The Cisco certified Network Associate (CCNA)

Cisco certified Network Associate (CCNA): CCNA credential is the premium certification for professionals who design and develop custom business solutions with Cisco routers and switches. Cisco Certifications focus on both routing and switching, as well as WAN switching solutions in network design and network support, providing you with flexible options for career development. One may advance to CCIE status by first achieving Associate certification in these tracks.

Benefits of CCNA

Today, CCNA has become one of the most sought after network certifications. CCNA can help you to land a better job in networking or to increase the salary in your current job. CCNAs receive the following benefits:

• Industry recognition of your knowledge and proficiency with Cisco products and technologies.
• CCNA logo to enable you to identify your status to colleagues or clients.
• Affiliation with more than 10,000 CCNAs worldwide.

CCNA for Whom
CCNA is for individuals who are interested in building a future in networking domain on Cisco products. Network administrators, technicians, and anyone who needs to configure and support multiprotocol networks and get started with basic Cisco IOS software. CCNA Certification is the prerequisite for any Cisco Certification. If you want to reach a Professional or Expert level in the Cisco Career Certification tracks, Passing CCNA test is the first step.

Eligibility for CCNA
To attend this course you must have a basic knowledge of computer hardware and windows.

CCNA Exam

• The Single Exam Approach: 640-801 CCNA [90 minutes (55-65 questions)]: This exam will test materials from the new Interconnection Cisco Network Devices (ICND) course as well as the new Introduction to Cisco Networking Technologies (INTRO) course. The exam will certify that the successful candidate has important knowledge and skills necessary to select, connect, configure, and troubleshoot the various Cisco networking devices. The exam covers topics on Extending Switched Networks with VLANS, Determining IP Routes, Managing IP traffic with Access Lists, Establishing Point-to-Point connections, and Establishing Frame Relay Connections.
• The Two Exam Approach 640-821 Intro [75 minutes (45-55 questions)] and 640-811 ICND [60 minutes (40-50 questions)]: Intro course including topics on Network Types, Network Media, Switching Fundamentals, TCP/IP, IP Addressing and Routing, WAN Technologies, Operating and Configuring IOS Devices, and Managing Network Environments. The exam will certify that the successful candidate has important knowledge and skills necessary to describe and identify major network and WAN components, along with their function and purpose. Whereas ICND exam will test materials from the new Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices (ICND) course. The exam will certify that the successful candidate has important knowledge and skills necessary to select, connect, configure, and troubleshoot the various Cisco networking devices. The exam covers topics on Extending Switched Networks with VLANS, Determining IP Routes, Managing IP traffic with Access Lists, Establishing Point-to-Point connections, and Establishing Frame Relay Connections.
  CCNA Exam Registration : For CCNA online registration contact Pearson VUE or Prometric
  

CCNA Exam Fee:

Exam cost for single exam approach is $125.00 US whereas it is $200.00 US for the Two Exam approach. Therefore advantage of single exam approach is that

• Only one exam required to become a CCNA and it covers all topics
• More time efficient than taking two exams
• More cost effective than taking two exams.

You should approach towards the two-exam approach only if

• You can afford the expenses associated with the cost of the two exams
• You are new to Cisco technologies and networking basics
  

How to Prepare CCNA
Some of the popular institutes that are associated with preparation of CCNA are;

• Koenig Solutions Pvt. Ltd., 20-A, IInd Floor, Shivaji Marg, Moti Nagar, New Delhi, Postal Code - 110015, (India), Telephone 24 x 7 : +91 98102 64199, Fax: +91 11 25886909, Email: info@koenig-solutions.com
• Ipsolutions, First floor, 308, R.B.S.K. Bole Road, (Opposite A. D'Silva school & Near Dadar Kabutar Khana), Dadar (W), Mumbai 400 028, Maharashtra, India, Tel. 022-65277377 or 022-32550505 Email: info@ipsol.net
• GATES, C-8/A, Kasturchand Mills Cmpd,Senapati Bapat Marg, Dadar (West), Mumbai-400028, India, Voice : +91-22-24367174, +91-22-39571309, Fax : +91-22-24367658, E-mail : sales@gatestraining.com
• EXCEL NETWORK TECHNOLOGIES, 15-B, Sharda Estate, M.Pasta Road,Opp. Shri Sound Studio, Dadar (E), Mumbai-400 014.Phone: 91 022-24166655/ 56/ 77, E-mail: info@excelnet4u.com
• Zoom Technologies, 'ZOOM House', Next to SBIICM, Rd# 12, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad-500 034, Andhra Pradesh, India Phone: +91 40 23745252 (6 Lines), Fax: +91 40 23308802, Sales: sales@zoomgroup.com, Support: support@zoomgroup.com
• Vibrant e-Technologies, Andheri Centre, 201, Rajesh Centre, Above Cafe Alfa, S. V. Road, Andheri (W), Mumbai - 400 058, INDIA, Tel: +91-22- 2628 5066, +91-22- 2628 9781, Fax: +91-22- 2628 9781, Email: mailto:infoandheri@vibrantcomputers.com
• RouterMania Technologies Pvt. Ltd. , Radha Kunj Building, First Floor, Flat No. 1, Aarey Road, Opposite to Anupam Theatre., Goregaon (E), Mumbai 400 063. Tel : 91-22-26863708 / 26863710 / 32537234, Cell: 9820878847, email: sales@routermania.net
• COMPUFIELD, Chinoy Mansion, First Floor, Block # 2, Opposite St. Stephens Church, Warden Road, Mumbai(Bombay) - 400 036. India. Tel: 091-22-23676218, 091-22-23679302, 091-22-23671772 Fax: 091-22-23673104
• IP-GATES, B1 SUJAY, NEAR HDFC BANK, 18 JUNE RD, PANJIM GOA, INDIA, Voice : +91 832 3256060 , E-mail :info@ipgates.com
• NetworkersHOME, 106, DDA Building 1 , District Center, Janak Puri, New Delhi –110058, INDIA , Phone :+919350663315, Email: info@networkershome.com
  

Forums for Preparation of CCNA

• Techexams.net
• How2Pass
• Sadikhov.com
• TcpMag.com
• TechSupportForum
• Routergod Discussion Forum
• Testking Forum