Your Options with the Two CCNA 200-301 Books: Volume 1 and 2

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We – Cisco Press and I – decided to produce two volumes for the new CCNA 200-301 exam. We can explain the what and the why in a sentence each, but the two-volume approach presents additional questions about what to buy, particularly with the current rollout schedule.

In this post, I’ll hit the what, the why, and get into your purchase options at each phase over the next few months – focusing on how to get the books at the least cost and the quickest, depending on your goals.


CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide in Two Volumes: What and Why

First, the what.

We separate the content for the CCNA 200-301 into two books (volumes). Volume 1 covers a subset of the exam topics for CCNA 200-301, with Volume 2 covering the rest. In particular:

CCNA 200-301 OCG Volume 1: Fundamentals, Ethernet Switching, IPv4/IPv6 routing, and Wireless LANs.

CCNA 200-301 OCG Volume 2: Security, IP Services, Architecture, and Automation.

Why two volumes instead of one? The size. We considered producing one volume, but we estimated it would have been roughly 1300 pages long. At that size, using the physical print book would be a pain – too unwieldy and heavy to carry around. So instead, we made a two-volume set, with the usual plan to sell them for less as a 2-book Library. (More on the 2-volume Library later in this post!)

CCNA 200-301 Cert Guides: Content Breakdown

If you look at the exam topics for CCNA 200-301 (which releases Feb 24, 2020), and compare them to the CCNA Routing and Switching 200-125 Exam (which retires Feb 23, 2020), it is clear that the new CCNA 200-301 is derived from the old CCNA 200-125 exam. Not only does CCNA 200-301 include many of the same technologies, the phrasing of the exam topics is similar.

To give you a sense of scale, by my estimates, the new CCNA 200-301 exam keeps roughly half the content/topics from the soon-to-retire CCNA R&S 200-125 exam. Of course, the new CCNA 200-301 adds new topics, by my estimate about 25% by size compared to the old CCNA R&S 200-125. So from the perspective of how much you need to learn for the exam, the job is now about 75% as much to learn as with the old CCNA R&S 200-125 exam.

Once we chose to go with two volumes, I had complete freedom for which topics to put in which book. By choice, I made Volume 1 about core routing and switching: Ethernet switching, Wireless LANs, IPv4 routing, and IPv6 routing. The following figure, from the Introduction to Volume 1, shows the breakdown based on book Parts, with the chapter numbers listed in parentheses.

Volume 2 get the rest. Compared to the old CCNA R&S 200-125, CCNA 200-301 adds more security topics, loses and adds a number of IP services, and adds new automation topics. The next figure shows the part and chapter breakdown for Volume 2.

What to Buy/Order - Once All the Books are Available

For a moment, pretend it’s already January 2020. It may already be by the time you read this, but I published this post early November 2019. With the publishing schedule at that time, all three of these products should be out by January 2020, and could be pre-ordered from the publisher in November/December 2019:

If you are reading this blog post in January 2020 or later, buy the library. It will be cheaper (that’s actually the point of putting making the library in the first place.) The CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide Library is literally a cardboard box with the two volumes inside – nothing more, nothing less. So, if you know you’ll want both Volume 1 and 2 – and anyone studying for the CCNA 200-301 exam probably will – and you can buy the two volumes cheaper by buying the Library.

What to Buy/Order: Now til Year End 2019

In this interim time in late 2019 in which only Volume 1 is available, some of you might see those prices and choose to wait for the Library to get the cheaper price. However, I talked with Cisco Press a while back and they happily agreed to provide a coupon to solve that pricing problem so you could buy Volume 1 now, and Volume 2 later, for approximately the same price as the library.

Simply put, if you buy Volume 1 directly from Cisco Press before Volume 2 is in-stock, you’ll get an emailed coupon. That coupon lets you buy Volume 2 at such a discounted price so that your total cost for both volumes will be roughly the same price as it would have been if you had waited for the library to be in stock. So, buy Volume 1 now and get started studying with no worries about waiting for the cheaper CCNA 200-301 Library.

