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Whoa Whoa slow down there Dingleberry.

First off. Good that you are interested in IT. But IT is huge and there are so many aspects to it. I suggest starting off with something like the CompTIA A+. That will give you the base knowledge you need to know to be able to troubleshoot many everyday end user problems. By base knowledge I mean the thought process and methodology. IT isn't predictable. There are 100s if not millions of cases where following X directions is supposed to give you Y results but it doesn't because something that seems completely unrelated is causing the issue. The A+ helps put you in the correct mindset.

The CompTIA A+ you can just pick up the book for it, sit and read it. It isn't a class and is very entry level. There are classes for it but I personally advise against it. I read the book and took the test my first year in college. But I was already fixing problems on my own. It just supplemented what I knew and taught me more.

What ever anyone says about the A+ being easy is semi true. I can promise you that anyone who thinks they know their stuff does not know everything. That also includes A+ material which again is basic. Everyone who reads those books will learn something. But for seasoned people it can be boring since a lot of it is rehashed info they know from experience. The A+ is conceptual and the methods taught are not written in stone. Also the test is performing troubleshooting the ComTIA way.

For example a common troubleshooting tip for network connectivity issue such as not being able to get online is something as simple as checking to make sure the ethernet cable is plugged in. And CompTIA says that should always be the first thing you check. This is something basic that many people overlook because in my experience very rarely the issue is the cable not being plugged in.

Don't skip it. It will be your building blocks. You don't have to take the test. But it will help you get your foot in the door into a help desk position.

The Cisco Net Acad is good for getting fundamentals of networking in the Cisco world and is training toward the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA). Meaning the scope is very limited. You will learn how a network works in general. Meaning the how information gets from point A to point B and theory behind why it works. But then it will take a sharp turn on to Cisco network equipment. I suggest reading a Sybex's Net+ book by Todd Lammle. The Net+ is also by CompTIA but focuses on a MUCH MUCH broader spectrum of networking and troubleshooting networks. For example, the Cisco course isn't really going to dive into this like token rings, MAUs, ALOHA, DSL, DSLAMs, Cable, and other tech. The Cisco learning path is more, here is what a network is, here is why it works, here are some general things that apply to all networks, and now let configure a Cisco switch and a Cisco router, and finally let's troubleshoot common Cisco problems that people run into.

Use the Cisco classes to build on your Net+ knowledge. I'm not saying to take the CompTIA A+ and Net+ exams, but at least study the material. Because it sounds like you aren't really sure what you want to split off to. If you go straight for the Cisco class, you will learn nothing about computers because Cisco doesn't care about what desktop/laptop/server you use for this level of information.

Being well rounded in IT is more valuable than being a specialist who only knows one thing in terms of job opportunities. But from what I've seen specialists make more money if you can find a job for that specialization.

Now to answer your 3 questions.

1. Read a Net+ book. It will teach you all the basics you need to know. There will be some overlap in the beginning but that is about it. It's better for you to have a wider range of networking knowledge than to be locked into a specific vendor from the start. You have years ahead of you to worry about vendor specialization. But Cisco currently is the defacto networking equipment. Juniper is catching up and HP and Dell offer enterprise solutions that compete with Cisco.
   
   
2. In my college it was a 4 semester class held once a week. I would talk to your community college about completion time. If you want to finish it faster, you might be best served by going to a trainer. But they are a lot more expensive and the material they will throw at you will be bigger chunks because they will expect you have some base knowledge. This is a great reason why you should read the Net+ books. It will get you familiar with general networking concepts so that when you take the class you're not sitting there with confused look on your face.
   
   
3. There really isn't a guide. The Cisco Net Acad classes follow the exam Objectives for the CCNA. For you the major Certs would be the A+, Net+ and CCNA (ICND1 and ICND2). The CCNA is a cisco certification that can be taken 2 ways. The composite CCNA exam. And the ICND1 and 2. Passing ICND1 will give you the CCENT. It's basically part one of the test and saying that you can walk into a small business and get a basic network up and running. The ICND2 is the second part and will give you the full CCNA. The composite test is both the ICND1 and 2 put together.
   
