In this corner...

Yeah, so it is late.  6:30am working another shift here at the data center and things are going pretty well.  I have not totally settled on a date yet for the CCENT but made a lot of progress tonight.  Hooked up one of the routers and starting some of the initial config stuff.  Changing the router name, setting up the telnet connections, passwords, getting the interfaces up and tomorrow night I should get RIP up and running with a small 3 router network.  Then, delete the configuration and start all over again, and then again.  Practice some more subnetting and mess with the switch. 

At a certain point I was pulling the commands from memory which is great because I was starting to wonder if I forgot everything from when I studied for the CCNA back in high school.  I forgot the commands but once I messed with them a little bit, it was like finding an old journal or an old dusty toy and then suddenly remembering the good ol times.  Yeah that is a totally cheesy way of explaining it but that is how it feels.  Just calling it like I see it.

One of the questions I seem to be coming across a lot on the techexam forums is the question of CCENT vs Network+.  Network+ is for breadth of concept.  You learn a small amount about a lot of topics, including routers and switches.  CCENT overlaps a lot, but doesn't quite have that high level view of all topics.  Instead, it starts narrowing down on the Cisco IOS and practical application of setting up a small network. You can make the argument for skipping the network+ and going for the CCENT, leading to the CCNA.  By doing this you save money and are really only missing out on small amount of knowledge that the CCENT just doesn't cover.  It really isn't a lot. Plus, getting a CCNA essentially supersedes both of these.

This is how I approach the alternative method, and one is more agreeable to me.  Get both.  In my eyes, you do not lose anything by attempting and gaining both exams.  You start really broad (net+)...then you "reinforce" what you learned and get a little more specialized (CCENT), then you focus even more and reach the next level (CCNA).  It seems like a logical and easily digestible track  By the end, there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to recall topics or explain them to someone who doesn't know them.  I guess I'm afraid some people might be rushing for the CCNA and starting off on the wrong foot.  Well, ultimately I hope those studying for either test in any way they seem fit for themselves do well.

I'm tired and its been a long night, hopefully I didn't ramble too much!