the questions that confuse you, and study the topics they cover again, until the concepts are crystal clear. And again – do not just skim these questions! Make sure you fully comprehend the reason for each correct answer. Remember that these will not be the exact questions you will find on the exam, but they're written to help you understand the chapter material and ultimately pass the exam!
6. Try your hand at the practice questions that are exclusive to this book. The questions can be found only at www.wiley.com/go/sybextestprep. And be sure to check out www.lammle.com/ccna for the most up-to-date Cisco exam prep questions, videos, Todd Lammle boot camps, and more.
7. Test yourself using all the flashcards, which are also found on the download link. These are brand-new and updated flashcards to help you prepare for the ICND2 exam and a wonderful study tool!
To learn every bit of the material covered in this book, you'll have to apply yourself regularly, and with discipline. Try to set aside the same time period every day to study, and select a comfortable and quiet place to do so. I'm confident that if you work hard, you'll be surprised at how quickly you learn this material!
If you follow these steps and really study —doing hands-on labs every single day in addition to using the review questions, the practice exams, the Todd Lammle video sections, and the electronic fl ashcards as well as all the written labs – it would actually be hard to fail the ICND2 exam. But understand that studying for the ICND2 exam is a lot like getting in shape – if you do not go to the gym every day, it's not going to happen!
Where Do You Take the Exams?
You may take the ICND2 or any Cisco exam at any of the Pearson VUE authorized testing centers. For information, check www.vue.com or call 877-404-EXAM (3926).
To register for a Cisco exam, follow these steps:
1. Determine the number of the exam you want to take. (The ICND2 exam number is 200-105.)
2. Register with the nearest Pearson VUE testing center. At this point, you will be asked to pay in advance for the exam. At the time of this writing, the exam is $150 and must be taken within one year of payment. You can schedule exams up to six weeks in advance or as late as the day you want to take it.but if you fail a Cisco exam, you must wait five days before you will be allowed to retake it. If something comes up and you need to cancel or reschedule your exam appointment, contact Pearson VUE at least 24 hours in advance.
3. When you schedule the exam, you'll get instructions regarding all appointment and cancellation procedures, the ID requirements, and information about the testing-center location.
Tips for Taking Your ICND2 Exam
The ICND2 exam contains about 50 questions and must be completed in 90 minutes or less. This information can change per exam. You must get a score of about 85 percent to pass this exam, but again, each exam can be different.
Many questions on the exam have answer choices that at first glance look identical. especially the syntax questions! So remember to read through the choices carefully because close just doesn't cut it. If you get commands in the wrong order or forget one measly character, you'll get the question wrong. So, to practice, do the hands-on exercises at the end of this book's chapters over and over again until they feel natural to you.
Also, never forget that the right answer is the Cisco answer. In many cases, more than one appropriate answer is presented, but the correct answer is the one that Cisco recommends. On the exam, you will always be told to pick one, two, or three options, never "choose all that apply." The ICND2 exam may include the following test formats:
■ Multiple-choice single answer
■ Multiple-choice multiple answer
■ Drag-and-drop
■ Router simulations
Cisco proctored exams will not show the steps to follow in completing a router interface configuration, but they do allow partial command responses. For example, show run or sho running or sh running-config would be acceptable.
Here are some general tips for exam success:
■ Arrive early at the exam center so you can relax and review your study materials.
■ Read the questions carefully. Don't jump to conclusions. Make sure you're clear about exactly what each question asks. "Read twice, answer once," is what I always tell my students.
■ When answering multiple-choice questions that you're not sure about, use the process of elimination to get rid of the obviously incorrect answers first. Doing this greatly improves your odds if you need to make an educated guess.
■ You can no longer move forward and backward through the Cisco exams, so double-check your answer before clicking Next since you can't change your mind.
After you complete an exam, you'll get immediate, online notification of your pass or fail status, a printed examination score report that indicates your pass or fail status, and your exam results by section. (The test administrator will give you the printed score report.) Test scores are automatically forwarded to Cisco within five working days after you take the test, so you don't need to send