CCNP Cisco LAN Switch Configuration Exam Cram

I read three different books preparing for the CLSC test (Cisco Press, Sybex and this one) and while the Cisco book provided alot of detailed information, it tended to skip over the reasoning behind some of the defaults and left you wondering why? - this book was an excellent resource for filling in alot of those gaps, and I felt that the content was segmented alot better making for an easier, more logical, read.

Another excellent test-taking book! Although a little thick this book is the perfect companion for every CCNP candidate (including myself). The amount of information is right and very well fits the CLSC test. Sometimes it might seem that the author is going into too much detail for topics which are not that important but this impression will be totally wiped out by the test. Also, the book contains a lot of useful information which comes handy in your "real life" as network engineer. You just have to underline those perls of wisdom (yellow marker works good) and keep the book on your bookshelf. If you have the knowledge of Catalyst family and need only a prep tool for the test this will be your only investment. If need deep insight on LAN switching, Catalyst family and network design this is not the right book for you! It barely scratches some of the "hot" and poorly understood topics like STP, VLANs and trunking but remember - this is an "exam cram" book. Unfortunately Cisco is coming with a new test - CLSC 2.0 sometime this year and this book is not very adequate, but I hope that the author will come up with something at least as good as this one whenever the new test comes live.In case you need deeper knowledge (not for the test) look at Cisco Press "Cisco LAN Switching" book and don't be scared by it's size (926 pages). Good look on the exam!

Although the "Exam Cram" title might suggest a thinner book, this book is best computer book I have ever bought. I also bought Todd Lammle's CLSC study guide and Exam Notes but those books are not the caliber of Richard Deal's book on CLSC. First of all, Richard Deal's book is comprehensive, and second, it is written as a part study guide and part Exam Cram, so at the same time you are getting comprehensive information while getting knowledge that is relevant on the test. Also one of the most important features in Richard Deal's book is that not only he gives a test at the end of each chapter (and at the end of the book), but the answers are given with a detailed explantion to why or what not this is the answer, which is extremely beneficial on test day.I am glad that I bought this book, because without it, I believed I would of failed the exam.

This is an excellent book, aimed at those who: - wish to pass the CLSC test; - are willing and able to to read; - want to understand the material, and not just memorize the minimum amount of material to pass a test; - are actually INTERESTED in switching technology, and have an intellectual curiosity that goes beyond the scope of Cisco's test objectives.I think this is a first-rate book, at a very reasonable price. My only complaints have to do with the sample test questions. Here I would have liked:- more questions; - better proofreading, and fewer double negatives in the test questions; - more substantive questions. (I assume, however, that Mr. Deal is trying to mimic the specificity and literal-minded nature of the test.)This is the best $ I ever spent on a computer book.

For everyone who said this book does not prepare you for the test, it is obvious you are looking for a 50page quick way to memorize the test and pass it only to forget everything you learned after you are done.. Well, forget it, the only way to do that is the get a copy of the test, and no book will give you that....Anyway, I know had a little experience with Catalyst switches, and this book was the very best way to prepare for the test. The sample questions were dead on, and the real test only had variations of them. so if you understand the subject matter of the questions in the cram book, that fact that the wording and answer choices are different on the test should not make the test any harder than the one in the cram book..I recommend this to anyone who wants to pass the CLSC exam...