Fast and Worldwide: eBooks

eBooks can be the fastest way to get the new book content for most any Cisco Press book for the obvious reason that it does not require any of the time to physically distribute the book. In modern publishing practices, the eBook isn’t derived from the print book, but the opposite, so the eBook files are typically ready before the printer finishes printing, binding, and shipping the volumes of print books to the publisher.

In short, you can often buy these eBooks on the same day the print book is in-stock, and in some cases, a little earlier.

In this case, there are eBook versions of both the CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide Volume 1 and Volume 2. Of note:

  • Amazon sells a Kindle version.
  • Barnes and Noble sells a Nook version.
  • Cisco Press sells the Premium Edition, which supplies eBook files in Kindle, Nook, and PDF formats, plus extra practice questions.
  • O’Reilly (Formerly known as Safari Books Online) includes all Cisco Press books in their content subscription service.

For convenience, you can find the pages to purchase the Premium Edition of the products here:

CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, Volume 1, Premium Edition and Practice Tests

CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, Volume 2, Premium Edition and Practice Tests

 

The following table details the various sources for eBooks.

Source Kindle Format Nook Format PDF Format Standard PTP Q&A Adds Extra PTP Q&A
Cisco Press (Premium Edition) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Amazon No Yes No Yes1 No
Barnes and Noble No Yes No No No
O’Reilly No No No No No

1 Amazon support for PTP QA requires a process in which Amazon supplies a PTP license code directly to the Amazon customer, a process which may require some follow-up with Amazon.

Worth a Few Day's Wait: Print Book Plus Premium Edition

One last note on the eBooks: If you want both the print book and an eBook, it may be worth the wait to get the print book and then buy the premium edition. Both CCNA 200-301 Cert Guide Volumes supply a one-time-use coupon to get 70% off the matching Premium Edition eBook. You’ll find the discount code in the cardboard sleeve in the back of the print book – making it worth waiting for the print book to arrive before buying the eBook.

Free Play Labs - CCNA Vol 1 Chapter 7
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Johnny Lee Clarke (@JohnnyLeeClarke)

Very insightful I had a question or two answered!

Adarsh

Looks like there is a typo in the 2nd paragraph of the section CCNA 200-301 Cert Guides: Content Breakdown
.. “To give you a sense of scale, by my estimates, the new CCNA 200-301 exam keeps roughly half the content/topics from the soon-to-retire CCNA R&S 200-301 exam.” In the soon-to-retire CCNA R&S , it should be 200-125 instead of 200-301.

Greg_E

I have found that one of the cheapest ways to get these materials is to wait until Cisco Press has a holiday sale. I recently bought the new library, command guide, and both ebooks for only a little more than the library normally costs. Not sure if this is just something in the USA, but it might pay to keep track of things like this. Just finished the first section of book 1 and going through the review materials before I move on to the next section and labs. Hoping the hardware I bought about 3 years ago is still new enough for these labs, so far I think it will be. 2811 routers, 3560 and 2960 switches with IOS 15.x on everything, only FE connections for most things, but should be ok. If not packet tracer will have to carry me through. I’ll upgrade my lab when I start working on CCNP.

Tiago

Will be available to buy ebook version of CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, Library?

Thanks
Taigo

Daniel

For me the ebook is the way to go. The extra questions are vital

tiagonrochaTiago

Does eboo comes with more questions than paper book?
Thanks

Edster

Very helpful and informational indeed.

Ridwan

While there is still enough room before the expiration of the current ccna 200-125, can I make use of the ccna 200-301 volumes for the 200-125?

ashwin

Cisco press ebook premium edition , does not support kindle format , as file size is 70 MB . amazon kindle doesn’t support file size bigger than 50 MB

Cristhopher

I bought the 2 premium editions ebooks the last week in the official cisco press site. Every ebook was in 36USD (of $45 listed price), but they offered me to fill a survey and got another discount and finally paid $60 for both. I would have like to buy the physical library, but due I am in another country, the shipping cost would raise the price, but I consider the library a real bargain for the customers in USA

anishjp

@Cristhoper: Does the package contains the Simulator Lite software?

