CCNP BCMSN Exam Certification Guide (CCNP Self-Study, 642-811), Second Edition

The official self-study test preparation guide for the Cisco CCNP BCMSN exam 642-811

This best-selling study guide helps you master all the topics on the new CCNP BCMSN exam, including:Switch operation and configurationVLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP)Aggregating Switch LinksSpanning Tree Protocol (STP)Multilayer switchingRouter redundancy and load balancingMulticastingQuality of service (QoS)IP telephonySecuring switch accessSwitch security with virtual LANs (VLANs)

CCNP BCMSN Exam Certification Guide is a best-of-breed Cisco exam study guide that has been completely updated to focus specifically on the objectives for the new CCNP BCMSN exam. Respected author David Hucaby shares preparation hints and tips, helping you identify areas of weakness and improve both your conceptual and hands-on knowledge. This new edition is organized in a modular fashion, segmenting larger chapters into smaller, more easily digestible components. Material is presented in a concise manner, focusing on increasing your understanding and retention of exam topics.

CCNP BCMSN Exam Certification Guide presents you with an organized test preparation routine through the use of proven series elements and techniques. `Do I Know This Already?` quizzes open each chapter and allow you to decide how much time you need to spend on each section. Chapter subject lists make referencing easy and Foundation Summary tables give you a quick refresher whenever you need it. Challenging chapter-ending review questions help you assess your knowledge and reinforce key concepts. Scenario-based exercises help you think about exam objectives in real-world situations, thus increasing recall during exam time. The companion CD-ROM contains a powerful new testing engine that allows you to focus on individual topic areas or take complete, timed exams. The assessment engine also tracks your performance and provides feedback on a module-by-module basis, providing question-by-question remediation to the text and laying out a complete study plan for review.

Well-regarded for its level of detail, assessment features, and challenging review questions and exercises, this book helps you master the concepts and techniques that will enable you to succeed on the exam the first time.

CCNP BCMSN Exam Certification Guide is part of a recommended study program from Cisco Systems that includes simulation and hands-on training from authorized Cisco Learning Partners and self-study products from Cisco Press.It also contains the full text in electronic format.

This volume is part of the Exam Certification Guide Series from Cisco Press. Books in this series provide officially developed exam preparation materials that offer assessment, review, and practice to help Cisco Career Certification candidates identify weaknesses, concentrate their study efforts, and enhance their confidence as exam day nears.

User review
Good, easy to understand, but a complementary book.
I passed BCMSN exam today with the help of this book. This is a good guide for people who has a basic knowledge of switching technics, but for certification purposes, it is missing some topics, other topics are incomplete and let you with doubt.

For example, if you read the multicast chapter of the Sybex book, and compare, you will notice the missing of several important things in CiscoPress book. This applies for Multilayer Switching (MLS) too. In case of RPR (Router Processor Redundacy), it simply doesn't cover.

I also noticed that the questions of the CD-ROM is very easy. Don't waste your time training with this CD-ROM, just move to Testking or Crammater, so you will get ready.

Feel free to contact me in case of sugestions for the exam.

User review
Missing tons of information
DO NOT rely on this book to pass the exam. It lightly touches most of the important subjects, but goes nowhere near deep enough to be useful. I agree is it better written that the BCSI book, but it needs to be much more thourough in its handling of the subject matter. Very poor considering its Cisco.

User review
Vast improvement over 2nd edition
Although the BCMSN test is the easiest in the CCNP, this book is worth the upgrade. One of the CCNP books you can actually read.

Pros: Text makes sense to people with just CCNA switching experience. Good coverage of exam topics.
Cons: Questions aren't that good. Not that good for a reference book after exam.


User review
Good exam preparation
I passed the BCMSN yesterday with the help of this book. To my surprise, I found this book to be much better written than the Claire Gogh's BSCI book. The topics were clear and understandable. One could benefit from other materials as well but, if time and money are limited, this would be the book I recommend.

I do not recommend the Sybex book. The author places an undue importance on the old CatOS set commands which are NOT on the test. Unless you are very good at remembering commands, you don't need the extra set commands confusing you. Nevertheless, the Sybex book is a great reference, especially if one has to work on one of these old switches; I recommend keeping a copy around.

Do the practice tests on the CD. Study the questions you get wrong. You will be glad you did.

Despite the usefulness of the practice tests, it really looks like it was thrown together. There are a couple of questions that are flat out broken. (For example, one fails to list the answer making it impossible to get right) The link to report errors in the text is well hidden. Also, the command summaries at the end of the chapter would have been much better if they showed the commands in an actual working configuration, letting the user know at what level the commands are to be entered (exec, interface, ect) and giving good examples of working configurations.

User review
Could be a lot better
The reason I am giving one star to this book is because a lot of people have given 5 stars to it. Personally I would give it about 2 and a half stars.

The main reasons for my low rating are:
- The book jumps in to configuration commands without giving the proper links. The information is too disjointed. Too few actual configuration examples. The book seems littered with config commands without talking much about what info is shown by the specific show commands. How to use the commands in troubleshooting scenarios et al.

- The way in which the information is presented could have been better. Concepts seem to have been explained in a half hearted manner. And per point one, the author jumps directly to config commands.

+ The book does a good job at covering the exam. If you wanna clear the exam, this book is for you. However, if you wanna understand stuff and then actually clear the exam, be prepared to go to other sources. One excellent reference source is the CCIE Cisco LAN switching book. I ended up reading about 18 chapters (out of 20) from this book, and I only came to know about the CCIE book later on. I got it and yes it was worth every cent. Any concept (except QoS) that I needed clarification was present in the CCIE book.