CCNA 640-802

I’m a hardcore network guy, with apparently very few skills.

Till today, I’ve never failed a Cisco Certification test. In the past I’ve certfied as a Cisco CCNA, CCDA and CCNP. I passed my Network+ ions ago. In December, I decided I was ready to recertify the skillsets I have previously certified on, and to learn the new ones in the CCNA. I failed. I got a 762/1000, where a passing score is a 825/1000. I feel ridiculous. Why?

I’m in charge of a lot of Cisco equipment. I’ve implemented LARGE layer 3 routed networks that use OSPF, EIGRP, VTP and other INSERT YOUR FAVORITE ACRONYMS HERE. I’m even getting good with MPLS…. I’ve done 64kb PPP links in to “outerspace” for international datacenters (to satellites, really.). If the technology is on the CCNA test I’ve implemented it. The company I work for now has a large ONS 15454 network, with stacked 3750’s as layer 3 routers on the other end. I manage a 6509 running OSPF, EIGRP, and EBGP.

I didn’t get asked one “What is the default administrative distance for EIGRP, IBGP, EBGP, etc?” I got a bunch of router simulation and questions that made me think ”Well that just depends….” I think I confuse myself MORE by trying to look at the bigger picture sometimes. I continuously thought “They just aren’t providing enough information for this scenario.”
So two things happened in my test, 1, I received an odd topology simulator, which I was dragging and dropping crossover cables, routers, and switches on to. I thought I had it write but my subnet math wasn’t adding up, and the devices weren’t pinging. I ended up spending way too much time on this question, in my mind I think I was solving a real business problem and I had to make it work. This was a BIG mistake. I was actually answering a question and I got most of it right, like setting passwords on the VTY, Console, and password, getting ethernet and serial links. The selecting of IP’s, etc was marking me down in the ip addressing and enterprise wan management sections only.. Shoulda skipped them so I had time to get others right… and 2…. I started getting frustrated. Oh actually there is a third thing that I remember distinctly, I selected a radio button, and when I pressed next, the one below it was selected, and on the 640-802 you can’t go back.

Btw, Cisco, when you wants a privileged password entered in your router sim does the 640-802 want an enable secret or enable password? Assholes. I’m assuming ‘enable password’ after reading much of your site. If I enter both am I wrong? Besides, you never asked me about radius, tacacs, or login local, which are all much better ways then having an obscure password all users use, and with them you can use dynamic access lists, which are hella cool.

Also other potential test takers need to note that the service password-encryption feature encrypts all passwords on the router, even enable password…

I remember my first CCNA it tested on acute and precise skills: Take this ip 148.79.1.92, and this ip 148.79.2.240 both with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.248 (or it would state the CIDR.) Can they talk? and then the next question would be, What is the network mask, usable addresses, and broadcast address for each… You’d check boxes and provide the right information.

Apparently some assholes used to screen cap these answers and Cisco has decided you now need to drag and drop straight-through cables, crossover cables, serial cables, on to a topology. After that, address the network. Ping end to end, and here’s a curveball here and there. That’s fine, I think it makes for less paper certified weenies, BUT, 52 questions quickly turns in to 100+ actual “tests,” and really, I just don’t think in this manner.
The 640-802 tests the same skills. Just in a touch feely way. Instead of bluntly asking this. They throw four or five addresses up there in a box, and have you drag drop them to interfaces until you have the right answer. The first thing I should have done is calculate network address, and broadcast for each of the right answers and I would have saved time. But I didn’t know what they were really asking… Damned visualists, I’m kinesthetic leave me the f*** alone.

Oh, and CSI I very much appreciate my paystubs, and I know you have a solid network, but VUE TESTS ARE DREADFULLY SLOW. Is this VUE or you? I’ve read online you should take these CCNA exams at prometric testing centers so router simulations aren’t so slow..

I’m going to be in a cave studying. Nothing annoys me more then not being *REALLY REALLY REALLY RIDCULOUSLY GREAT* when it comes to networking.