David's CCIE: R+S Thread

gorebrush

Well I've made it up to 29 hours today, but I don't feel I can get anything else done. Exhausted after being out all day yesterday. However, I've had 2 quality hours this morning. Disappointing to only get that little done on a weekend, but it will happen from time to time I guess.

I've cleared most work problems on Friday, so should be able to get another hour or two in tomorrow, and I know i've got an hour in the evening.

I want to do more today but I'll probably not get time. Win some, lose some on some weekends - Mrs is home at 3PM so she'll probably find things to do as we dont normally spend sunday afternoons together (she usually works 15 hour shifts)

Turgon

Yeah. We are still tied up with family visitors here this weekend and will be until later this afternoon. It's lovely and everything but nothing gets done. Later this evening I first need to catch up with work to prepare for Monday. Then if I have the energy and inclination I may be able to do an hour or two on lab prep. Ability is one thing but unless you can rack up bucket loads of regular study time you can't get that number.

Crossing 30 would be good. Keep it up. The first 100 is the worst.

gorebrush

I also make up some time by listening to an audio bootcamp - no way is it concentrated learning but I'm picking up tips here and there

gorebrush

I should have added that I do that whilst driving etc

nel

Dave mate,

just wanna say keep up the good work. I enjoy reading the posts by you, turg and others on this path.

gorebrush

Hey nel

Cheers! It is good to know that people are taking an interest and following the journey to that elusive number.

To anyone else who is considering the CCIE, I'd highly recommend creating your own thread documenting how you get on. The CCIE is an exam (or pair of exams) the like of which you will have never experienced, not solely because of the sheer amount of technical detail, but because you have to know and understand how to apply these things in many weird and wonderful ways.

Good luck to you all who are working towards any exam, be it CCIE or A+

gorebrush

Well I think I have learned another skill of being a CCIE candidate, and that is being an opportunist. On the back of "only" managing 3 hours yesterday morning, I was asked if I would take some family down to the bus station at 4:30 this morning.

No problem I thought, the time I come back I'll be ready to do some study, so from 5:10am until 6:10am, and then from 6:30 until about 7:00 I was able to get 90 minutes in.

This takes me over the 30 hours marker, and I nearly finished OSPF.

I'm not hitting a chapter a day, merely because I'm writing notes on pretty much everything. It is my tried and tested methodology of learning and I find I retain far much more this way.

However, when I'm not solving disasters at work (had a pretty big one today which has stopped more or less everything) then I can get on with some more study.

gorebrush

Problem with Active Directory replication put pay to any work on the dollar this morning, however I think I can get 2 hours in this afternoon now.

Then I'll have just about enough time for another hour this evening before I have to go collect the good lady from work - means 5 hours done today - more than on the weekend combined. Result.

I know for a fact she is working until 9:30PM wednesday, so there's an easy 3 hours to add to the counter, and I think she is doing a 15 hour stretch on Sunday - so I can get a ton done then - just have to make up some other hours on the days between.

Getting through Odom's book though. As Turgon has rightly pointed out, some of it is a complete mind melt, but a lot of it has been fine. Should get through the chapter on redistribution today after OSPF, I hope.

gorebrush

Just finished Chapter 8: OSPF. Quite a load of information in there, but a brilliant refresh of BSCI (+ CCIE bits) done.

Chapter 9 - IGP Route Redistribution, Route Summarization, Default Routing, and Troubleshooting is here now.

Then I think we are into the beastily Routing Protocol that is BGP. Really into this now, picking up excellent pace.

gorebrush

33 hours done. Starting looking into Chapter 9 - good stuff.

Home time now, will get home about 6PM probably and have to leave again at 650, so dont think I'll do anymore today.

However, a good piece of progress. I kind of think that I like the whole idea of getting up at 5:30 and piling in two hours before work - nobody is about then so I can't get disturbed.

I might be onto something for those extra lab/reading hours if I need them later on....

bertieb

nel wrote: »

Dave mate,

just wanna say keep up the good work. I enjoy reading the posts by you, turg and others on this path.

+1.

BTW nel when are you starting yours?

gorebrush

Well I've been looking at my lab and I've known for months that I will need some kind of Quad port ethernet card so I can fully use GNS3/Dynamips.

Any one know if this would be any good?

ST1000SPEX4 StarTech 4 Port PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet NIC Network Adaptor Card

It does 802.1Q which I guess would be useful, any other features I need?

gorebrush

Slow progress on the dollar.

Not feeling too happy at the moment, think I am feeling a bit down because of the work situation and feeling very bored. My level of work now is trivial 1st level stuff all the time. Yesterday was a rare day for me where I actually had to get my hands dirty and solve a problem. I think I may have taken the **** route...

I demoted and then re-promoted a domain controller once it was all cleared. May be the chicken way out but it was certainly a lot quicker than trying to plug through all the failures. Our AD is now replicating properly once again so that's that.

I car share with a work colleague who is a bit of a downer, and my mrs says she is tired all the time and we don't do an awful lot outside of watching TV together.

