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A good idea to protect the certification exams and candidates' investment is to expand the test pool. Say, if we have a pool with 10,000 questions - just an example - and every single exam consists of 60 questions, then it is much more difficult for brain dumpers to memorize and pass the exam. It will cost much more to develop the exams for sure.

People using brain dump to prepare (if this can be called 'prepare') for cert exams wish to get the cert ASAP for job hunting. They always speak to themselves: 'Well, I must get the cert first since I need it. I promise to dig into the subject after getting a job.'

This of course is an excuse. But there are considerably a number of people do that. To them, study is not a journey but just a destination.

Im not even coming back to that

100 new exam quesions a quarter, too labour intensive the cost would be astronomical.

Yes fresh exams but the IRRELEVENT bit is the choice of the cheater not how new an exam is.

If the exam is popular and valuable there will be dumps

Im really pleased you have $30k to splash on exams, most people like me have to save for exams and scratch to put food on the table, not noce seeing every third post with how much you have to play with, how much your boks were etc Darby, many people are dirt poor, wind the money bags in a bit and the "How bigs my lab" not envious nor jealous I just feel its a litlle tiring when probably 90% of the people here are scratching to move up the ladder.

hi all , thanks for reply all , really it helps me to read your notes and share with me your experince and I have to notify that i don't search for a method to cheat but I I try to find my way to be 100% percent to pass the exam .
thanks for CWNP they have now an amazing offer ... I think most of you heared about it.. if you fail in an exam you can take a second shot .. woooooooow amazing.
thanks again

Walied shendi
Senior project manager
CCNA , CCNP

Walied: summary of materials used for CWNA prep.

(1) Exam objectives

(2) Official study guide by Sybex

(3) Official practice tests from CWNP

(4) Recommended white paper

(5) Official CWNA training DVD by TrainSignal (if budget permits)

(6) This forum

(7) Google & Wiki

Definitely the work experience will help you a lot to prepare for the exam.

"Braindumping" won't help JACK when you are being interviewed by a senior supervisor or knowledgeable client! That whole thing hits a sore spot with me because I studied my ass off to pass the CWNA. I say if they want to cheat, let em, but it won't help their ass when they are 100ft on a tower and need to align/troubleshoot an antenna or bridge link.

And I'm not accusing anyone here...I'm just saying it is total BS. Haha.

Pete,

I'm sorry about the budget thing. What I am saying is like any successful company I invest in the Plant, R&D, and Advertising.

I do all three.

Anyone who has followed me over the years might know that I started off with nothing. I sent the clothes off my back at 18 and did it all by myself. Well I took the military route. I invested in the G.I. Bill when given the chance and the first thing I did was use it when I got out of the military.

Before getting out of the military - I had to start all over again:

1. Divorced/Remarried

2. Fresh from Bankruptcy, Repossession, and quite frankly - on foot.

3. Couldn't get $100.00 credit at Best Buy.

4. Medically discharged as a disabled veteran (no monthly income either).

---------------

So... not quite born with any sort of silver spoon my friend. None at all.

I worked hard. I taught myself computers from the ground up before there were certs (or at least before I started getting certified since $100.00 was an awful lot just to take a test for me).

I started my own business - all by myself with the little money I had left from my medical discharge from the Navy. Actually I don't think it was even $1000.00.

I got pretty good at the Computer Tech and Consultant gig and the bigger you are the harder you fall in an industry of peaks and deep valleys. I found out the hard way. I lost over $20,000.00 cash in one month. I got a bailout from my wife - which I paid back - every penny. It took me a while to do it too.

I've since promised myself to NEVER/EVER be at a career or consulting disadvantage again.

My friends go on cruises, safaris in Africa, and other countries to visit, party or pray.

Me, I invest in my books, lab, and myself.

Some drink, gamble, or whatever else.

Me, I invest in my books, lab, and myself.

Sorry if the story offends you. I live it every day.

I'm actually very proud of where I started, where I am now, and where I'm going with my career.

Lots of people tell me it is inspiring and that in turn inspires me further.

It's easier to do when you are committed to so many others too.

==========================

Almost forgot: I totally believe in paying my dues for my successes and those that helped me to get where i am now. This means I support my training vendors, my book writers and publishers, and everyone else in the food chain. I like to think by spreading it around it helps us all and it it important for everyone to realize what this whole process actually costs to acquire and maintain.

I'm fortunate: I've consistently had the ability to work for great employers. I'm also fortunate that I've had the ability to be well compensated for my efforts. It's also nice to work for those great employers who believe that technology is a key ingredient to their own success.

I think everyone needs to be aware that we can actually pay and some of do actually pay as much to maintain our profession as say a doctor, lawyer, dentist, or mostly any other well respected profession might.

Sorry it's the flip of the people who want to get certified without paying a dime and some without even studying...

My work is my profession.

Did you see the scene in "300"...

