Hey guys, I'm looking at doing CCENT to get a foot into understanding networking a bit more, plus I want the piece of paper to hang on my wall.
A bit of back story, I'm currently an apprentice automotive electrician, doing a cert III in my field, I was good at IT in school and I passed year 12 VCE in 2009 with passes in IT Applications and IT Software Development, but decided to go into a trade, because I couldn't be bothered with school and I had a point to prove.
I'd still like to finish my apprenticeship, but in the mean time, while I'm blowing fuses, burning wires, setting fire to cars, getting pissed in the pub with other apprentices and fighting with the rivals over in mechanical at trade school I'd like to get some certificates and skill up.
So I'm looking at CCENT, I'm looking at the official books here in Amazon and so far I've come up with:
Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices, Part 1 (ICND1): CCNA Exam 640-802 and ICND1 Exam 640-822, 2nd Edition
Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices, Part 2 (ICND2): (CCNA Exam 640-802 and ICND exam 640-816), 3rd Edition
CCNA Official Exam Certification Library (CCNA Exam 640-802), 3rd Edition
CCNA Flash Cards and Exam Practice Pack (CCENT Exam 640-822 and CCNA Exams 640-816 and 640-802), 3rd Edition
I know it mentions "CCNA" but they where listed on the Cisco site for CCENT as well, so I thought I might as well as buy everything and make sure I'm 100% covered, plus I don't want to skimp out on any potential knowledge on the subject, particularily for the exam, want every base covered.
http://www.ciscopress.com/markets/detail.asp?st=44701
Will CCENT teach me the basics to networking, in an easy and understandable way? Or should I go and buy "Networking for Dummies"? I still have my year 12 IT books as well.
I'm also curious if the Cisco certifications cover telecommunications, like phone networks? As in my current part time job, they're looking for a young guy to step up and become second in command when the boss retires and hands down the business to his son in the next 5 years, knowledge of all that phone stuff will come in handy because their eyes are on me but I have to prove myself.
Thanks much.