Rating: 
Summary: Don't waste your money on this one - Buy the Cisco Press one
Review: Don't make the same mistake I made! If you rely on this book to pass the BCMSN exam then you will need a miracle! The book has lots of technical errors to do with concepts associated with the BCMSN. I stopped reading it after the first two chapters. The title of the book is incorrect to start with. It should read "Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks" not "Building Cisco Multilayer Switching Networks" ! Some/all of the writers (and reviewers) just missed too many important concepts; and the figures are not illustrative of the concepts being discussed at all ! And the companion CD questions are not indicative of what's in the exam at all ! How do I know all this ? Because I passed the BCMSN thanks mostly to the Cisco Press book (by Karen Webb)
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to expand their knowledge of Multilayer Switching as well as preparing for the Switching exam. While I did find errors in the exams, John Bass responded promptly (in a matter of hours) to my questions regarding the errors and directed me to the fixes. Could you ask for much more? Nice job, Thomas, John, and James!
Rating:
Summary: Fraught with errors
Review: I just passed the BCMSN test but not thanks to this book. This book is fraught with errors, fortunately I was using Cisco materials and the Switching Exam Cram to find out the errors. They skipped over important information and not nearly enough on trunking etc. I had approximately 9 questions on the test about trunking and where was the information? Not here that's for sure. Oh and try the practice test on the CD, useless. It asks poorly and obscurely written questions that have nothing to do with the test. Buy something else
Rating: 
Summary: Good Overview with many errors
Review: I used this book as a add-on for the test preparation. Topics like switch configuration and network design were covered in a need-to-know manner. The case studies are way too long and tedious to read. The tests are erronous all over. There was not a single chapter where all the test questions were valid. The CD-ROM is of no help for the test preparation. The answers concerning routing (think of the RSM!) are 75% wrong. You can easily evaluate this by reading the ACRC course doc. or even in the book itsself. As a supplement to the course documentation this book is OK. For test preparation, have a look into a original Cisco course doc.
Rating: 
Summary: I Passed!
Review: I was pleased to have passed the BCMSN exam using only this book. Trying to pass cheaply, I only wanted to buy one book. I was not dissapointed. There are a few errors in the text; however, it was apparent those were typos. The CDROM included with the book is badly broken. Other have mentioned the RIP = Rest In Peace problem, that was a clue. I took the clue and started searching. www.osborne.com, under downloads, has the Errata and fix for the CDROM!The text explains all the networking basics and builds up from there. The configuration examples assumes you know the basics (i.e. have passed the CCNA or have related hands-on experience). The book was missing a section that defines all the icons and conventions used; however, a CCNA or cisco web site user will have no trouble.
Rating:
Summary: I Passed!
Review: I was pleased to have passed the BCMSN exam using only this book. Trying to pass cheaply, I only wanted to buy one book. I was not dissapointed. There are a few errors in the text; however, it was apparent those were typos. The CDROM included with the book is badly broken. Other have mentioned the RIP = Rest In Peace problem, that was a clue. I took the clue and started searching. www.osborne.com, under downloads, has the Errata and fix for the CDROM! The text explains all the networking basics and builds up from there. The configuration examples assumes you know the basics (i.e. have passed the CCNA or have related hands-on experience). The book was missing a section that defines all the icons and conventions used; however, a CCNA or cisco web site user will have no trouble.
Rating:
Summary: Book has several errors and the test is plagued with errors.
Review: I would be careful when reading this book there are several errors, and if you don't know what you are doing I wouldn't even bother using the self test as it will put incorrect answers in your head. There are at least five questions that are just obviously wrong. If you take the self test I would go over to CCO online, and verify that any answer the software gives you is correct. I am amazed that they allowed so many errors to make it into the final pressing of the CD.
Rating: 
Summary: Good overview but lacking in depth
Review: I'll give this book credit for the fact it is easy to read but that's about it. I had thought the Cisco Press book was lacking until I read this one. It's a decent book on switching but I didn't find it very useful for passing the CCNP switching exam. I would recommend the Cisco Press and the Todd Lammle books. Reading the two of them will surely prepare anybody for the exam. The McGraw Hill book just doesn't have the depth and isn't very accurate. I also noted that the technical editor is a CCNA/DA. I find it hard to believe that a technical editor can provide much insite on a study guide for a certification that is beyond what he has. Spend your money on Todd Lammle's and Karen Webb's books and let this dog lie.
Rating:
Summary: Disapointing
Review: The authors seemed to have rushed this, and so did the proof readers. There are several mistakes in the Q&A sections, and some areas that are treated quite superficially. I suspect that there are some gaps in the authors' knowledge - this may explain confusing and at times incorrect statements in the text, such as their explanation of VTP Pruning. Look around, I'm sure you'll find better than this.
Rating:
Summary: The Self Exam is the worst I have ran accross
Review: This book is not very in depth. Some of the important topics are covered very poor. If you really want to know the stuff and pass the BCMSN exam, get the Cisco press book on the same topic. Happy studying.
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