642-642 Scheduled for noon [edit] passed, 988/1k

Just got off of the phone with Pearson-Vue - Scheduled the 642-642 QoS exam for Noon. I'm going to frag some newbs in Unreal III, slam a power-breakfast, then hit the road. I'll post back with results..

[edit]

Passed.. Got a 988/1k. I was 15 mins late due to a full interstate closure as a result of an 18 wheeler accident. The lady at the testing center had some fresh home made cookies just for me which was a nice touch

I think I would have had a perfect score but I cheesed one of the questions and had a "doh!" moment right after I hit next. Oh well, I'll take it

Two down, one to go. Passed CCNP composite and QoS, just the MPLS/BGP comp left.

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Comments

networker050184

Good luck!

I can't wait to get back in test mode. I am thinking of starting yet another new job and just haven't had the time....

dynamik

I'll be keeping an eye out for that pass post later today

nicklauscombs

good luck!

Mishra

I require high expectations. I need to see a pass post and a record kill/death ratio for yourself.

scheistermeister

Good luck! I have a friend who is studying the book for that one right now and I have been thinking of checking it out myself when I am done with the NP.

kpjungle

Good luck!

srg

Good luck man! I'm thinging about taking the 642-642 next also, but might be doing that after the vacations

Luckycharms

Good Luck...

shednik

Best of luck Paul!!

ITdude

Go knock em dead Paul! I am thinking about hitting this one in the near future, so I will look forward to hearing how well your prep served you.

Good luck!

Actually, by now you probably have your answer.

gojericho0

good luck!

shednik

Congrats Paul

Good Luck on the BGP+MPLS Composite as well for the IP

gojericho0

Congratulations! You are tearing them up

Paul Boz

Well that's what studying for 10 hours a day gets you

scheistermeister

Congrats!

ITdude

Paul Boz wrote:

The lady at the testing center had some fresh home made cookies just for me which was a nice touch

Nice, it must be that Southern touch! Congrats!

dynamik

Paul Boz wrote:

Well that's what studying for 10 hours a day gets you

It causes you to miss one question? Yeah, that's um... terrible... Congratulations!

How did you like QoS? I've seen some people say it was pretty dry/boring.

Sie

well done!! For 10 hours studying a day you well deserve it!!

Paul Boz

dynamik wrote:

How did you like QoS? I've seen some people say it was pretty dry/boring.

I think everyone has their own preferences for technology. QoS is actually one of my favorites. I enjoy making something out of nothing, like a productive network out of some slow links. QoS has a ton of tools available to do a wide range of things so I enjoy that. I like QoS about as much as routing protocols and that says a lot

I got to liking QoS when I implemented it on my home network. Making a custom QoS policy to ensure that my xbox 360's get preference on the network (xbox live), giving web/email/etc preference over bit torrent and FTP, using NBAR, it's all fun stuff.

Slowhand

Schweet, congratulations on the pass!

astorrs

Congrats on the well deserved pass!

dynamik wrote:

How did you like QoS? I've seen some people say it was pretty dry/boring.

I've heard the same thing, but I keep telling people that BGP, MPLS and QoS are essential skills to have in supporting any large enterprise network these days. For me I would do the CCIP right after CCNP (just like Paul). Who knows - maybe I will one day.

networker050184

Congrats!

Ten hours a day for study must be nice!

dynamik

Paul Boz wrote:

I got to liking QoS when I implemented it on my home network. Making a custom QoS policy to ensure that my xbox 360's get preference on the network (xbox live), giving web/email/etc preference over bit torrent and FTP, using NBAR, it's all fun stuff.

Now you're speaking my language.

I have a feeling your setup is a little more impressive though

Paul Boz

networker050184 wrote:

Congrats!

Ten hours a day for study must be nice!

I used to study 6-8 hours a day when I worked in a NOC center over night but when it got outsourced and I lost my job I just started studying full time. I've got a rental property that is bringing in more than enough to make my ends meet so I just study now. I'm sure I'll get a job doing what I do eventually, but since I was 18 I put in 50-60 a week and I want a break.

dynamik wrote:

I have a feeling your setup is a little more impressive though

Not really. I decomissioned my 7206vxr because it's loud and uses a lot of power so now I just use a 2621 with a 3550 behind it.

mikej412

Congratulations!

APA

Congratz on the pass mate

Great score as well

Looking forward to knocking this exam for six when I sit ONT as well......

Just out of curiosity did you use the QoS book to study for ONT as well?

Paul Boz

A.P.A wrote:

Congratz on the pass mate Great score as well

Looking forward to knocking this exam for six when I sit ONT as well......

Just out of curiosity did you use the QoS book to study for ONT as well?

I used a lot of the same resources to study for the QoS and ONT exams. I also used a lot of the ISCW resources for the voice best practices. I think that most of my info came from practice though. It was a very, VERY simple exam. I'd say the ONT was probably twice as hard and the ONT was the easiest of the CCNP track.

mikej412 wrote:

Congratulations!

Thanks a lot mike

APA

That's awesome.

Keep up the good work, you'll have that CCIE in no time at all!!

ITdude

Paul Boz wrote:

I'd say the ONT was probably twice as hard and the ONT was the easiest of the CCNP track.

Hmm interesting. Now where did I put my QoS books?

ixg123

Hi Paul, congrats on the QoS pass.

If I may be so bold though I personally would recommend against the combined BGP+MPLS exam. In the past I had thought that it was a good approach, I now wouldn't really recommend it to anyone!!

I failed BGP standalone by a couple of points at Christmas because none of the simulator questions would work (couldn't type in the box). Cisco provided me with a "complementary voucher" so I could sit the test again for free. As I'd pretty much got BGP down, and had invested quite a bit of time on MPLS as well - Cisco and beyond - I decided that the best solution to keep me on track was to head for the combined exam .... after all, BGP is a huge part of MPLS anyway. All that I can say is that it was a huge mistake.

Maybe it was just me and I was having an off day but the MPLS questions seemed to predate the material that I'd been studying with ... by a couple of centuries! To avoid the potential rath of the NDA I won't provide any details, but if you compare the "Exam Topics" it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that one set of subjects are more "current" than the other. BGP+MPLS really isn't simply a condensed version of 661+611

Good luck though, regardless of your decision!