Each lab follows a consistent format:
| | Action | Time | |----------|------------|----------| | 1 | Read theory (e.g., Odom’s OCG or Lammle’s book) | 4–6 weeks | | 2 | Watch video course (e.g., Neil Anderson, David Bombal) | 2–3 weeks | | 3 | Complete 101 Labs – do 5–10 labs daily | 2–3 weeks | | 4 | Re-do the troubleshooting labs (97–101) | 1 week | | 5 | Take practice exams (Boson ExSim or Kaplan) | 1–2 weeks |
A common question is: "Why 101? Why not just 5 labs that cover everything?"
| | Type | Best for | How 101 Labs compares | |--------------|----------|--------------|----------------------------| | CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide (Odom) | Theory + some config | Deep conceptual understanding | Labs book is purely hands-on – complementary, not a replacement. | | 31 Days Before Your CCNA Exam | Review & cram | Last-minute review | 101 Labs is for building skill over weeks/months, not cramming. | | Cisco Packet Tracer Activities (NetAcad) | Guided labs | Structured course labs | More varied, but 101 Labs is standalone and more exam-focused. | | David Bombal’s Packet Tracer Labs (video) | Video walkthroughs | Visual learners | Book is text-based; both excellent – choose based on learning style. |