Wilferson

Hi Wendell!

I am trying to buy the Ebook version of the 200-301 Library book since I have your ICND1 and ICND2, I dont finde the link for the Ebook version and I leave in germany and the printed version I am afraid will be here in months or so and I want to get my CCNA as soon as possible, sadly I will no make it before February the 24th, but I want to get the new content and keep inproving so that I can get it shorly after February.. Can you pls send me the link of the Ebook version and maybe and if there is a discount copon I could have for a video couser I will apreciate it!! thank you in advance, Att: Wilferson Cabreja.

Maysoon

Hello,
I just bought the “CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide Library: Book + eBook Bundle” but I can’t access the e-book yet. It says the estimated release time is: Jan 28, 2020 (which is the same say it was published) so I really don’t understand when will I be able to access it?

Thank you in advance.

Aggelos

Hello Wendell,
I have some questions and i need your help.I collate the curriculum (from cisco.com) for ccna 200-301v.1 and encor 350-401 v1. In 200-301 there is no mention 8n the study material for basic python,netconf,restconf,apis,firewall so I am confused about the study material and what I should study for 200-301 exam.I mean ccna volume 1 is enough for 200-301?

Aggelos

Hello Wendell,Thank you for your response.

Ibrahim

Hello I want to ask do I have to buy both volume 1 and volume 2 or volume 1 is enough ?

Best Regards

Chuck Schlaegel

Wendell
I’m having a helluva time organizing my study time with all the sources of information that come from just you. I read the study plan section in Vol. 1, but using the many sources makes my study routine much more time consuming, less organized and less effective… that’s how it feels anyway. Can you help with this?

also, I had been studying for ICND2 and know the information. Is CCNA 200-301 Vol. 2 enough to supplement what is already learned?

Jeremias Lopez

Hello Wendell. First of all thanks for your book ! I got the library, and I am reading chapter 4 now. It’s easy to follow and pretty clear. I do have some level of experience working with a stack of 2960’s, 3580’s and even some old Sg300. I wanted anyway to go through the labs one by one, just to make sure that I have all the concepts covered. Yet, I am finding difficult to do so. I cannot download the Network Simulator Lite ( the link in the Ciscopress page does not work). I have come here and I clicked on the different parts for the book, up in the nav bar, but it takes me to links that don’t work. I do have Packet tracer in my computer, but I cannot find any lab for chapter 4. Am I missing something?

Thanks for your help !

Karlo

Hi, could find reasonable answer to this…Is the CNNA Official cert guide Library good enough for passing exams? Is the coverage is as good as vol 1 and vol 2 ?

Thanks in advance

Karlo

ok, thanks, so to clarify the newest books either vol 1 and 2 from 2019 and official cert guide are fine and will cover the exams 100%?

Steve

Hi Wendell, I’ve been researching the training options. I see the information regarding the new information. I’ve been looking at 200-301 premium edition, The CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide. Then I see all other options including the more expensive options with online video, and I’m unsure what to select. Not sure what questions I should be asking myself in order to select. Can you offer some guidance?

Thomas Ward

Hi, Sorry to come across ignorant, but I am having an issue accessing the “part reviews” I purchased the 2 volume set and have registered with pearson, even attempted to access the online , as well as the desktop version. unfortunately it seems that I can access the book questions, but the Part reviews do not seem to return questions.. is this an extra cost? Am I accessing this wrong?

I have looked through the section titled “How to View Part Review Questions” and appear to be even more lost.
” No questions were selected. Please change your selection criteria to be less stringent.” appears.

