The proverbial term ‘boot camp’ comes from military jargon. In the military lingo boot camp training takes place after initial recruitment and is of the direct no nonsense type, same for the CCENT boot camp. The websites warn you that it is not for the fainthearted and you are forewarned before you take the course.

The CCENT boot camp lasts for a matter of days and is a practical hands on intensive training targeted to impart to you enough knowledge to make you pass your CCENT certification exam. The whole working day is packed with instruction, lab work and drills. The course is designed to instill into you the knowledge experience and skills needed to pass the CCENT certification.

The venues for the CCENT boot camp are all over the world, but as an example we will discuss one in the US located in Atlanta, Georgia that seems to be the norm. The regular fee is US$2495. There is an option for a platinum package worth US$4495 . This includes a 15” Dell Laptop and a 12 month access to the online IT Training library. The fee includes breakfasts and lunches, hands-on-instruction, course materials, practice exams and certification exams, onsite testing and airfare if classes are held for more than 3 days.

Besides giving hands on instructions, boot camp instructors share real world experiences with the trainees so that they are equipped to face the challenges they will face in their first jobs, most likely as a member of the support personnel for a small sized network in a branch office of a company.

Boot camp training practically guarantees passing of the certification exam so intensive is the training.. The instructors are cross trained and as such have a mastery of a variety of IT a skill which benefits the students. 100% money back is guaranteed if the student is not satisfied with the training. If the student fails the certification exam he or she can take part of or the whole course at no extra charge.

The course that is covered in the boot camp training session pertains to the syllabus and includes topics like description and operation of data networks which include learning the purpose and functions of various network devices, selecting the component to meet a required network specification., using theTCP I\P and OSI models to explain data flow in a network, describing common networking applications and web applications, knowledge of protocol operations in the osi and tcp models and knowledge of voice over IP and video over IP.You need to know how to interpret network diagrams and determine the path of 2 hosts across a network., identify and correct common network problems at layers 1,2,3 and 7.and differentiate between LAN\WAN operations.

The next topic that is covered is the implementation of a small switched network. Under this topic you need to know selection of appropriate media, cables, ports and connectors to connect switches to other networks, the technology and media control needed for Ethernet technologies, verify network status and switch operation using basic utilities.
The following topic that is covered is implementing an IP addressing scheme and IP services of a small network. Under this topic the subtopics that are discussed are description of the need and role of branching in a network and assignment of various IP addresses to hosts servers and network devices in a LAN environment.

Next discussed is implementation of a small routed network. Here you are taught various routing concepts and operation details of CISCO routers. You are also taught to identify security threats to your network and steps that should be taken to mitigate them. Finally you are taught to implement and verify WAN links.

So it is apparent that attending a CCENT boot camp gives the student a definite advantage over others in passing the certification exam and once he has acquired the certification the world is at his feet.