CCNA: Cisco Certified Network Associate, Deluxe Edition (640-801)

Todd Lammle strikes gold again with a new edition of CCNA: Cisco Certified Network Associate Study Guide which, in point of fact, isn't hugely different from earlier versions but nonetheless dominates its competitors. This is the best book on the market for bottom-up CCNA preparation, due in equal part to Lammle's thorough coverage (the CCNA test covers many tiny details), his skill in explaining concepts in prose and illustrations, and his care in designing exercises and practice questions. All the exam-prep elements are handled competently, as well, with annotations supplementing answer keys and plenty of comments about what Cisco expects its test-takers to say, as opposed to what may actually be true.

What's special about the Deluxe Edition? Its companion CD-ROM is somewhat better than before, since it now includes a browser-based tool that simulates a Cisco router's administrative interface (it can be hard to set up, though). The practice exam software on the CD-ROM is okay, though its questions are identical to those in the book. It would also be nice if the software kept track of your performance on exams over time, allowing you to identify and practice weaker subject areas. The book itself now features a larger and more detailed glossary, and a nice command reference. There's no need to upgrade if you have one of this book's predecessors, but count on a treat if this is the first Lammle CCNA book you buy. --David Wall

Topics covered: All of the material Cisco Systems says you have to understand in order to pass Exam 640-507 [new version: Exam 640-607] and earn its Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) professional rating, including the seven-layer network model, the essentials of Internet Protocol and its routing, the Cisco Internetwork Operating System (IOS), and wide area network (WAN) technologies.