At this point in time I feel quite drained, bored, and just feel like i'm going nowhere. I've had these phases before, so I'm sure I will pull through once I get some more book work complete (About the only time I really feel I'm progressing professionally is if I get through a few pages of a CCIE book lately)

To really top it off, I did start some reading and it went over my head and totally not into my head - so I decided to leave the book alone and not spoil my interest. I think I am just very tired - I'd had a few drinks last night and was up way too early to be healthy yesterday, and ended up going to bed way too late.

Tomorrow I know for a fact I have a beautiful 3 hour window in the evening as the Mrs is in work - so I'm going to hit the hay early tonight, get up and get my ass to the gym for an hours blast, then get to work.

I will feel more refreshed after some exercise, and a break.

I need a holiday - unfortunately a good week off work is not forthcoming until December (when we get married), and my next chance to really unplug and unwind from everything will be our honeymoon, which is not until May 2011.



Never mind - must pick up, and get on, otherwise this CCIE train-like bucket of momentum i've built up is going to seep out a hole and I'll stop - and that is not acceptable.

DevilWAH

Oh I think we all know this feeling...

deffently an early night and realax for a day before getting stuck back in to it.

bertieb

I think we all have days/weeks like that fella. You'll figure it out. My only advice is don't neglect the missus and take some time out to relax and do something else apart from study. I got a mighty a$$ kicking many years ago when I was studying as I dived straight into it when I got home, was contantly irritable and tired etc. Simple stuff like going for a walk/cinema/meal/pub with the missus and the gym or another hobby works wonders in those respects for so many reasons.

jovan88

David sorry if you've already explained, but when are you putting your lab hours in? Sometimes, like most people - I get drained and bored when doing nothing but theory. Doing some labs might get you interested in what you're reading about.

Still doesn't compare to taking some time off though

gorebrush

Didn't bother with the gym this morning, decided to sleep instead. Neglecting the Mrs is something I have been slightly guilty of, but I'm working on it

I'll get there

However, I am feeling a lot more refreshed this morning so hopefully get some hours in today.

Got another SSD today so I'm going to install that tonight while I've got some Me time and this will hopefully make me a bit happier

Another call from a recruiter this morning, had a decent chat there so hopefully some more job opportunities are coming up as well. Need it, as I'm now being lumbered with PAT Testing - didn't bother with it last year, and our Central IT department don't even do it. Not fair that I get lumbered with this sh*t

gorebrush

Now here is a massive turn up.

I haven't probably posted it here but I know that I have quite an odd eye condition, and I was told for years that I could have nothing done about it. That is until I saw an optician way back in January of this year... she referred me to an Ophthalmologist.

After seeing a specialist a few weeks ago and they've concluded that they can work on one of the muscles on the exterior of my eyeball and get my problems fixed.

I was amazed to learn that I could actually get something done about it, let alone learn today that they want me in for a pre-assessment on the 14th September, and they want me in for actual surgery on the 20th.

Apparently I will go under general anaesthetic, they remove an eyeball and then, in all of 10 minutes, they will perform a realignment of a muscle on the eyeball and pop it back in.

As general anaesthesia is involved, I will have to take at least a week off work.

As long as I can read - perfect opportunity to have a week of reading.

peanutnoggin

gorebrush wrote: »

Now here is a massive turn up.

I haven't probably posted it here but I know that I have quite an odd eye condition, and I was told for years that I could have nothing done about it. That is until I saw an optician way back in January of this year... she referred me to an Ophthalmologist.

After seeing a specialist a few weeks ago and they've concluded that they can work on one of the muscles on the exterior of my eyeball and get my problems fixed.

I was amazed to learn that I could actually get something done about it, let alone learn today that they want me in for a pre-assessment on the 14th September, and they want me in for actual surgery on the 20th.

Apparently I will go under general anaesthetic, they remove an eyeball and then, in all of 10 minutes, they will perform a realignment of a muscle on the eyeball and pop it back in.

As general anaesthesia is involved, I will have to take at least a week off work.

As long as I can read - perfect opportunity to have a week of reading.

I wish you the best in your surgery and hopefully you'll have a speedy recovery so you can the books !

-Peanut

gorebrush

OK so again, not much work done on the dollar today, but a near 4 hour window open this evening.

I can get home, get bread as I need some, and crack on with the books.

I have a brand new SSD ready to put into my PC - As i've already got one, this gives me 120GB of RAID-0 SSD action. Saucy. However, I'm going to wait until the weekend to fit that, and get some good hours recouped this evening.

Need to catch up a bit. Want to get into 35 hours+ tonight. Will try and get to 40 hours by the end of the week, and then try my best to get to 45-47 over the weekend.

Might start some light labbing to help reinforce concepts (Once PC is up and running again, of course)

Turgon

gorebrush wrote: »

OK so again, not much work done on the dollar today, but a near 4 hour window open this evening.

I can get home, get bread as I need some, and crack on with the books.

I have a brand new SSD ready to put into my PC - As i've already got one, this gives me 120GB of RAID-0 SSD action. Saucy. However, I'm going to wait until the weekend to fit that, and get some good hours recouped this evening.

