Compdoctor,
I just passed the Support Exam and earned my CCNP certification. I used the Cisco Press official courseware books (Cisco CCNP Preparation Library for the 640-50x series) and the CCNP Exam Certification Guides (Cisco CCNP Certification Library) from Cisco Press to prepare for the four exams in the series. Although this represented an investment close to $350, it was much cheaper than attending four ILT classes. I found that by studying the courseware, then using the practice exams from the cert guides, it helped me concentrate on my areas of weakness. I also have a fairly decent test lab consisting of five 25xx routers and a couple of 2924 switches, all retired from our production environment, that I set up at work to help me and my technicians with our Cisco cert efforts. (I haven't used the Cisco eSim product and have heard mixed reviews, but a simulator is better than nothing if you don't have access to a test lab. I used RouterSim when I was doing my CCNA preparation and found it to be effective.) If you are successful with the self-paced study model, this path is my recommendation. I took a test approximately every six months and passed each one on the first try. My sequence was Remote Access, Routing, Switching, and Support.
Now it is time to buckle down and start working on the CID exam to complete my CCDP certification. I hope to have that under my belt by the end of summer.
Good luck in your efforts,
Joe
Joseph B. Baugh PMP, CCSE, CUE, CCNP, CCDA
Network Services Manager, Sierra Southwest Cooperative Services, Inc.