   The composite test is meant for those with experience and is generally harder because you need to know less about a lot of topics where as the ICND1 and 2 you need to know a lot about less topics. You should take the 2 test route.
   
   These are the books I read. These are also the ones I mentioned above.
   
   Sybex ComTIA A+ http://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Complete-Study-Guide-Application/dp/047048649X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1372738911&sr=1-3&keywords=sybex+a%2B
   
   Sybex CompTIA Net+ by Todd Lammle http://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Network-Study-Authorized-Courseware/dp/1118137558/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1372738836&sr=1-8&keywords=todd+lammle
   
   Start off reading these two. These will teach you everything you need to know to understand what you are getting your self into. From there you can go into specialization such as Cisco. For that I used the Wendell Odom books which are the official Cisco books. Warning, the writing is dry.
   
   Cisco ICND 1 100-101 by Wendell Odom. http://www.amazon.com/Cisco-CCENT-ICND1-100-101-Official/dp/1587143852/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1372739094&sr=1-2&keywords=wendell+odom+icnd1
   
   Cisco ICND 2 640-802 http://www.amazon.com/ICND2-Official-Certification-640-816-640-802/dp/158720181X/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1372739138&sr=1-4&keywords=wendell+odom+icnd2
   
   NOTE: I did not see the ICND 2 book by Wendell and Odom for the new exam objectives that will take effect later this year. So the first ICND 1 book will be valid for the new test. The second book will not be but it would not hurt you to read it until Wendell and Odom come out with an updated ICND 2 book.
   
   I've also heard good things about the Todd Lammle CCNA book but I do not see one for the newer exam objectives.

I would recommend using this book:

http://www.amazon.com/CCNA-Routing-Switching-Study-Guide/dp/1118749618/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396382315&sr=8-1&keywords=ccna

While it covers both exams, it's probably the best way to learn networking (it's how I did it at least). Todd lays everything laid out in an easy to understand way.

Also I would highly recommend using Packet Tracer:

https://www.netacad.com/web/about-us/cisco-packet-tracer

It has enough features to get you through your CCNA and most of the CCNP and is very easy to setup and use.

If you are going to pursue the single CCNA test, you should definitely get Tod Lammle's CCNA Study guide. He writes some of the best books for self study.

http://www.amazon.com/Cisco-Certified-Network-Associate-640-802/dp/0470901071/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1

If you are going to pursue the 2 test route for CCNA, here are the books to get.

ICND 1

http://www.amazon.com/CCENT-Certified-Networking-Technician-640-822/dp/0470247029/ref=pd_sim_b4

ICND 2

http://www.amazon.com/ICND2-Official-Certification-640-816-640-802/dp/158720181X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c

If you can, sign up for the Cisco Net Academy, it's a great course.

I found this book an excellent intro to QoS

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1119109108/ref=dp_ob_neva_mobile

It's not vendor specific. QoS fundamentals are pretty much Universal, the concepts of classification, policing, marking, queuing, scheduling.

I found it really useful to learn to think in vendor neutral terms first, then map the vendor implementation details onto that model.

A USB to RJ45 cable will probably work fine.

I've never used one, and I don't see any such cables with long histories of positive reviews & glowing feedback.

But I have used USB to DB9 serial adapters, combined with traditional DB9 to RJ45 Cisco Console Cables for years, with excellent result.

USB to DB9
DB9 to RJ45 Console Cable

These switches are not meant to be configured using a UI. Usually these are setup to use SSH (or telnet if you are ok with your password being sent unencrypted) or SNMP. There is a GUI option for these but you have to make sure to load the correct files and set it up for it, it's not default and you may need a service contract to download the right files. The reason for no UI is that it's not necessary and can actually slow you down if you need to configure a lot of these at a time. If I need to add a command to over a hundred switches, I don't want a GUI. I would want to push it via SSH or if I do have to log into every switch, I'd have the commands needed in a text editor so I can copy and paste.

