Ok guys, I've decided my next cert will be CCNA, and I need some advice.  I have basic networking experience, but no cisco or routing experience.  I pickup things rather quickly, so while self-studying will be a challenge, I don't think it will be impossible.  I can afford to devote an hour or two a day until January, at which point I'll be able to put in a little more time per day.  With that in mind I have the following questions:

1.  Should I take the combined 802 exam, or the two separate ICND1 and 2 exams?  I realize it will be easier to take the exams separately, but how much easier?  Is the 802 exam twice as hard as the other 2?  If it's not that much more difficult I'll probably take the combined exam.  I don't really have a time limit on when I want to earn this by, so if it takes me several months to learn everything I need, then no big deal.  I do well on exams, provided I know the material, but I'm not one of those people who can guess the correct answer repeatedly if I have no clue.

2.  I'm going to put together a lab for the exam.  I realize there are simulators that I could use, but I want to learn and potentially use what I learn in a future job and that means using actual equipment.  So any suggestions?  Which routers and switches should I get, and how many of each?  I don't see myself every getting a CCNP, but I'll probably get a CCNA Security at some point.  So on the one hand, I'd like equipment that I could use for both the CCNA and CCNA Security, but at the same, I probably won't get the CCNA Security for at least a year or two after the CCNA, so the exam might be updated by then and my equipment might be obsolete.  Any thoughts?  Also, there are a number of CCNA kits on ebay, does anyone recommend any kits, or should I just buy individual components and put it together all myself?

Also if I get a router off eBay, can I legally download and update the IOS to 12.4 myself or not?  How do I know how much memory I need on the router?

3.  As far as resources go, I pre-ordered the updated Wendell Odom CCNA library that's supposed to be out in a few weeks.  Anything else you guys recommend?  I don't really want to spend a lot of money on classes and the like, but if an extra 100 bucks on additional books or online videos will save me time and make passing the exam easier, I'm all for that.

Thanks

I did it in two halves and, as far as I know, each of the 3 exams contains a similar number of questions.  I was also told by my tutor that going the 2 exam route may mean more in-depth questions (as well as more questions about any weak areas that a candidate might have) than the 1 exam route but I don't know if that's correct.

I would agree wholeheartedly with the idea of hands-on experience.  Quite a few of the questions were simulations where you have to interrogate routers or switches for their current configuration and then change the configuration to make the network function as required.  Only a small proportion were a typical MCQ with a stem and possible responses.  There is a time limit and it's not possible to go back over questions when you have advanced to the next one.

I haven't taken the CCNA exam yet myself, but I've heard a lot of people using Todd Lammle's books as well.  From what I've read so far, he explains things well.

I also want to thank everyone for posting. I am working on my CCNA too but I think I am just going to use GNS3 and Todd's book only.  I have heard that it was enough to pass the CCNA.  I will eventually get to CCNA:Security and CCNP, but that's when I will pay the 500 bucks worth of equipment. Can you do the CCNA:Security with GNS3 only too?

It has been a while since I took my CCNA but I would have to think doing the combined will make it easier and that way you'll only have one day to schedule for (and only one anxiety moment). Do as much hands on work as you can and as mentioned know OSI layers 2 & 3 cold.

The First time I took the CCNA, all I used was Lammle's book. The second time, I felt it was better than the Odom book. To the point that i'm getting ready to buy the 7th edition to do the CCNA again. Had the 6th, but things lapsed, and really only want it so I can do the CCNA Security (but need the time first).

My favorite thing is that Lammle will teach you to subnet in your head. once you learn how, it's just a quick refresher if you need to (Working as a network engineer, I don't subnet much actually).

In my opinion, Lammle, and some good labs are all you really need. Labs that you can play around and try to break things in.

I am considering the CCNA exam to get a good grasp of networking concepts and cisco commands. I eventually want to move onto perform the CCNA security exam, is it recommended to perform the ICND1 and ICND2 if I intend to the security exam aswell?

To confirm, are we saying that the following resources should be sufficient to pass the exam and get a good grasp?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/CCNA-Certified-Network-Associate-640-802/dp/0470901071/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318021819&sr=1-5

Thanks

This is how I studied for the CCNA.

- Lammle's book
- bought 2x 1720 routers and 1x 2950 switch (worked fine for me but I know a good amount of people who prefer more equipment)
- tried preplogic for a month (decent resource)
- lastly I used howtonetwork.com (very good resource if you can buy all the equipment you want)
- used a ton of notecards

Hope that helped!