Joel's CCIE Data Center journey
Like many of you, I'm now in the process of earning my CCIE. Being from a Server/storage background (though I did spend 7 months working on switches on a massive campus network several years ago), I'm going with the Data Center path. Luckily, my day job went with UCS four years ago, and I also do some side work, and was lucky enough to do a full UCS deployment myself earlier this year, though it was with Juniper network gear, not Cisco.
So this thread is just going to track my random thoughts, plans, etc, between now and my first lab attempt on April 17th.
Like the rest of you, I'm working through training videos (INE), labs (PEC GoldLABS only, so far), UCS Emulator, physical UCS gear, the recommended reading list, etc. I'm making a few changes though from the norms.
1. I've added Routing and Switching TCP/IP Vol 1 to my reading list. This was a recommendation from a friend who has CCIE RS and works with several CCIE DCs. He pointed out, and I think he's right, that despite the data center name, these tests are designed by Cisco employees who are steeped in the mindset of a network engineer. He recommended this book to help me think as a network engineer, and of course it will help with the routing bits of getting whatever Nexus gear I have to setup running.
2. I do all of the videos twice (at least), once in video, and once listening to it in audio. I used this same method when I was studying for my CCNA/CCNP using the CBT Nuggets videos. I tend to multitask a lot, and hate to be doing something without background noise (Dishes, laundry, walking the dog, whatever). So all of my training videos I also convert to mp3s, and I'll listen to them on headphones while I'm doing other things. Obviously, I need to watch them too, particularly when there's examples you have to see, but this helps get it all well into my head.
3. hands on, hands on, hands on. While I only have access to one Nexus and two MDS switches (and they're production), I currently have some method of access to 12 chassis, 13 FIs and a host of servers, several of which are unused blades so I can do actual deployments. The GoldLABS give me good access to real gear too, and I'm definitely happy to work for a partner so I can access them.
Only somewhat related (was more applicable to my CCNA/CCNP), but make friends with whomever manages your partner status if you happen to work for a Cisco partner. I was able to work out with him that I helped fill out some of our partner requirements (I've just about filled out the whole Datacenter specialization we needed as a company), and in return, I was able to get vouchers for CCNA:DC, CCNP:dC and my CCIE written.
Anyway, just basically creating a place where I can babble to myself about the process, and any input is of course welcome
