Rating: 
Summary: CCNP/CCIP: BSCI Study Guide
Review: Book prepares you for the exam. If you can answer the questions in book you can pass the exam without any problem. Very technically sound book. It can be used as a great reference manual after the test. I can't wait for this author to come out with more books of this caliber. This book is the next best thing to seeing the author live.
Rating:
Summary: Carl Timm really pulls it together
Review: Carl Timm who wrote most of this book and will write the updated 642 test version really knows this material. The preparatory reading from this book and Timm's style of writing (that is often credited elsewhere) really prepared me for the hardest of the CCNP tests. This is a crucial exam and topic as it covers material required for the BSCI test required for the CCNP, CCDP, CCIP and is good prep heading into the CCIE R&S. While I had critical experience in the field with this technology, the material is presented very well and is a great prep for the exam. The key is to read this material and understand it. This will not cram you for the exam, but lays the groundwork for better understanding of the topics which will carry you further than just passing the test. If you can correctly answer the practice questions throughout the book, you will demonstrate your command of the material (and pass the test).
Rating:
Summary: Carl Timm really pulls it together
Review: Carl Timm who wrote most of this book and will write the updated 642 test version really knows this material. The preparatory reading from this book and Timm's style of writing (that is often credited elsewhere) really prepared me for the hardest of the CCNP tests. This is a crucial exam and topic as it covers material required for the BSCI test required for the CCNP, CCDP, CCIP and is good prep heading into the CCIE R&S. While I had critical experience in the field with this technology, the material is presented very well and is a great prep for the exam. The key is to read this material and understand it. This will not cram you for the exam, but lays the groundwork for better understanding of the topics which will carry you further than just passing the test. If you can correctly answer the practice questions throughout the book, you will demonstrate your command of the material (and pass the test).
Rating:
Summary: Lammle has done it again - no surprise here!
Review: Having used Todd Lammle's CCNA study guide to pass the exam I found that his books have the unique ability to convey the information without losing the reader in the process. This book, while for the 640-901 exam can also be used to study for the 640-603 routing exam and it too is easy to follow. In just over 640 pages you begin with the customary Sybex subject assessment test. From there you have over 60 written and Hand-on labs as well as over 75 challenge labs, what might be added to the next version is a simulator to go with the book. The author's give more than enough information to exceed the exam objective, the material is presented in a clear yet detailed manner, which includes diagrams with screenshots of the router code to aide in the visual learning process. Topics like IP Addressing, IGRP, EIGRP, OSPF in both single and multiple arenas, IS-IS and BGP are discussed and practiced. The book has a cdrom which include the e-book the study guide as well as over 200 practice questions to prepare for the live exam. Once again Todd Lammle has succeeded in producing a top of the line manual and study guide.
Rating: 
Summary: Too unclear to follow
Review: I bought this book because I loved his CCNA one. But this book just turned out to be too difficult to follow: too many unclear expressions. You need another book before reading this one. I dont recoomend you to buy this one if you are new to BSCI.
Rating: 
Summary: Explanation of critical information is not very clear
Review: I bought this book because it has a section that covered IS-IS which required by the BSCI exam and also because of positive reviews. However, there are many paragraphs through out the books were poorly written. The information that readers need to know are about the subjects seem to cover all but the author(s) failed to explain these subjects clearly. I found the Internetwork Design Guide document from Cisco web site explain the EIGRP convergence process much clearer and easier to understand than from this book. Consider this paragraph explaining the Diffusing Update ALgorithm from this book: (This is one of the six responses that the neighbor router will use to reply to the query. The second sentence is very difficult to understand...) "6. If the neighbor has other neighbors besides the querying router, it will propagate the query to its other neighbors. When it doesn't have an alternate route, the route is through the router that sent the query, or the route is not through a feasible successor. The process will then occur on each of the routers receiving the propagated query." You will found many similar paragraphs as listed in above example throughout the book. In order to thoroughly prepare for the exam, I found myself reading additional materials from Cisco and other sources. It would be best if one book is all that one needs to study for the test. I'm not suggesting not to buy this book but perhaps it is best if one should read the book from the book store first before making the decision to buy it or not.
Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: I can tell this book is written by a CCIE. The lab and the practical examples are helpful. The chapters on ISIS and BGP are excellent. I believe this book is helpful for those studying for CCIE.
Rating:
Summary: From a BrandNew CCNP
Review: I found the BSCI exam the hardest of the 4 and without this book I am not sure I would have passed. The Author (who I found out is mostly Carl Timm) did a great job teaching the information - not just the test - I found the questions in the back to be tough - real tough - probably tougher than the actual exam. BUT - if you can answer them you are in. Don't memorize test questions - follow the book - pay attention to what the author is telling you and you are in. But you better know the information. Find a good sim or some equipment to play on and get THIS book. I passed my last test today and I am stoked - So I thought I would share the credit some. CCIE - here I come.
Rating:
Summary: From a BrandNew CCNP
Review: I found the BSCI exam the hardest of the 4 and without this book I am not sure I would have passed. The Author (who I found out is mostly Carl Timm) did a great job teaching the information - not just the test - I found the questions in the back to be tough - real tough - probably tougher than the actual exam. BUT - if you can answer them you are in. Don't memorize test questions - follow the book - pay attention to what the author is telling you and you are in. But you better know the information. Find a good sim or some equipment to play on and get THIS book. I passed my last test today and I am stoked - So I thought I would share the credit some. CCIE - here I come.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: I recently finished the CCIE Routing and Switching exam and decided to start down the path of CCIP. One of the complaints that I have always had is their are no good sources for IS-IS. This book contains the best coverage of IS-IS that I've seen. It will also give you and in-depth understanding of IGRP, EIGRP, OSPF, and BGP. I found the hands-on labs throughout the book and the challenge labs in the back to be extremely helpful. Well worth the price of admission!
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