Need a PIX admin class, suggestions? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

liquidlight · 07-19-2007, 10:59 AM

I'm trying to learn more Cisco administration, and I'm wondering if any of you have taken classes that you could recommend, the PIX/ASA are my primary focus, but IOS in general would be helpful.

Really I'm just hoping that some of you have first hand experience so you can recommend a good school.

Thanks in advance!

bendsley · 07-19-2007, 01:38 PM

You might checkout the CCNA books at Barnes and Noble or similar. The ones from Cisco are the best I find.

Are you wanting to learn Switch/Router administration or PIX/ASA. You have to remember, PIX OS and IOS are different. They kinda have the same feel, but not really......if that makes any sense. I would pretty much move away from PIX stuff and focus on ASA, and switch/router administration. The PIX will most likely be going away pretty soon.

We use PIXs here where I work for VPN connectivity, and a concentrator for roaming sales people or incoming vpn clients (non-static tunnels). I will be replacing with ASA 5500 series soon just due to outdated hardware for the PIXs as well as I like the all in one solution.

liquidlight · 07-19-2007, 01:58 PM

We're on a PIX 515 currently and I'm hoping to get the budget for an ASA 5510 soon. I know the IOS stuff for the router admin pretty well, but I'm having trouble getting the PIX to do things the way that I'd like them too.

I'm trying to avoid doing a full CCNA because the routing/switching is just going to cost money that my manager isn't going to want to pay!

I'm hoping for an actual class as well so that I can get direct feedback from an experienced instructor, I have a couple of books already and wading through them borders on painful

kurty[B] · 07-19-2007, 02:11 PM

I haven't looked at any of the CCSP books to see if they have more information on PIX firewalls. As far as classes, look on cisco's website for Learning Partners/locations. I took my Cisco classes through Koenig Solutions in India and I'm assuming that travelling to another country is not an option. Classes vary wildly from place to place.

liquidlight · 07-19-2007, 02:19 PM

Thanks Kurty

they've got what I want, now I just have to figure out how to get to California to take the class! *checking web offerings*

Pragma · 07-19-2007, 05:09 PM

You can always find classes in your area - check Cisco's website. You can generally even take one class out of the CCSP track from somewhere. I do a decent amount of work with PIX and ASA boxes at work (we're phasing out the PIXes though, only a few left). They're pretty different from the routing & switching IOS but there are similarities.

I wouldn't let the R&S part keep you away from a CCNA if that's what you want. I bought the CCNA bookshelf from Cisco Press (about 100$ total) and it came with decent simulators. That combined with just playing around with really old stuff you can find on EBay for under 50$ was enough to get me to pass the class with flying colors. If you want it, go for it.

liquidlight · 07-20-2007, 09:36 AM

I'm pretty sure that with my experience with IOS up to this point I could pass the CCNA test with a little brush up, but I have to keep the PIX at work running correctly and it's thrown my some curveballs. (I'm a geek and I HATE not being able to make it do what I want it to!

)

I've been through the learning partners on Cisco.com and I'm finding precious little in my area for the CCSP class I'm interested in, though I may be looking in the wrong place!

dksuddeth · 07-21-2007, 12:38 AM

liquid, i've got numerous e-books on PIX at home. i'll PM you later today and see about emailing them to you.

07-19-2007, 10:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
liquidlight AHH! Custom Title!! Location: The twisted warpings of my brain.	Need a PIX admin class, suggestions? I'm trying to learn more Cisco administration, and I'm wondering if any of you have taken classes that you could recommend, the PIX/ASA are my primary focus, but IOS in general would be helpful. Really I'm just hoping that some of you have first hand experience so you can recommend a good school. Thanks in advance! __________________ Halfway to hell and picking up speed.

07-19-2007, 01:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
bendsley Professional Loafer Location: texas	You might checkout the CCNA books at Barnes and Noble or similar. The ones from Cisco are the best I find. Are you wanting to learn Switch/Router administration or PIX/ASA. You have to remember, PIX OS and IOS are different. They kinda have the same feel, but not really......if that makes any sense. I would pretty much move away from PIX stuff and focus on ASA, and switch/router administration. The PIX will most likely be going away pretty soon. We use PIXs here where I work for VPN connectivity, and a concentrator for roaming sales people or incoming vpn clients (non-static tunnels). I will be replacing with ASA 5500 series soon just due to outdated hardware for the PIXs as well as I like the all in one solution. __________________ "You hear the one about the fella who died, went to the pearly gates? St. Peter let him in. Sees a guy in a suit making a closing argument. Says, "Who's that?" St. Peter says, "Oh, that's God. Thinks he's Denny Crane."

07-19-2007, 01:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
liquidlight AHH! Custom Title!! Location: The twisted warpings of my brain.	We're on a PIX 515 currently and I'm hoping to get the budget for an ASA 5510 soon. I know the IOS stuff for the router admin pretty well, but I'm having trouble getting the PIX to do things the way that I'd like them too. I'm trying to avoid doing a full CCNA because the routing/switching is just going to cost money that my manager isn't going to want to pay! I'm hoping for an actual class as well so that I can get direct feedback from an experienced instructor, I have a couple of books already and wading through them borders on painful __________________ Halfway to hell and picking up speed.

07-19-2007, 02:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
liquidlight AHH! Custom Title!! Location: The twisted warpings of my brain.	Thanks Kurty they've got what I want, now I just have to figure out how to get to California to take the class! checking web offerings __________________ Halfway to hell and picking up speed.

07-19-2007, 05:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
Pragma I am Winter Born Location: Alexandria, VA	You can always find classes in your area - check Cisco's website. You can generally even take one class out of the CCSP track from somewhere. I do a decent amount of work with PIX and ASA boxes at work (we're phasing out the PIXes though, only a few left). They're pretty different from the routing & switching IOS but there are similarities. I wouldn't let the R&S part keep you away from a CCNA if that's what you want. I bought the CCNA bookshelf from Cisco Press (about 100$ total) and it came with decent simulators. That combined with just playing around with really old stuff you can find on EBay for under 50$ was enough to get me to pass the class with flying colors. If you want it, go for it. __________________ Eat antimatter, Posleen-boy!

07-19-2007, 02:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
kurty[B] Sauce Puppet	I haven't looked at any of the CCSP books to see if they have more information on PIX firewalls. As far as classes, look on cisco's website for Learning Partners/locations. I took my Cisco classes through Koenig Solutions in India and I'm assuming that travelling to another country is not an option. Classes vary wildly from place to place.

07-20-2007, 09:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
liquidlight AHH! Custom Title!! Location: The twisted warpings of my brain.	I'm pretty sure that with my experience with IOS up to this point I could pass the CCNA test with a little brush up, but I have to keep the PIX at work running correctly and it's thrown my some curveballs. (I'm a geek and I HATE not being able to make it do what I want it to! ) I've been through the learning partners on Cisco.com and I'm finding precious little in my area for the CCSP class I'm interested in, though I may be looking in the wrong place! __________________ Halfway to hell and picking up speed.

07-21-2007, 12:38 AM	#8 (permalink)
dksuddeth Junkie Location: bedford, tx	liquid, i've got numerous e-books on PIX at home. i'll PM you later today and see about emailing them to you. __________________ "no amount of force can control a free man, a man whose mind is free. No, not the rack, not fission bombs, not anything. You cannot conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him."