Of the preparation guides available for the Cisco Certified Design Associate exam (640-441), CCDA: Cisco Certified Design Associate Study Guide comes out on top. Authors Todd Lammle and Donald Porter clearly explain what you need to know, both to pass the exam and to prove yourself a competent network technician once on the job. Some of the material that appears in these pages--a table listing various Cisco router product lines, their capabilities, and suitable applications for them, to cite one example--makes great reading, and will prove useful long after the exam is over.

The authors' presentation style uses text to great effect, explaining potentially confusing topics with clear, fact-rich prose that rewards close attention from the reader. There are plenty of helpful conceptual diagrams (illustrating network segmentation with a bridge, for example) and flow charts (a good one illustrates packet-switching logic) as well.

It's sometimes possible to forget that this is an exam preparation aid, but realistic problems and multiple-choice review questions bring readers back to the task at hand. Elaborate solutions to the problems and quick answers to the review questions appear in the back of this book (along with an excellent, extensive glossary), but the answer key would be more helpful if it included brief discussions explaining the reasoning behind the correct answers. --David Wall

Topics covered: All proscribed elements of the CCDA exam (640-441), including the Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) reference model, Ethernet, network topologies, network protocols, routing, bridging, switching, and the fundamentals of Cisco hardware and software products.


Book Description
Get ready for the new CCDA exam with the updated CCDA: Cisco Certified Design Associate Study Guide, 2nd Edition. Organized for optimal learning and retention, this book provides in-depth coverage of all exam objectives along with practical insights drawn from real-world experience. The accompanying CD includes hundreds of challenging review questions, electronic flashcards, and a searchable electronic version of the entire book. Cisco recently "refreshed" the CCDA exam, adding new questions and question formats to the pool, but leaving the previous set of exam objectives intact. The CCDA certification validates a foundation or apprentice knowledge of network design for the small office/home office (SOHO) market.


Card catalog description
"The CCDA: Cisco Certified Design Associate Study Guide is the most affordable, effective way to prepare for the CCDA exam (640-441). Written by Cisco design experts who know what it takes to pass the test, this study guide provides: focused coverage of Cisco network design issues; hands-on labs that enhance and consolidate your knowledge, and more than 250 challenging review questions, in the book and on the CD."--BOOK JACKET. "Authoritative coverage of the key elements and concerns of Cisco network design, including: the OSI reference model; Ethernet; segmentation; TCP/IP; IPX; network topology design; fault tolerance; security; load balancing; Cisco LAN and WAN hardware; network addressing; naming standards; routing and bridging protocols; Cisco IOS software; compression; encryption; queuing; design prototyping; design implementation."--BOOK JACKET.


From the Back Cover
Here’s the book you need to prepare for Cisco’s revised CCDA exam, 640-861. This Study Guide provides: In-depth coverage of every CCDA exam objective Practical information on Cisco design solutions Hundreds of challenging practice questions, in the book and on the CD Leading-edge exam preparation software, including a test engine, electronic flashcards, and simulation software Authoritative coverage of all exam objectives, including: Gathering and evaluating information regarding current and future network requirements Identifying possible opportunities for network performance improvement Evaluating solutions for meeting IP addressing, routing protocol, and network management needs Incorporating equipment and technology within a campus design Applying the Enterprise Composite Network Model Addressing the issues of delivering voice traffic over a data network Evaluating solutions for compliance with SAFE architectureDeveloping implementation, prototype testing, and verification plans Featured on the CD The enclosed CD is packed with vital preparation tools and materials, beginning with the Sybex test engine for the CCDA exam. Loaded with hundreds of practice questions, it lets you test yourself chapter by chapter and review your score by objectives area. You’ll also find electronic flashcards for PCs, Pocket PCs, and Palm handhelds; two bonus exams that will help you prepare for the test; and a fully searchable electronic version of the book.


About the Author
Todd Lammle, CCDA, CCNP, has over 20 years of experience working with various LANs and WANs and has been working on Cisco router networks since 1986. He is CEO and chief scientist of RouterSim, LLC and president of GlobalNet Training, Inc. Todd was voted "Best Study Guide Author" in the CertCities 2002 Readers’ Choice Awards. Andy Barkl, CCDP, has over 18 years of experience in IT. He's the owner of MCT & Associates LLC, a technical training and consulting firm in Phoenix. He is an online editor and regular contributor for MCPMag.com, TCPMag.com, and CertCities.com.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Here￯﾿ﾽs the book you need to prepare for Cisco￯﾿ﾽs revised CCDA exam, 640-861. This Study Guide provides:

In-depth coverage of every CCDA exam objective
Practical information on Cisco design solutions
Hundreds of challenging practice questions, in the book and on the CD
Leading-edge exam preparation software, including a test engine, electronic flashcards, and simulation software

Authoritative coverage of all exam objectives, including:
Gathering and evaluating information regarding current and future network requirements
Identifying possible opportunities for network performance improvement
Evaluating solutions for meeting IP addressing, routing protocol, and network management needs
Incorporating equipment and technology within a campus design
Applying the Enterprise Composite Network Model
Addressing the issues of delivering voice traffic over a data network
Evaluating solutions for compliance with SAFE architecture
Developing implementation, prototype testing, and verification plans

Featured on the CD
The enclosed CD is packed with vital preparation tools and materials, beginning with the Sybex test engine for the CCDA exam. Loaded with hundreds of practice questions, it lets you test yourself chapter by chapter and review your score by objectives area. You￯﾿ﾽll also find electronic flashcards for PCs, Pocket PCs, and Palm handhelds; two bonus exams that will help you prepare for the test; and a fully searchable electronic version of the book.

About the Author
Todd Lammle, CCDA, CCNP, has over 20 years of experience working with various LANs and WANs and has been working on Cisco router networks since 1986. He is CEO and chief scientist of RouterSim, LLC and president of GlobalNet Training, Inc. Todd was voted "Best Study Guide Author" in the CertCities 2002 Readers￯﾿ﾽ Choice Awards. Andy Barkl, CCDP, has over 18 years of experience in IT. He's the owner of MCT & Associates LLC, a technical training and consulting firm in Phoenix. He is an online editor and regular contributor for MCPMag.com, TCPMag.com, and CertCities.com.

SYNOPSIS