What is your profession?

Mine is Network Engineer and I'm very much a Spartan when it comes to my profession.

No ones suggesting you were born with a silver spoon iin your mouth, or saying that you haven't and don't continue to work hard. I have read your blog, well a lot of it and yes its an admirable achievement. What I am suggesting, is that sometime you like it both ways, there are guys here starting out and success stories are great, we all need our heros and icons. I have several in the IT world and I know I will never be as good as they are a what they do. That one of the reasons I have chosen wireless, its new its fresh and Im in at the ground floor.

Many times Ive been told Im not as good as or I couldnt do. Equally as many times I have proven people wrong. However, its much better to go about it quietly, people will ask whats your story, whats in your lab etc.

I just sense and feel its a little in your face. I know Ive been there were you want to shout from the roof tops but hey we just rain it in.

If I had $30k to spend on training I wouldnt as I dont need that much training. I need what I need for where I want to be, as for the 7 CCIE well fair play but its never been done and there will be people expecting you to fail, even Cisco.

Now if you went and got one and had said nothing hey thats success, now if you say your going for seven and get six thats a failure. Amazing achievement as Roman has done but it would be a failure if you say your getting seven.

Itemper things with humility, I know more than many of my clients but recognise my short commings, I drive a better car than most of my freinds but I dont tell them it cost x or y. Theres no need.

Yeah I know you can get excited when you get a new book or order it, I know I do but I dont post the price, I might say ordered book x, Book x turned up today, but if someone wants to know the rice they can g on amazon.

Just my personal thoughts, I may be wrong, I think your a good guy that I could learn alot form, you've had some good opportunities and maximised them, some tough breaks along the way as we all have.

I see your point.

I've never been quiet nor have I ever been shy.

A couple of my sayings from growing up:

I don't know who is going to "win" (the fight), people have different vantage points, but... I know who is not going to lose!

I'm as proud of my failures as I am of my achievements - It took me both to get where I am today.

Another saying I live by:

I've never been worried about taking a punch or losing a fight and I love to win!

I don't think I'm changing any time soon, stripes on a tiger don't wash away.

It actually motivates me to try harder and harder.

In the end, I'm in business and I measure things with dollars and cents. True some things are intrinsic but few people seem to truly enjoy this stuff so much that it is their one desire. That's where I come in.

I think the term is coined: Passive-Obsessive. I guess I may be wrong - I no psychologist but I'm probably well over the obsessive mark.

So I am a bit extreme about my passions, and I'm not sure I could change it if I tried. I might find something else but then - I'd not be doing the "one thing".

My cousins used to say I had a "one-track" mind or something like that and I guess that is true to.

I definitely have to immerse myself to get good at something.

Can't help it really.

Everyone needs goals and I set the stage for mine - pass or fail. It's out there.

I'm not Roman. He used a different alias and everything as he was attaining 5 CCIEs on Groupstudy as I recall and still waited to announce his success. That's his perspective.

It seems I'm a bit more public about what it takes to pass and to fail.

Also, I think people can benchmark using a guy like me as an example: I run enterprise networks hopefully to my employer's satisfaction. I attain raises, promotions, etc. just like everyone else.

I think my story allows people to get an idea of what to expect from someone who has 6 CCIE's like Roman for example - versus a CCxP like me who is a step less on the totem pole as far as certifications go. So a given specialist might be a grade better than a CCxP.

Few multi-CCIE's have the same breadth of and depth of skills as I. Some have more, no doubt.

I'm just a publicly viewable benchmark at the end of the day.

Hey! I gotta catch up on my CWNA homework and get my log for the blog ready.

Darby

No worries Darby

I can see your passionate and thats no bad thing, I have a lot of respect for you and your achievements to date, I willl be following your blog etc.

I am just starting out though a little older than some no doubt.

I hope some opportunities come from my personal battles and sacrifices and I wish everyone nothing but good luck, as long as they do it the right way, with personal endeavour.

Yes be proud of your failures as they make you a better person, you probably learn morefrom them than your successes.

To everyone here not just Darby we are all in this together and support each other.

I am seriously behind on study due to work and being intrigued by this forum, loving it but gota get back to reality, work for me this weekend, gota catch up on paperwork as a busy week next week.

Nah, maybe not passive obsessive Darby, but you sure do have a military mindset to how you approach it. Sometimes that can seem obsessive but I think its more a singular mind to get to where you want to be. In some situations that's a great skill but in others you need to be more flexible. The real point is if what you do works for you. I assume from your postings you've had some pretty good success career wise with your single minded approach to things. Just step back and remember that approach doesn't work for everyone and some of us also value being able to see the world, going on cruises and personal relationships more than our careers. I see the value in hard work, but I also see value in things beyond work. Don't discount someone else's handling of their career simply because they are not as focused as you are. If they get what they want out of it perhaps that's just as important.