This might have been addressed in other threads, any help is appreciated, Thanks, Tom

TOM

Outstanding! Worked like a charm! Thank you sir!

nopesky

Thank you so much!!!!

Yeil Cedeño

Hi wendell, i have problems buying the kindle version of ccna 200-301 vol II in amazon, because it´s in revision.

I just end the Vol 1, can you tell me when it will be done?

Yeil Cedeño

Hi wendell, thanks for your response.

I am in Chile, for this reason i prefer just the digital version, Can you guide me how?

Aggelos

Hello Wendell,

your book( for ccna 200 301 ),really rocks.I used it as my primary source for my self studying.You cover all the topics in details.I passed my exam with score 938.I fully recommend your book.

P.S In my opinion you could add a chapter for vtp.

Again congrats for your book/books.

Ena

Hello Sir, would you help with this question? I sent it to Cisco Press but no reply yet from them. Thanks

I had wanted to purchase the new CCNA exam 200-301 Official Cert Guide Library by Wendell Odom (Book + eBook bundle) priced at $68.99 on you website, but saw that I am not able to do so since my country is not on the list of those you ship to.

I am therefore considering getting only the Hardcopy 2-volume book from a 3rd-party online store (though unfortunately at a higher price than the $68.99 I would have paid for the whole Book+eBook bundle stated on your www), without the Premium Edition eBook and Practice Test which may not be available on that or any other 3rd-party store; (even if it so, I don’t think it’s going to be as cost-effective as getting it on your store).

However I still do need the Premium Edition eBook and Practice Test for the sake of mobility, and to help me prepare for the CCNA exam.

Please what are my options? Would I be able to download the Premium Edition eBook and Practice Test from your website even when my country isn’t one of those you ship your products to? Secondly, would my purchasing the Hardcopy book from a 3rd-party store entitle me to some form of discount which I can apply on your website when purchasing only the Premium Edition eBook and Practice Test therefrom? If so, how much discount can I hope for?

I’d be glad if I could get some clarity on this.

Thank you.

Ena

Ok. Thank you sir.

jose espinal

Will I be able to take the same exam as 200-301 2019 in 2022, I just bought the book and I don’t know if they will be any changes in the exam for 200-301 this year?

George

Hi Mr. wendell, i just bought the CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide Library, sorry just wanted to ask like does the ebook have more practice practice tests/ questions? i’m a bit confused, thank you for your help

Wendell Odom

Hi George,
Short answer is yes! The publisher bills their “premium” edition products with that name because they typically have some other elements vs. the print book, beyond the eBook. In the case of the CCNA books, the premium edition has more practice questions.
Wendell

George

Thank you for your help, if i may, if i were to buy the premium ebook too, like would i get a coupon once i get the books? sorry i’m only asking because i want to get the premium ebook too, thank you and Merry Christmas 🙂

Wendell Odom

Hi George,
Thanks, and Merry Christmas to you as well.
Great question. I get what you’re asking, I think. But just in case, I’ll be very specific in my answer, just to make sure.

When you buy the print books, it does not include the premium edition ebooks. You have to buy them separately.
However, the print books have a paper discount coupon, held within the cardboard sleeve in the back of the book, for 70% off the premium edition of the same book. So you still have to buy the premium edition, it just costs a lot less. That’s the best priced way to get both.

If you reverse that order, and buy the premium edition eBook first, I don’t know of a discount coupon to get the print books for cheaper. Maybe there is, I just don’t know of one. FYI, Cisco Press has long made a habit of including a high-discount offer for buying the eBook in a single-use coupon code in the CD sleeve in the back of the matching print book. I think the idea is that if you already bought the print book, you should get to pay less for the eBook.

That said… the above is all what the publisher does and promises. I believe it to be true, but you’d have to ask the publisher to make sure. You can ask them about it at their “contact us” page at ciscopress.com, or try them @CiscoPress on social media, if you want to hear from the company that’s making the offer. It’s not an offer I make, as I’m not in the publishing or retail side of the business.
Wendell

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