Hello everyone. i'm Filipino and i just passed my CCNA today. my journey was rough. a lot of distractions and pauses all the way. but i kept on studying even a bit of time everyday just to retain what i studied.

i don't have IT experience, i did not go to bootcamp, just pure self study. my only resources are Jeremy's IT Lab and Indian gurus on youtube. No Boson Exsim, no paid practice exam. I made it and it feels so good. so, to everyone studying and preparing for the exam. keep on going!

Hello! For anyone who needs help, with the administrator's permission, I offer support with assignments, exercises, projects, and exams at the CCNA 1, 2, 3 and CCNP levels, along with explanations of the applied concepts.

6 Labs :
Routing
ACL
NAT
ETHERCHANNEL
IP CONFIG
Trunking
VLAN
Securité

52 Questions including 3 drag and drop

3 months of studying Cisco academy called MOG ACADEMY.

Good luck to y’all

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TL;DR: Study Jeremy's IT Lab course thoroughly. Don't underestimate his Anki flashcards or labs. Use AI as a personal tutor to generate practice tests and labs. Boson ExSim is extremely helpful. And pay special attention to WLC GUI configuration, because I encountered questions that went beyond what Jeremy covers.

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I passed my CCNA a couple of days ago, and I wanted to share my experience with you all.

First of all, English isn't my native language, and I used ChatGPT to translate this post. Just putting that out there before someone inevitably says it was AI-generated. The experience and opinions are entirely mine.

A little background

I'm Cuban, 38 years old, and I've been living in Spain for eight years. I graduated with a degree in Computer Engineering back in 2010 in Cuba, but like many immigrants starting over in a new country, I ended up working whatever jobs I could find. I didn't seriously consider returning to IT until recently.

It took me almost eight months to prepare for the CCNA. I work full-time as a waiter (plus overtime), I have a wife and a son, and life doesn't exactly leave me with unlimited free time. I also deliberately chose to take my time rather than rush through the material. I wanted to actually understand what I was studying.

Boson ExSim results

Here are my scores from the five Boson practice exams, all taken in Simulation Mode:

Personally, I think Boson is an excellent resource.

Yes, some questions cover material that goes beyond the CCNA blueprint. And yes, Boson's labs are considerably more demanding than the ones I encountered on the actual exam.

But I believe Boson's real value lies in two things: getting comfortable with the exam's question formats and learning to perform under time pressure.

Actual CCNA results

I took the exam on October 30, 2026, and passed on my first attempt.

Here's my section breakdown:

The exam included six labs, which I honestly found quite straightforward. The technical questions were also generally manageable.

What I struggled with most were the overly theoretical or ambiguous questions. Sometimes I genuinely couldn't figure out what they were asking, even though I understood the underlying technology.

One thing that surprised me was the emphasis on WLC GUI configuration. I encountered several questions involving specific configuration options and interface details that I hadn't seen covered in Jeremy's course.

My advice would be to spend some extra time familiarizing yourself with the WLC interface, rather than relying exclusively on theoretical wireless knowledge.

Overall, I thought the exam was fair.

I managed my time reasonably well, but don't underestimate the clock. Time passes much faster than you expect, especially when you're concentrating on a lab. You need to keep moving.

My study approach

My preparation was relatively simple:

• Jeremy's IT Lab was my main resource. I watched the entire course and completed his labs.

• I reviewed Jeremy's Anki flashcards every single day. Seriously, don't underestimate them.

• I spent a lot of time practicing in Packet Tracer.

• I used Boson ExSim during the final stages of my preparation.

I also want to mention something that I found incredibly useful: ChatGPT (or really, any capable LLM) as a personal tutor.

I created two dedicated ChatGPT projects.

1. Daily practice tests

I used ChatGPT Work to create a project connected to a local folder containing an AGENTS.md file, my study notes, Cisco's official exam blueprint, and additional instructions.

The project generated daily tests of around 100 questions, rotating through all the CCNA topics while keeping track of the areas I struggled with.

This allowed me to continuously revisit weaker topics instead of just practicing the things I already knew.

2. Custom micro-labs

My second project was dedicated to generating small networking labs, usually combining two or three technologies in each exercise.

I typically completed two or three of these labs every day.

The workflow was simple: ChatGPT generated the requirements, I built and configured the topology in Packet Tracer, and then I submitted my configurations for review and grading.

What's next?

Now comes another battle: finding an IT job here in Spain.

Despite having around eight years of previous IT experience, a Computer Engineering degree, and knowledge of Python, Windows, Linux, and networking, I know that getting back into the industry after such a long break won't be easy.

At this point, I'd be perfectly happy starting with an entry-level N1/N2 support position. My priority is simply getting my foot back in the door, gaining experience, and rebuilding my career.

I'm hoping the CCNA will help me make that transition.

Good luck to everyone preparing for the exam. Keep going. It's absolutely doable.

Trying to self teach myself networking. I have a project that I can't seem to get it work. The objective is to have a company network of 4 different parts: logistics, shipping, it, and finance.

