CCNP 2.0: BCRAN- Exam 640-505
Authors: Robert N. Myhre, Steven Dangerfield
Venue:  (2001)

From the Book:Introduction"As an instructor in a classroom environment, I have learned there are two types of instructors. The first type, whether likable or not, is proud to show off his or her knowledge, but dislikes anyone learning anything. This type of instructor is more concerned with being better than everyone else. The second type of instructor, again whether likable or not, actually enjoys teaching. This person likes to share knowledge and does so in an informative way. I like to think of myself as the latter type." This is now my third book, and the previous paragraph was quoted from my introduction in the CCNA Certification book. It has become somewhat of a motto for my career and when I feel I might be getting off track, I reread this statement as a reminder. Yet another year has progressed and I still love teaching and learning. The Cisco certifications are undergoing revision changes, and with those changes the curriculum has changed. This book was written with the new CCNP 2.0 certifications in mind. I feel that a certification book should also be a learning book, and so each chapter progressively (as much as possible anyway) discloses new information. Each chapter configures one or more routers in a logical way such that even without the use of a physical router to practice on, you should be able to see the results of all the actions. Who Is this Book For?This book makes a quick jump into the advanced technologies needed for the CCNP certification test: Remote Access 2.0. I assume that the reader understands RIP and IGRP and can configure these two routing protocols and manipulate other facets of the Cisco IOS without muchthought. I also assume the reader knows how to subnet, which means you can actually subnet, not use a calculator or have a chart memorized. As you continue into the Cisco career path it is important to differentiate yourself from other certifications as well as other CCNPs by having a full understanding of TCP/IP, including subnetting. If you feel weak in any of these areas, or while reading the book, and you feel you need a refresher, I recommend my first book. How this Book Is Laid OutThe material required for the Remote Access 2.0 test includes many different protocols found in a variety of Wide Area Networks. This test requires understanding the foundation of each of these protocols and how to configure them for basic connectivity. While I have tried to give more information about each topic then is required on the exam to further help the learning process, I had to restrict myself from placing more detailed information which could lead to confusion due to being overwhelmed. Please realize that any topic in this book could, and has been, a book in its own right.With that said, this book follows the exam objectives as posted on the Cisco website. I tried to keep a consistent flow through the chapters by building on the same network. If you have enough equipment at home or the office, it can be quite a challenge (and an excellent reward) to build this network entirely. The idea of this book is to provide progressive disclosure of information and skipping chapters may lead to missed information.How to Obtain Cisco CertificationsTo become a CCNP you must pass either four tests, or two tests. Three tests, Remote Access (640-505, for which this book was written), Switching (640-504), and Routing (640-503) can all be taken individually at $125 each, or can be combined into a large test called the Foundation (640-509) for $250. The other test is the Support test (640-506), also costing $125 to take. Please refer to Cisco's website for update information (www.cisco.com/certifications).To register for a test, call Sylvan Prometric at 1-800-204-EXAM (3926) or through Virtual University Enterprises at www.vue.com. You can pay via credit card, or have them bill you for the test. Note that you cannot actually take the test until it has been paid for though. I would recommend calling Sylvan Prometric 24 hours in advance of your test for confirmation. Remember to bring two forms of IDs, including a photo.Other Cisco CertificationsThe best way to get a feel for the different certifications is to visit Cisco's Web site at www.cisco.com and explore the training and certification paths. You will find there are many other certifications, including: CCDA (Cisco Certified Design Associate) for designing small LAN and WAN networks. CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) for building and configuring bigger and more complex LANs and WANs. CCDP (Cisco Certified Design Professional) for designing bigger and more complex LANs and WANs. CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert). The biggest and probably the most coveted certification in the industry. How to Contact the AuthorI can be reached at RemoteAccess@networkaware.net. I do read all the email, and try to respond to each and every one, but I am frequently out of town or very bu few days to reply. You can also visit my website at www.networkaware.net for errata. As much as I try to avoid mistakes in this book, no one is perfect. Please feel free to email me with any and all corrections that need to be made.