Did you take the exam expecting to fail?
It seems funny that Cisco did not include some of the more elusive PIX
configuration problems.
I agree that there is a problem with examinations that allow you to suceed
without direct experience. But it is important to realise that these exams
only certify a minimum standard of knowledge, which is highly desirable. This
knowledge combined with experience leads to a more able network engineer who
is able to solve problems in complex environments.
The aquisition of knowledge is not a simple linear process and if you can use
synthesis of your experiences to pass the exam then you have proved your
ability to the exam level, but this does not equate to the ability to do a
specific job. There are always a number of nuances to the use of the PIX and
any other device that requires complex configuration that can only be gained
by experience. Employers need to realise this fact.
Isn't Cisco in the process of tightening up the exams??
Cheers
Jim Gillen
Snr Communications Engineer
AUSTRAC
Ph: 9950 0842
Fax: 9950 0074
>>> "Simionato, Joao" 4/07/01 3:26:25 >>>
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What about the MCNS exam ? Did you take it ?
What was the documentation you made usage for preparing to the Cisco Secure
PIX Firewall Advanced exam ?
____________________________________________
Joco Paulo Simionato, CCNA
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Visit our web-site : www.ncr.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Sean Young [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2001 1:46 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Cisco Secure PIX Firewall Advanced exam [7:10842]
I took the Cisco PIX Firewall Advanced exam this morning and passed it
with a minimumscore of 751. The passing score is 751. The exam contains
60 questions and you have 75minutes to complete it. The exam does NOT
let you go back to previous questions. Personally, I think this is one
of the most rediculous exams that I have taken in sometime. I'veno
hand-on experiences with PIX. I just read the documentation from Cisco
website in preparing for the exam. The exam also asks about configuring
ACS for windows NT (whocares about that)? It is very poorly written.
Almost half of the exam concentrate on applications that are running on
windows NT (against who cares) and not PIX related questions. If you ask
me, I would tell you that a person like myself with no experience in PIX
should NOT pass this exam. I would NOT recommend anyone to jump into
Cisco CCNP security track unless Cisco completely revamps the whole
security certification process. If Cisco keeps doing this, it will
certainly dillute the value of the security certification track.
Granted that I have been in the networking field for sometime; however,
as I've said earlier, I should NOT pass the exam without the PIX hand-on
experiences and just two days of preparation. It is NOT right. If anyone
else has already taken this exam and have a different opinion, I would
love to hearfrom you. Sean
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