Acknowledgments

Brett Bartow and I have been a team for a few decades. His support and wisdom have been a big help through what is the most significant change to the Cisco CCNA and CCNP certifications since their beginnings back in 1998. He’s always a great partner on working through big picture direction as well as features to make the books the best they can be for our readers. Once again he’s the starting point of the team! (And one of the things he does is gather the rest of the team that you see below…)

I don’t mean this to sound too melodramatic, but I am too psyched: I got Dave Hucaby to join my team as a coauthor for this edition of the book! Dave’s been writing about LAN switching, wireless LANs, and security topics for Cisco Press almost as long as I have, and I’ve always loved the accuracy and style of his books. Cisco added more than a little wireless LAN content to CCNA this time around. One thing led to another, I wondered if Dave might be willing to join in, and now we get Dave on the wireless chapters! I hope you’ll enjoy those chapters as much as I did when preparing the book.

Chris Cleveland did the development editing for the very first Cisco Press exam certification guide way back in 1998, and he still can’t seem to get away from us! Seriously, when Brett and I first discuss any new book, the first question is whether Chris has time to develop the book. It’s always a pleasure working with you, Chris, for what seems like the 20th time or so by now.

The second question for Brett when starting a new book is whether we might be able to get Elan Beer to do the tech editing. Elan has the right wiring, skills, and experience to do a great job for us with all aspects of the tech editing process. Fantastic job as usual; thanks, Elan.

Sometimes, with a short book timeline as with this book, I don’t know who’s working on the project for the production group until I’ve written these notes, but I heard Sandra’s and Tonya’s names early this time. Knowing they would be on the project again really did give me a chance to exhale, and I have to say that knowing they would be on the project gave me a great sense of calm going into the production phase of the book.

Thanks to Sandra Schroeder, Tonya Simpson, and all the production team for making the magic happen. Not to sound too much like a broken record, but getting to work with familiar people who have been a great help in the past really does help reduce the stress when writing, besides getting the highest-quality product out the door in print and e-book forms. From fixing all my grammar and passive-voice sentences to pulling the design and layout together, they do it all; thanks for putting it all together and making it look easy. And Tonya got to juggle two books of mine at the same time (again)—thanks for managing the whole production process again.

Mike Tanamachi, illustrator and mind reader, did a great job on the figures again. I use a different process with the figures than most authors, with Mike drawing new figures as soon as I outline a new section or chapter. It means more edits when I change my mind and lots of mind reading of what Wendell really wanted versus what I drew poorly on my iPad. Mike came through again with some beautiful finished products.

I could not have made the timeline for this book without Chris Burns of Certskills Professional. Chris owns much of the PTP question support and administration process, works on the labs we put on my blog, and then catches anything I need to toss over my shoulder so I can focus on the books. Chris, you are the man!

A special thank you to you readers who write in with suggestions and possible errors, and especially those of you who post online at the Cisco Learning Network and at my blog (blog.certskills.com). Without question, the comments I receive directly and overhear by participating at CLN made this edition a better book.

Thanks to my wonderful wife, Kris, who helps make this sometimes challenging work lifestyle a breeze. I love walking this journey with you, doll. Thanks to my daughter Hannah, launching to college just as this book releases! And thanks to Jesus Christ, Lord of everything in my life.