- Get a cheap ICND1 Cisco course (chris bryant’s courses at udemy.com rock and they can be dirty cheap if there’s a good deal on). The current url is https://www.udemy.com/ccna-on-demand-video-boot-camp/
- Get a book with Cisco labs, e.g. https://www.amazon.com/101-Labs-Cisco-CCNA-Exam/dp/0955781523
- Get 4 cheap routers (2801 or 1841) and Rj45 cables at ebay. A good price is $50 a piece
- Get 3 cheap switches (3550 or 3560) at ebay. A good price is $40 for 3550 or $60-70 for 3560
- Get a Cisco console cable and DB9>USB adapter at ebay
- Start watching the ICND1 course. Try to practise everything you see there on your equipment.
- After you finish watching the course, do the labs from the book.
- Take the 100-105 Cisco exam (go to pearson vue cisco website and book the exam at your nearest exam center) – this step is optional but Cisco certificates can guarantee at least a job interview.
- Congrats! Now get an ICND2 book and repeat the process.
This will set you back around $700 ($150 for the vids and books, $400 for the gear and $150 for the exam), or even less if you get a good bargain at ebay/allegro.
Alternatively, book an ICND1 course at www.humanity.pl. This ensures that:
- you get 80 hours of learning, this includes lectures and workshops. Classes are delivered by an experienced network engineer
- you get 60+ hours of access to our equipment when you go home after the classes
- it’s less expensive than buying the equipment and books
- you know exactly what to do at each step
- if you come across a difficult problem during or after the course (we provide a free 3month post-course email troubleshooting service), you can ask the trainer
- you are thoroughly prepared for the exam