Need to catch up a bit. Want to get into 35 hours+ tonight. Will try and get to 40 hours by the end of the week, and then try my best to get to 45-47 over the weekend.

Might start some light labbing to help reinforce concepts (Once PC is up and running again, of course)

I can see you have hit the 'wall' once already on your trek. Dealing with that is part of the battle as you can expect to hit it many times during your 1 - 4 year journey to complete this track. Rest when you need rest and reconnect with loved ones and friends whenever you or they need to. They go on the journey as well.

Regarding your previous comments on being bored at work. Take the pain and stay there for the next year so you can get as much study as possible done on works time. Then go for another fulltime job or contracting to start to get the experience to back up the qualification you seek. When you change jobs your feet will not touch the floor for a few months and your study programme will crash until you equalise things. So get the hours in now.

50 hours is credible so hit that target asap. Then tramp onto 100. Once you do that you are credible with a decent preamble foundation and some useful study habits engrained.

So far as labbing is concerned. Not necessary at this stage and a distraction from the reading. Its a theory test. Concentrate on that for 150 hours then do some labwork prior to the written test if you wish. You will be sick of the word 'labs' long before you have amased 900 hours of labprep after you have done the written test

gorebrush

Book only - check.

It's just the other day I hit a massive wall when I read three pages on Route maps and Prefix lists. I couldn't see the difference.

Today I read it, after a day away and feeling a bit fresher and the penny dropped in seconds.

I know I am capable of this, but at the end of the day I am human just like everyone else, and will have my off days.

Decided to have a go at the computer tonight instead - good job I did, my motherboard doesn't do RAID, so new motherboard will be here Friday ready for weekend installation. Old board has been sold so only a few more coins spent.

Going to hit that 50 ASAP.

17 to go. Realistically: -

Thursday - 2 hours
Friday - 2 hours
Saturday - maybe 2 hours if I am lucky
Sunday - 8 hours I am aiming for, or a good amount
Monday - 2 hours
Tuesday - 2 hours

Those last 17 hours will take me into next week but I need this done. The quicker I can move out of my job the better - so the next stage of the journey is clear and easy - just get those hours racked up.

More progress here as I make it.

Oh, and in other news, work has cleared me for a week off for having my eyes done. That is awesome.

gorebrush

Another two hours done on the dollar today.

Making better progress through Route Redistribution now.

Excellent./

gorebrush

Two more hours on dollar brings me to 37 hours.

Probably won't get much done tonight or tomorrow, but will get 5-7 hours on Sunday, Rebecca working from 06:30am until 09:30pm and I'm not visiting my family that day.

Need to rebuild my PC which should take an hour or two, but other than that, no big plans.

gorebrush

Just noticed something in the Odom book.

He talks about "the three IGP's covered in this book", and only EIGRP and OSPF are covered - (I'd have thought BGP would have been more an EGP and not an IGP... unless he meant iBGP but I haven't read the BGP chapters yet...)

Anyway, IGP comes to mind is RIP and the book doesn't cover it

Trivial though as RIP is hardly rocket science, just thought I'd share

Turgon

gorebrush wrote: »

Just noticed something in the Odom book.

He talks about "the three IGP's covered in this book", and only EIGRP and OSPF are covered - (I'd have thought BGP would have been more an EGP and not an IGP... unless he meant iBGP but I haven't read the BGP chapters yet...)

Anyway, IGP comes to mind is RIP and the book doesn't cover it

Trivial though as RIP is hardly rocket science, just thought I'd share

Theres more to RIP than you thought. Just wait until labprep. Plenty of points you can blow on something like RIP.

gorebrush

Yeah, for some odd reason, I believed, with some complacency that because it wasn't in Odom, wouldn't have to worry about it too much. Then I checked the objectives and saw it on there, and came to the more appropriate conclusion that while it is important, it's probably not complex enough to put in the book...

I will revise that again however.

Turgon

gorebrush wrote: »

Yeah, for some odd reason, I believed, with some complacency that because it wasn't in Odom, wouldn't have to worry about it too much. Then I checked the objectives and saw it on there, and came to the more appropriate conclusion that while it is important, it's probably not complex enough to put in the book...

I will revise that again however.

hehehe..just wait until Vol II workbooks. RIP will turn you inside out

jason_lunde

gorebrush wrote: »

Yeah, for some odd reason, I believed, with some complacency that because it wasn't in Odom, wouldn't have to worry about it too much. Then I checked the objectives and saw it on there, and came to the more appropriate conclusion that while it is important, it's probably not complex enough to put in the book...

I will revise that again however.

If you go to the Cisco Press page for the cert guide there is some additional appendices. He has an entire rip v2 chapter in there. Happy Reading!

gorebrush

Chilled out with the Mrs yesterday.

Rebuilt my PC this morning as I needed a new motherboard after trying to put 2 x 64GB SSD's in RAID-0 on a motherboard without RAID (fail)

However, my hard work paid off: -



And now i'm back for another 4-5 blast of CCIE study. 40 hour mark here I come!