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Rating: 
Summary: Must read prior to taking CCNA exam
Review: Granted I've worked in the telecommunications arena for a little over 20 years, but I had virtually no direct exposure to routers prior to reading this book. Received the book about four months ago. Studied it continuously, taking all chapter tests each weekend, over and over until I could make over 90% on each test. Then took the practice test the same way. There are errors, but none so dramatic that will drive you off course. I also used the Virtual Lab. It's okay to give you basic command experience, but naturally doesn't substitute for real hands-on router experience. I'm lucky to have a router lab that I can use (three 2500's and two 4000's) that made all the difference in the world. After reading the book cover to cover three times and testing as I stated above, the results were gratifying: 924/1000 Great book, but you've really got to continually drill yourself until you feel 100% confident, then go blow the test away. I've already bought Lammle's CCNP books, looking forward to completing the next level.
Rating:
Summary: It worked for me!
Review: I thought that the book was great. I passed the CCNA exam first try. The simulation questions are a bit weak though. The exam questions were much more difficult. The material is well organized. Todd does a great job explaining IP addressing and subnetting! The practice exams were great as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a bad primer, but....
Review: Lammle does an excellent job of explaining complex networking concepts (particularly subnetting) in terms simple enough for someone with no previous exposure to networking to understand.
Unfortunately, some subjects were oversimplified, to the point that I felt underprepared for the CCNA test. If you are an excellent student, or you retain 100% of what you read, this book will get you a passing score on the exam. For the rest of us, I recommend Wendell Odom's CCNA Self Study Certification Library (Cisco Press - ISBN 1-58720-095-3). There's more to read, but you'll enter the exam more confident and better prepared.
-sean henning
Rating:
Summary: Lamle does it right
Review: The most challenging thing a certification test-prep book faces is the way it invariably will be misused. There is an old saw about using the right tool for the job, which in essence tells us to use the correct planning, strategy, and action to get the result we want. The majority of people purchasing a book like this are planning to take the CCNA exam and want some help preparing. This makes sense, and this is why I myself purchased Lamle's book. While it worked, and I passed with a 901, I couldn't help but wonder how much more difficult it would have been without hands-on experience with the devices, protocols and processes themselves at work. I have not yet met anyone who studied for, and passed, the CCNA test without any prior hands-on network experience.
It makes me very nervous to read someone's review suggesting, "This is the only preparation you need". To pass the test, you will likely need some experience as well, and to avoid the Catch-22 of requiring experience to get the job, yet also the job to gain the experience, I would recommend seeking first a junior position in the field, where you can not only get the experience, but also the mentoring of senior networking staff.
However, once you pass the test and have the cert, we face another challenge: "Does the cert verify your ability to apply what you know?" Not really, but that's why you cannot stop learning and developing your skills set there. You will likely need the CCNA to get the interview for the Networking job you seek, but you will need interview skills to get the job, and you will need to be able to APPLY your technical knowledge to keep it. Lamle's book is one of the best prep books out there for the CCNA. But if you plan to have a long-term career in Networking, do not think for a moment that you can stop there. And I'm not just talking about the next level of Cisco Certification.
Buy this book and study it, but make sure you maintain a long-term professional skills development plan, and if you don't already have it, start building your experience in the field. You'll need it.
Good luck!
Rating:
Summary: All you need
Review: This book contains all the information pertaining to the 507 exam with no fluff and nothing left out. It doesn't read like a Stephen King novel, but it doesn't read like a dry technical tome either. I tried using CCNA for dummies but I consistently failed the practice exams I found online, so I purchased this book, and I scored a 924 on the exam. I recommend reading this book once cover to cover, and then rereading the OSI model chapter and other chapters you may have trouble with. I was lost much of my first way through, but everything fell into place the second time around. I'd also recommend doing all of the labs in the book with either a real router or a simulator. It's crucial to understanding the proper syntax of IOS commands. It's not necessary, but pretty helpful anyway. And practice with the CD-ROM test and every practice test you can find online. If you miss a question, it's most important that you know why you missed it. The test really isn't difficult if you know your stuff.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Buy!
Review: This book definitely helped me pass my CCNA. The material in this book will definitely provide you with the tools you need in order to configure Cisco equipment and pass the CCNA the first time.I passed the exam with a 901 the first try.
Rating:
Summary: WARNING -- Out of date
Review: This is a good study guide. However, Cisco has retired the 607 exam, so it is completely obsolete. The author has a new revision (ISBN 0782143113) that covers the new 801 CCNA exam.
Rating:
Summary: All you need
Review: This was the only book I used along with some very superficial experience. I passed with 898 on my first try. Better coverage than most study guides and not nearly as impentrably dry as the cisco press books. Using the virtual lab helps a bit too although I only had 2 simulations on my exam. Fantastic job Todd!
Rating:
Summary: Lots of info / Lots of errors
Review: Wow, what a great author Todd is. His explainations and descriptions make the book well worth the cost. I used it as a text book for 2 classes and the last 3 out of 4 semesters for the Cisco Networking Academy. I also used his study guide (sold seperately but worth the money).
I not only learned what I needed feel confident about taking the CCNA, I feel very confident about my abilities with Cisco Networking Appliances. Todd should write for Cisco in my opinion.
I do feel that there are some easier ways to subnet than in his examples, but I learned it his way and then my instructors way. I chose what worked for me, your experiences will be different. Ultimately I used the Cisco Networking Academy, this book, and the study guide. I really studied hard, taking good notes and I passed the CCNA the first time with flying colors. I think Todd's explainations were key to this. He really makes Frame and ISDN configuation and the technolgies clear, he makes RIP and IGRP understandable even though they were the first IGPs that I was introduced to (they are very obscure IMO and I have never seen them used in the real world). I will look forward to his next version for the upgraded CCNA exams, I am sure they will be great.
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