Honestly I probably went a little overboard. I got a lot of different material. Originally I watched all of the videos on CCENT all the way through and some more than once. At the same time I purchased a Cisco CCENT lab through Cisco and completed that. Then I went and took the test. I failed, not by a lot but still failed. After that I found some equipment on eBay and purchased a router and switch combo. I also bought Odom's guide. I read chapters, watched videos, and did some commands along with you guys while watching the shows. I am alright at reading and learning but I am much more of a hands on person. That's why I purchased the Cisco equipment. I can say that doing commands with you and Don help me to remember them much more. I would never save the config basically forcing myself to do the config every time I booted up the equipment. Honestly going and taking the test the first time opened my eyes to what the test was really about. There was at least one question that I saw on the test that are not covered by Odom's guide or the show. For example, on both tests I took I was asked questions about serial links and their config. Correct me if I am wrong but I do not believe that is even in the CCENT. I would like to add that one of my scores on the test went from 67% to 100%. Subnetting, it will kill you if you do not have it down. It is rewarding to see that one of the sub-scores was perfect, and according to the CCENT, I have that down.
ITProTV allowed me to see what I could not visualize by reading books, provided a hands on guide for my own equipment, and insight only achievable by actually walking through the steps yourselves.