Cisco is one of the largest technology companies on the planet, & like 'Microsoft', is a market-leader. From it's humble inception some 26 years ago, 'Cisco' these days pays in the region of five Billion US Dollars on R & D, & heads the world in networking hardware. Technology from Cisco underpins the entire net. 'Cisco' provide over 2/3rds of the network hardware used around the world right now. For trainees thinking about working in I.T. or 'Telecoms' hardware-networking, Cisco know-how is vital. The business also has developed commercially in newer technologies like Voice Over IP (or VOIP), 'Security' and Wireless Data transfer.

In essence, the backbone of 'Cisco' technological systems are the company's routers, data-switches & controllers. Data can move around a network because of these Cisco devices. Networking hardware has it's own set of regulations and principles. The 'hardware' needs to be set-up & maintained properly. Business networks have got to run smoothly & often need to expand, so ongoing maintenance programs mean specialists must trouble-shoot, reconfigure and re-program regularly. 'Cisco' is at the heart of all present day workplace communications (corporate & military) as we see the global move towards complete voice and information systems-integration.

The 2 exams are 640/802, & they can be broken down as follows - The 'ICND1' (640-822), & the 'ICND2' (640/816). 'ICND' represents Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices, however the 'ICND1' exam is also called 'CCENT' ('Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician'). This may seem highly confusing, yet in reality the accreditation is best tackled as a blended examination - the 'CCNA' 640/802. A very good career training track for Cisco entrants would be a combined program starting with CompTIA A+ , followed by 'Comptia' 'Network+' & then the rather more specialised Cisco CCNA. A bundled training package of this nature should take approximately twelve months to finish if studying part time. 'Technical' I.T. training courses should provide you with sound professional support. You should opt for one with round-the clock, immediate response service. The correct learning materials are crucial - look for inter-active multi-media disc-based packages, & an approved & effective examination preparation system.

One area that can be often overlooked with preparing for 'Cisco' exams is how to simulate the 'Cisco' environment. If you are rehearsing for a Microsoft examination, you can assemble a few old PCs and have a proper networked system to play with. To re-create a Cisco environment though would actually be extremely expensive, as you would really have to assemble a large number of computers, with commercial technologies & enterprise-class routers and hardware. Cisco-authorised 'visualisers' and network simulation programs are really the one and only sensible solution. These supply an on screen software system, that lets you effectively build large-scale virtual-networks & test them, right down to particular router/data-switch models, in addition to having the ability to interrogate the packets of data as they navigate the network. Any self paced home based Cisco training program must include one of these outstanding pieces of software. One of the highest quality software systems to choose from is the RouterSim CCNA Network Visualiser. As a result of testing this and quite a few others, we are happy to incorporate it in our Cisco training paths.

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