Encore 350-401 recommended book or resource

[Lassek]

Hi

What book would you recommend for 350-401?

In the past I had used the Cisco Official cert guide and although useful it can be a bit 'dry'.

I also have an active susbcription to CBT Nuggets which I will be using.

Cheers

Lassek

[liviu.gheorghe]

Hello @Lassek ,

I've always used the Cisco Official cert guide - CCNP and CCIE Enterprise Core ENCOR 350-401 Official Cert Guide, 2nd Edition - published last year.

CBT Nuggets are also nice.

And don't forget about Cisco Documentation for anything that is missing or not covered in greater detail in the OCG.

Hope this helps.

[liviu.gheorghe]

Also don't forget about practice while you are learning. I found that it's easier to learn and it sticks with you for more time if you try out the

show

commands or configure some technology like DMVPN for example.

It will help you with the lablets - little configuration task you have on the exam.

Anything you choose is better than nothing - either you have real equipment you can do labs on them, or EveNG or Cisco Modelling Labs (CML) which is great for a 200 USD per year subscription.  

[Lassek]

Thanks

I’ve always used GNS3, ive got lots of images for the routers. What are your thoughts on that? 

[liviu.gheorghe · Accepted solution]

I tried using GNS3 a few years back when PC resources were not so abundant as today - for that reason it seemed slow to me and sicked with real cisco equipment.

Present time - I am happy using CML, but like I said in my previous post - anything is better than nothing. If you are happy with GNS3, stick with it.

[Lassek]

Hi

Looking through Cisco Press I found two books for Encore, published both roughly at the same time and pretty much by the same people. One costs $63.99  and the other one $95.99 this one is authored by the same people as the first one plus Raymond Lacoste

The price difference is susbtantial and as far as I can tell the only difference is that the more expensive one offers 90 more minutes of videos and also flash cards.

Which one would you recommend?

Thanks

Lassek

[liviu.gheorghe · Accepted solution]

Hi @Lassek , 

There is CCNP and CCIE Enterprise Core ENCOR 350-401 Official Cert Guide, 2nd Edition which is only for the ENCOR 350-401 exam. The Premium eBook (digital only) is $63.99 - https://www.ciscopress.com/store/ccnp-and-ccie-enterprise-core-encor-350-401-official-9780138216764

The second one I think you are referring is CCNP Enterprise Core ENCOR 350-401 and Advanced Routing ENARSI 300-410 Official Cert Guide Library, 2nd Edition which is actually two books, one for the ENCOR 350-401 exam and another for ENARSI 300-410 exam. Both of them are great books - printed version. 

Which one I would recommend? It really depends on what your plans are. You are focusing on the ENCOR now, but once you will pass the exam what will your next exam be? ENARSI is a great exam and mastering routing will help you in the log run with your networking career. There are other concentration exam you can take to become a CCNP - there is Design, SD-WAN, Automation, Cloud connectivity and Wireless.

Hope this helps.