None of Cisco's associate or professional exams (CCNA/DA, CCDP/NP ETC.)are practical - meaning you have to configure a real router or switch. However, they do contain questions about command lines on switches/routers, and often that's tricky because they give very similar alternatives. In the real world, you might query the router help system with the '?' prompt but that doesn't help in the exam.

All in all I think the Cisco Press books are best. They now have new editions for the latest CCNA and CCDA.

To start Cisco certs you MUST do the CCNA first. All other certifications including CCDA have CCNA as a pre-requisite. CCNA is actually a good cert because it really does a great job on covering all the basics. It's probably the single most useful exam in IT.

I am currently scheduled as trainer on a CCNA/CCDA training camp here - Training Camp CCNA/CCDA on Feb 14th. This a 7 day residential probram that goes from zero to CCNA/DA (including taking the exams - in 7 days)!