Cisco is amongst the most well known technology companies on earth, and like 'Microsoft', it's a market leader. From its humble beginnings some 26 years back, 'Cisco' today pays a figure of $5b on R & D, & heads the world in networking-hardware. The web, it is said, operates because of 'Cisco' engineering. The Cisco branding is considered responsible for more than 70 percent of all networking-hardware. This instantly places them at the top of the list for students planning to build a career in IT and Telecoms hardware networking. Beneath the 'Cisco' umbrella there are divisions in 'Wi-Fi' and Communications-Data, Voice over IP & 'Security'.

No surprise then that a significant amount of accreditation paths have been introduced by 'Cisco' to deal with the myriad of technologies & patents it provides. Students are generally advised to start with the same qualification course, and then branch into specialised areas as they progress. Presently there are two examinations for the Cisco Certified Network Associate, or 'CCNA' for short. These will furnish trainees who are suitable with the requested technical expertise to work with medium sized networks with routers and data-switches.

The dilemma of exactly how to imitate a 'Cisco' environment to prepare for examinations is often not addressed. MS students preparing for an 'MCSE' for example can network a few old PC's at home to experiment with. To build a practise Cisco environment though would actually be extremely costly, as you'd have to set up a large number of computers, with commercial technologies and enterprise-class routers & hardware. The answer therefore is to use Cisco approved network simulators and visualisers. These hi tech software systems enable individuals to build sizable 'networks' within a virtual-environment , with on-screen options to pick particular hardware products & practise interrogation of data movement. Any self-paced home based Cisco training course must incorporate one of these amazing pieces of software. The highly reputed 'RouterSim's' 'CCNA' Network Visualiser is undoubtedly one of the best we have tried, & we incorporate it in all of our 'CCNA' training programs.

Lots of individuals opt to combine the 'A+', 'Network+' and 'CCNA' path with the MS 'MCSA' or MCSE, for a more rounded network knowledge structure. In either case, a conversation about your career-path and learning-style, with a knowledgeable industry expert or advisor, really should be at the head of your list of priorities, in order to ensure that you get off to a really good start and stay clear of any frustrating blunders.

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