Cisco CCNA Cerfication: Should You Take The One-Exam or Two-Exam Approach?
Video Conferencing vs. Telepresence
Telepresence picks up where video conferencing left off. Telepresence IS real time, full-high-definition, immersible sound and vision. Telepresence IS most importantly: the feeling of being “there” when you’re “here”. Telepresence is lifelike, video conferencing is not. Telepresence is that hi-line Mercedes AMG, video conferencing is a Ford Escort - Period.
Why Telepresence now?Video conferencing has been around a while now but has always lacked the feeling we spoke about above. Jumpy computer screens, broken audio and poor lighting add to the impersonal touches of video conferencing (ie slow motion camcorder on top of your computer monitor). Finally, technology, bandwidth, vision and sound have all converged on video conferencing to create the telepresence experience. It’s about time! Crystal clear surround sound and real-time full-high-definition visual effects enhance the feeling of being there – thus telepresence. That nervous twitch, roll of the eyes, sniffle, tap of the foot – things you see when you’re present and sitting across a conference room table – things you don’t see or feel from video conferencing, but do with telepresence.
Today, what “real” uses are there for Telepresence?
There is no short answer even possible here. We’ll name a few, more like we’ll put your imagination to work. Imagine a single specialist doctor in Canada treating patients in Haiti via telepresence. Robots in space doing the actual work while the telepresence operator dons his telepresence helmet and gloves at his workstation in Texas. Meeting your Russian company vice president while you’re in the executive telepresence room at the office in Denver. Just a few…
What are “real” savings of Telepresence?
Your imagination still working on the last answer? Don’t let up yet! What carbon footprint? Don’t need that airplane ticket to go check on your staff in Russia now do you? What lost life in the Iraqi war? Unmanned drones and soldiers via telepresence. Military and combat cost savings? Immeasurable. Less travel costs, airline frustration, fuel, lost time, carbon emissions, etc. Those are tangible, real savings to name just a very limited few.
You starting to see what telepresence can do that video conferencing can’t? We hope you see what we’re seeing! Telepresence – its time has arrived!
Check out the video thread in Section 8 of the Telepresence Forum where you can watch some Telepresence YouTube videos! If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video must be worth a million!
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Telepresence Forum
Free user discussion forum for anything & everything telepresence related. Learn about this new state-of-the-art immersive technology, view new product videos, and keep up to date on relevant 24/7 breaking telepresence news on the Telepresence Forum.
300+ Telepresence Industry Domain Names for Sale or Lease
300+ high-traffic, quality "telepresence" related domain names for sale or lease. Developed websites included. Single domain or multiple "bundled" options available from L II, Inc.
Cisco CCNA Certification:
Should you take the one-exam or the two-exam approach?
One question I'm often asked by CCNA candidates is whether to take the "one big exam", or take the two separate exams required by Cisco to achieve the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) exam.
The question comes up because there are now two separate paths to the CCNA certification. Candidates may take a single exam, 640-811, or two exams, 640-821 and 640-811.
What's the difference? The two-exam approach involves exams with different topics and therefore different preparation techniques. 640-821 is the Introduction To Cisco Networking Technologies exam. This course does introduce the candidate to Frame Relay, PPP, and other WAN technologies, but goes into little detail. Emphasis in the Intro course is placed on knowing how Ethernet behaves, how different types of cable are used for different purposes, and knowing what cable to use in a certain situation. The candidate should expect some questions involving binary math as well, but they will involve fairly simple conversions.
The 640-811 exam, Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices, goes into much more detail on WAN technologies. Routing and switching behavior are covered, and the candidate is expected to answer difficult questions involving binary math and subnetting as well. The candidate may also have to demonstrate ability to configure a router or switch via a simulator. Since the ICND exam goes into more detail, it's generally considered the more difficult exam.
The approach I recommend to a CCNA candidate depends on their background. If the candidate is a relative newcomer to networking, or hasn't taken a certification exam before, I recommend they take the two-exam approach. This allows the candidate to focus only on the Intro topics, and gives them a strong sense of confidence after passing the Intro exam. That confidence flows over into the ICND exam.
For those who have networking experience, and are very familiar with Ethernet behavior and cable types, I recommend the one-exam approach. This allows the candidate to focus on the more advanced topics they'll be seeing in the single exam, while spending just a little time reviewing their Intro-level knowledge.
Regardless of the approach you choose, the path to true CCNA success remains the same. Get some real hands-on experience, either by renting rack time online or by putting together your own home lab. Understand what's going on "beneath the command"; don't use router commands when you don't understand what they're doing. Add to that a true mastery on binary math, and you're on your way to having the magic letters "CCNA" behind your name!
Chris Bryant
CCIE #12933
www.thebryantadvantage.com
_________________________
Chris Bryant, CCIE (TM) #12933, has been active in the Cisco certification community for years. He worked his way up from the CCNA to the CCIE, and knows what CCNA and CCNP candidates need to know to be effective on the job and in the exam room.
He is the owner of http://www.thebryantadvantage.com, where he sells his popular CCNA and CCNP study aids, including his unique Flash Card Books. He also teaches CCNA and CCNP courses to small groups of exam candidates, ensuring they each receive the individual attention they deserve. Classes are offered over the Internet and in person in select cities. Chris has custom-written the Study Guide and Lab Workbook used in each course - no third-party training materials or simulators are used. You're invited to visit our site and check out our CCNA and CCNP Courses, Flash Card Books, and to sign up for our weekly newsletter written personally by Chris. Chris is always glad to hear from Cisco certification candidates at chris@thebryantadvantage.com.
To learn more about this state-of-the-art immersive technology categorized as "Telepresence", visit these websites:
Telepresence Today - Telepresence information and editor qualified headline news
Telepresence Forum - Free user discussion forum
Telepresence Report - 24/7 breaking Telepresence related news and information
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