​

These switches by default out of the box are usually configured using the console port on the back using a special rs-232 to rj-45 cable. There are some USB to RJ45 Serial Cables out now that will allow you to connect.

I used Todd Lammle CCNA study guide for exam prep - http://www.amazon.com/CCNA-Routing-Switching-Study-Guide/dp/1118749618/ref=la_B000APOJ5M_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412759956&sr=1-1. I think it's one of the best study guides I ever read.
And, yes, lot of practice in subnetting

ASR1k? That runs IOS-XE. IOS-XR runs on ASR9K, CRS, and XR. Cisco Press has a book on IOS-XR that isn't awful. The docs on Cisco's site are pretty decent actually.

http://www.amazon.com/Cisco-IOS-Fundamentals-Mobeen-Tahir/dp/1587052717/

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/ios-nx-os-software/ios-xr-software/products-installation-and-configuration-guides-list.html#anchor2

The most difficult thing for me was understanding exactly how to apply RPL to get what I wanted. The If/then/else thing is pretty nice but can be a bit cumbersome. You can't just "insert" policy at any point like a route-map or juniper "terms". You have to re-apply the whole policy or edit it interactively in the online editor.

There's also this:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/ios_xr_sw/ios_xrv/install_config/b_xrvr_432_chapter_01.html

Welcome. Regex(Regular Expressions) allows you to parse text more efficiently. Mastering Regular Expressions is what you need to look into.

Did you know Amazon will donate a portion of every purchase if you shop by going to smile.amazon.com instead? Over $50,000,000 has been raised for charity - all you need to do is change the URL!

Here are your smile-ified links:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RHDXDWA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

---

^^i'm ^^a ^^friendly bot

Todd Lammles books do a great job.
ICND2 200-105 Study Guide

This book has been amazing for me!

ad /u/radicldreamer said, subnetting... this is the biggest challenge for a lot of engineers.

You'll need basic ospf troubleshooting skills.

Know basic ports for applications... 80/http, 443/https, 22/ssh, 23/telnet, etc...

Check out CBT Nugget videos if it's within your budget, you can also get an ICND1 Cert guide book for about $20... it's well worth the purchase

I would recommend reading the following book from Cisco Press which goes into great detail about howto configure CUCM and Unity Connection. However, about 25% of the book will be useless to you because it covers the legacy Cisco Unity which ran on Windows.

Link: Configuring Cisco Communications Manager and Unity Connection

I think I got the same one off amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AHYJWWG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. Made by Gearmo B00AHYJWWG. Works great on my Lenovo Thinkpad running Windows 10. It came with a disk but the windows drivers worked without me needing the disk.

This probably a better textbook then the official textbooks for the the CCNA courses

http://www.amazon.com/CCENT-ICND1-100-101-Official-Guide/dp/1587143852/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412741127&sr=1-1&keywords=icnd1


youtube has lots of videos that will cover the basics on any subject you need for the test.

I agree with /u/IDA_noob check out the book below.

https://www.amazon.com/End-End-QoS-Network-Design/dp/1587143690

Something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/Cisco-IOS-Fundamentals-Mobeen-Tahir/dp/1587052717

Just bought this one, it has lights for connection and data transmission as well as working with my windows 8 laptop. I tested it with putty and a old cisco 3550.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AHYJWWG/ref=oh_details_o00_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I found this one for SISAS. But that is the only one I could find, the Cisco Store only has that one as well.

Jm sitting here looking at them on Amazon . However it has a single mode and dual layer mode does it make a difference if i buy these?one has 2.4 and 5ghz with 6db and one is 2.4 ghz i think ?