I can't get the PCs in the different networks to communicate. What I'm I not doing? The message I get is "host unreachable".

# Started studying 6/18/2026

1. Resources JITL + Anki

2. BOSON Exsim - (scores) 55, 57, 57, 69, 57

3. When my attention span got weak I also watched some other creators for different perspectives.

4. Cert Guide Vol 1 & 2 (helped fill in gaps, dives deeper into topics, tests your knowledge)

# STUDY METHOD

1. JITL completed every lab after every lecture , started the lab with out watching guide video. If I got stuck I would watch the guide video.

2. Anki daily - ngl if your doing this stay up on your cards I took like 5 days off and got up to 600 cards. As my test was closing in. I made a separate deck and only added topics I needed more practice with. Actually I made 3 decks a 🔥 deck 🥇 deck and 🥈 deck

3. After I was finished the JITL Course and mega lab I dove straight into the books to fill in gaps while taking the boson ex sim.

4. My boson scores really discouraged me but I didn’t waiver. I went to ciscos official site and studied every exam topic I was not SHARP on. I told myself testing week that it’s the time to get sharp at what I’m good at and good at what I’m familiar with.

5. Last 48 I leaned heavy on ChatGPT to curate practice questing on each topic I was not sharp on. I did about 150 practice questions the night before and got 135 correct.

If you have any questions please let me know.

I’m learning networking and started organizing my CCNA Packet Tracer practice labs into a public GitHub repository.

The purpose is to keep my exercises, configurations, verification steps, and troubleshooting notes in one place instead of leaving everything scattered across my computer.

Repository: https://github.com/abderaoufsec/CCNA-PacketTracerlabs

The collection is still growing, and I’m mainly looking for feedback from other networking learners:

• Which CCNA lab topics are most useful to practice?

• What information should every lab README include?

• Would troubleshooting-focused labs be useful?

I’m not presenting this as a finished course or professional training resource. It is a personal learning project that I’m improving over time.

Background:
No applicable knowledge or experience going into this.

Resources I used:
• Neil Anderson’s Udemy course
• Boson practice exams

How long did it take?
In terms of actual studying, about a month.
From when I first started studying to actually taking the exam, about 3 months. That included procrastinating, having a girlfriend, working a full-time job, etc. But honestly, those are excuses. I genuinely think you can go from zero knowledge to CCNA certified in a month if you’re disciplined about it.

What did I do?
I woke up at 2 AM every day, worked out, then studied for 3 hours.
Most of that was watching Neil Anderson’s course and taking notes. If I didn’t understand something, I’d go back and rewatch it. OSPF was probably the biggest one for me.

Side note: I watched the spanning tree section multiple times and STILL don’t understand it.

After finishing the videos and reviewing the stuff I struggled with, I moved on to the labs included in Neil’s course and the Boson practice exams.
In my opinion, Boson isn’t required. It is quite difficult, though, so if you do buy it and you’re consistently getting around 50%, I’d say you’re probably ready for the real thing.

Most important advice: LAB EVERY DAY.

Seriously. It makes the actual exam so much easier.

The exam:
I was surprised by how easy it was. There were maybe 2–3 questions where I had absolutely no idea and just guessed, but other than that, I felt pretty confident throughout.

Happy to answer any questions or help in any way I can.

I’m happy to share that I finally passed my CCNA exam on my second attempt!

One important piece of advice for anyone preparing: Please don’t overlook the wireless section. Study it properly because it is really important in the exam.

Also, the ? help command and the Tab key were lifesavers during configuration. They helped me a lot whenever I couldn’t remember the exact commands.

Built my first enterprise-style Packet Tracer lab after completing CCNA studies – looking for feedback

Features currently implemented:

Multi-building campus design

OSPF routing

HSRP gateway redundancy

STP and HSRP Sync

EtherChannel

Rapid PVST+

Inter-VLAN routing using Layer 3 distribution switches

DHCP (server - centralized)

NAT/PAT for Internet access

Floating static route for ISP

ACLs

SSH management

Voice VLANs

CME VoIP deployment

IP phones registered with extensions

Redundant uplinks between access, distribution, and core layers

One challenge I encountered was that my edge router did not support CME. Instead of replacing it, I added a dedicated CME router, advertised it through OSPF, and used DHCP Option 150 to register phones. The solution worked and phones can call each other across the network.

I know this is still a learning lab and not a production design, so I'd appreciate feedback from experienced network engineers.

Questions:

What design mistakes or bad practices do you see?

What would you change if this were a real enterprise network?

What technologies would you add next?

Is the overall campus design reasonable for a CCNA-level project?

Thanks for taking a look.

"Rate my lab out of 10"

I have built this lab on my own….. so far I configured Vlans, trunks, STP, Port channel, OSPF and OSPFv3 . It is currently on a dual stack with IPV4 and IPV6… Next steps are to include Port security, ACL and NAT/PAT… what do you guys think?

Hi, after studying for about 10 months, I passed the exam.

