Welcome to the exciting world of Cisco certification! You have picked up this book because you
want something better—namely, a better job with more satisfaction. Rest assured that you have
made a good decision. Cisco certification can help you get your first networking job, or more
money and a promotion if you are already in the field.
Cisco certification can also improve your understanding of the internetworking of more than
just Cisco products: You will develop a complete understanding of networking and how different
network topologies work together to form a network. This is beneficial to every networking
job and is the reason Cisco certification is in such high demand, even at companies with few
Cisco devices.
Cisco is the king of routing and switching, the Microsoft of the internetworking world. The
Cisco certifications reach beyond the popular certifications, such as the MCSE and CNE, to
provide you with an indispensable factor in understanding today’s network—insight into the
Cisco world of internetworking. By deciding that you want to become Cisco certified, you are
saying that you want to be the best—the best at routing and the best at switching. This book will
lead you in that direction.