2 x 6dBi 2.4GHz 5GHz Dual Band WiFi RP-SMA Male Antenna+2 x 35CM RP-SMA IPEX MHF4 Pigtail Cable for M.2 NGFF WiFi WLAN Card https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P8CKGZM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_e5oUCbC4QEK4E


Eightwood 2.4GHz 5dBi WiFi Antenna RP-TNC Male Plug Omni-Directional for Wireless Router WLAN PCI Card https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010DE02Q4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_D4oUCbPX4NY3D

I did not complete all 4 of the CCNP Security exams, I've only taken 2 so far. And apparently you're able to sign up for them without having a CCNA Security because I did it.

As far as the books:
Here's 208:
https://www.amazon.com/Security-SISAS-300-208-Official-Certification/dp/1587144263/ref=oosr

And the other one I took before they revamped them to the new names. Do some research.

You cannot connect to it directly from your network interface card. What you need is a roll-over console cable and a usb-to-serial adapter.

http://www.amazon.com/Generic-HKUS-FB000GL3MOYT-T000650F-Cisco-Console-RJ45-to-DB9/dp/B000GL3MOY

http://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-RS-232-Serial-Converter-TU-S9/dp/B0007T27H8/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1415759891&sr=1-1&keywords=usb+to+serial

USB to your computer, connect the serial ends and plug the RJ45 into the console port of the switch.

Once you have done that, you'll need to select SERIAL connection from putty, you can find what COM port your usb-to-serial device is on by going to devices and printers in windows. Change the COM port in putty to match, and make sure the connection settings are:

Bits per sec : 9600
Data bits : 8
Parity : none
Stop bits : 1
Flow control : none

click connect and press a key if you see no output on the screen.

You want this:

https://www.amazon.com/Configuring-Unified-Communications-Manager-Connection/dp/1587142260/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493214210&sr=8-1&keywords=cisco+cucm

The Prolific Serial -> USB is what you use to plug into your PC.

Switch Console port -> Cisco Console to Serial cable -> serial to USB adapter -> USB port on PC

Cisco console cable: https://www.amazon.com/Cisco-72-3383-01-Rollover-Console-Female/dp/B005S2KPPU/

Prolific Serial to USB adapter: https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Converter-Prolific-Chipset-CB-DB9P/dp/B00IDSM6BW/

They have console -> usb cables, but YMMV on that.

Resetting Catalyst Switches to Factory Defaults

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/switches/catalyst-2900-xl-series-switches/24328-156.html

​

USB Console Cable

https://www.amazon.com/Console-Essential-Accesory-Ubiquity-Switches/dp/B01AFNBC3K/ref=sr_1_6?crid=YZQA4LLNYATX&keywords=usb+to+serial+adapter&qid=1568230551&s=gateway&sprefix=usb+to++ser%2Caps%2C136&sr=8-6

https://www.amazon.com/End-End-QoS-Network-Design/dp/1587143690

I got the poe+ power injector https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BK4W8TQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Tl;dr Once you set up the router with an ip address, you can configure it via ssh/telnet using ethernet.

Current and newer Cisco routers/switches do have a mini-usb connector for console access. Personally, I purchased a console cable that has a built in Ftdi chip controller and usb.

https://www.amazon.com/Asunflower%C2%AE-Cisco-Console-Cable-Windows/dp/B00RHDXDWA

This

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RHDXDWA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Doesn't require drivers for mac or windows

I just purchased this, though I haven't had a chance to read it, yet:

http://www.amazon.com/Deploying-Unified-Contact-Center-Express/dp/1329184629?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00

For syllabus and other info about the tests start here: https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications/ccent

I used the official certification guide book from Cisco Press, but there are other books available too. Here is a link to the official book: http://www.amazon.com/CCENT-ICND1-100-101-Official-Guide/dp/1587143852

The testing is all done on a computer, no physical lab.

I just bought this to replace a different that died after 10 years. I cut the cable shorter and just you a RJ45 coupler.