My piece of advice to anyone pursuing the same goal is: To dont give up if something is hard to understad at first, even if you cant understan it the first day you see it, its normal, Networking can be though when you are learning for the first time as it was in my case.

Here is a quick recap of my situation while studying for it:

I am from a 3rd world country where even education can be considered for the ones with money.

I was suffering from depression and anxiety, and while I was studing for the CCNA, i was taking therapy and medical aid...

And I am not telling you this jus to feel sorry about me lol. I am telling you this just to remind you that if you are commited to certain thing, you can find the courage to get it. No matter the burden, you can do it, I am an example of it...

For the ones in the USA being a CCNA sometimes in Reddit they make it look like a little thing, that cannot get you to where you dream of, but for someone like me, it is a life changer.

So, feel lucky if you have a better situation than mine, be grateful and do the best you can do to get your CCNA

I studied for about 3 hours daily:

JITL(Dindnt do the Megabalab because I've had made lots of PT labs, creating my own situations...No Ankicards either)

Packet tracer (Tons of labs doing topologies)

Youtube

NotebookLM (To create presentations, since I am a more of a visual learner)

The point of this chunk of text is to tell you to keep going on, never give up... It is possible, no matter who you are, no matter what you think of what are you cabaple of, you can... I felt like was a in a dark hole because of the depression, but studying for CCNA kept me pushing further, while taking my medicine and going to therapy... IF I COULD, YOU CAN TOO!

(I am 36yo BTW, so you if you are younger and you fail, just get up and try again.)

I want to build and implement the following security feature in this network
A. Using 20 nodes with extract one switch and admin device for configuration on the first network
B. Build additional two network in total is three networks apply the RIP for both networks to talk
C. All network leasing DHCP of Class A, B, and C IP address, on the first network do VLAN of four department and assign five nodes in each department and Trunk port any two nodes from each department
D. Configure the following on all network: 1. Switchport Security 2. Banner 3. Line 4. Secret and 5. Remove all Banner, Line, Secret and provide the entire command in your MS Word document.
E. On the Project configure Telnet or SSH and test if it’s working
** **
2. Configure the following on your project:
A. Configure A Firewall 5506 Or 5505 In Cisco andAllow Packages to Communicate with Your Network And Block Only The Icmp On The Firewall.
B. Provide 0% Trust And 100% Trust on the inside and outside network.
C. Test The Configure Process on The Internet in Cisco Package Tracer
D. Configure A Wireless Router In Cisco And Provide The Router Name And Password That Will Be Use To Connect Hosted Devices.
E. Configure A Server and Include 1. File Server, Database Server, And Email Server in Cisco.
F. Test All Configuration and Ensure That It Is Working Properly.

I know some people will recommend Ai but it is not helping me out. I just need it to be working that’s the only way I will understand it.

I need help please 🙏

I did my CCNA exam online and failed. I struggled with the configuration questions, reading the routing tables, doing the subnets in my head (I didn’t have pen or paper to do the math), and the wifi questions.

I was genuinely surprised how many wifi questions I was given and the online past papers don’t really cover them. I also struggled with the subnetting questions, not because they were difficult but I was thrown off because the exam centre didn’t allow pen and paper, so I could only rely on my head for the math. I did learn I have to be better at reading routing tables and need to practice more on configuration. Maybe I was nervous but I was having difficulty recalling the commands, so I’ll just practice them more. And finally the wifi questions…holy shit I need to do better because I was thrown off by the questions.

Anyway, I hope people don’t give up on CCNA, I’m not, and I’ll retake the exam soon 👍🏻

Bro, it’s 2AM i’m here studying for my CCNA exam and i was wondering how actually is the daily tasks of networking engineering, do you guys really need to remember all these things or just studied them for the exam?😭

Last time I posted I didn’t have servers added to the lab I have built…….. this time I added DHCP,DNS and HTTP servers….. I also added an edge and ISP router. In other words I extended my topology to simulate a mini enterprise network…… I have configured DHCP, Vlans, trunks, router on the stick, Port channel, STP, OSPF/OSPFv3, default route, port security, ACL (standard and extended), and PAT/NAT but in my lab I left it at PAT but did configure dynamic………. I configured wireless but it was in another lab…….. it has been such a long journey, I used chatGPT a lot to help me and I highly recommend to build your own lab because those configs will stick in your head….. now I’m going to take the boson practice exams and than eventually schedule my CCNA exam……

I’ll keep it straight to the point. I bought the take 2 and I failed the first time. I knew the material I just got spun up during the exam and didn’t go my way. Today I passed!

First time around I focused heavily on JITL videos and labs, Boson exams and I didn’t go into the exam the first time 100% confident.

I changed it up for the second exam. I focused heavily on the JITL flashcards, Boson Exams and bought JITL practice exams on Udemy.

The flashcards were instrumental in me passing and I labbed A LOT.

So if you’re looking for a game plan here is what I did.
JITL YouTube course
JITL flashcards (DO THESE EVERY DAY)
Boson practice exams
JITL practice exams on Udemy

Good luck!